Purpose-Driven Leadership Takes Centre Stage as Esan Professionals Honour Dr. Patrick Ejedawe. By Raymond Enoch
In a powerful affirmation of purposeful leadership and community service, the Association of Esan Professionals (AEP) has conferred a prestigious recognition award on Dr. Patrick Usiahon Ejedawe, Chairman of Patjeda Group of Companies Limited, celebrating his outstanding professional accomplishments and enduring contributions to the security and development of Esan land.
The landmark ceremony, held on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at the iconic MUSON Centre on Lagos Island, brought together a distinguished audience of professionals, industry leaders, technocrats, entrepreneurs, and opinion leaders of Esan descent. The atmosphere was one of pride, reflection, and collective aspiration, as Esan excellence and unity took centre stage.
Led by its President, Dr. Henry Egbiki, the Association of Esan Professionals described Dr. Ejedawe as a model of purpose-driven leadership whose career trajectory embodies discipline, innovation, resilience, and an unwavering sense of responsibility to both community and nation.
Presenting the award, AEP leaders noted that Dr. Ejedawe’s stewardship at Patjeda Group of Companies Limited has gone beyond commercial success. His leadership, they said, has translated into job creation, economic empowerment, strengthened security frameworks, and sustained development initiatives that have directly and indirectly benefited Esan land and Edo State as a whole.
According to the official citation, the honour was bestowed “in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding achievements in his professional career and his invaluable contributions to the security development of Esan land as a worthy Esan son.” The Association emphasized that such recognition is reserved for individuals whose influence extends beyond personal advancement to deliver tangible and measurable impact on society.
In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Ejedawe expressed deep gratitude to the Association of Esan Professionals, describing the award as both humbling and motivating. He reaffirmed his commitment to ethical leadership, inclusive growth, and service to humanity, dedicating the honour to the Esan people.
“True leadership,” he noted, “is not defined by titles or accolades, but by the capacity to create lasting value, inspire others, and uplift society.” His words resonated strongly with attendees, reinforcing the central theme of leadership rooted in service and shared progress.
Beyond celebrating one individual, the event served as a broader statement on the growing influence of Esan professionals across Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape. Speakers highlighted the Esan people as a major ethnic group in Edo State whose sons and daughters continue to make significant contributions across business, governance, security, and development sectors nationwide.
The ceremony also underscored the Association’s resolve to consistently identify, celebrate, and project Esan professionals who exemplify excellence, integrity, and transformational leadership—values seen as critical to sustainable development in a rapidly changing Nigeria.
The award plaque presented to Dr. Ejedawe, prominently displayed during the event, stood as a lasting symbol of honour, gratitude, and communal pride. More than a physical token, it reflected a shared conviction that leadership anchored on purpose, vision, and service remains the most enduring pathway to progress for Esan land and the nation at large.
