Mr Olumide Braithwaite, the son of famed lawyer and politician, Late Dr Tunji Braithwaite, has urged Nigerians to honour national heroes and heroines while alive rather than when they have passed away.
Olumide made the call on Thursday night while receiving a posthumous award on behalf of his late father during the 25th Anniversary of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) in Lagos.
The event was themed “Advancing Analytical Laboratory Practice in Nigeria: Viable Business and Financing Options’’.
The late elder statesman, who died in 2016 at 82, was the Founder of the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP).
The Late Braithwaite was a delegate at the 2014 National Conference, where he canvassed for a Confederal Constitution to replace the 1999 Constitution.
Olumide said: “It is only fit and proper that heroes be honoured during their lifetime where possible.
“However, the enduring legacies those heroes and heroines leave behind usually ensure that such awards and accolades are well received.’’
Earlier, while presenting the award, Mr Duro Abdulsalam, the Acting Registrar of IPAN, said that the organisation was honouring the late Braithwaite because of his immeasurable contributions to the establishment of the organisation.
He said that IPAN, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Health, was established as a regulatory body which ensures that Nigerians are provided with food, drugs and cosmetics of good and internationally-acceptable quality through advanced analytical laboratory practice.
“IPAN was established to bring together industry experts and stakeholders to proffer solutions to the critical issues that affect food security and laboratory practice in the country.
“It also seeks to educate the public on the importance of the quality of what the citizens consume; bordering on food safety; dangers of fake, substandard and adulterated products,’’ Abdulsalam said. (NAN)