By Lanre Oloyede
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, was on Sunday honoured with the Humanity Service Peace Legend Award at the 14th edition of the Peace Legend Awards, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
According to the organizers, the award was presented in recognition of Hon. Abba Isa’s outstanding contributions to peaceful development and nation-building across Africa.
In his acceptance speech, the Senior Special Assistant expressed gratitude to the organizers for the honour, stating that the award would serve as further motivation to intensify his efforts.
Describing the recognition as both “humbling and inspiring,” Hon. Abba Isa remarked, “To be recognized as one of those transforming Africa is not just an honor, but a call to greater responsibility. It reinforces my belief that real transformation comes from service, not self. I dedicate this recognition to every person with a disability across Africa — your dreams are valid, your voices matter, and your contributions are essential to our continent’s future.”
He emphasized the connection between peace and economic development, stressing that no nation could thrive without stability. He called on Nigerians to promote unity, tolerance, and harmony, reiterating his personal commitment to championing initiatives that foster inclusion, empowerment, and peaceful coexistence, particularly for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
However, the event was not without incident, as Hon. Abba Isa criticized the management of Transcorp Hilton Hotel for failing to make the podium accessible to him to receive his award, describing it as an act of discrimination. He reminded the audience that the National Disability Act, 2018 is in full effect, warning that organizations violating its provisions would face sanctions, as ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
The Humanity Service Peace Legend Award adds to the growing list of accolades Hon. Abba Isa has received over the years. In 2023, he was honoured with multiple President’s Volunteer Service Awards by U.S. President Joe Biden, recognizing his leadership in disability and women inclusion advocacy both nationally and internationally.
In March 2024, he received the United States President’s Gold Volunteer Service Award. Additionally, Hon. Abba Isa has been awarded the Lifetime Multiple Great Achievements and Legacies Award as a Disability and Women Inclusive Global Advocate, as well as the Inspirational Leader of the Year Award at the Leadership Excellence Awards (LEEX 2023) organized by Igbere TV.
The same year, he was also recognized with the Disability Inclusion and Accessibility Leadership Award by Project Enable Africa, in honor of his significant contributions to the enactment of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
