Dr Owiredu honoured with the outstanding speakers' award

The International Biographical Centre (IBC) of Cambridge, England has honoured Dr Peter Augustus Owiredu, a retired educationist with the Outstanding Speakers Award of the 20th century.

The award is in recognition of Dr Owiredu's excellence in the use of his talent in oratory in a variety of situations. The award follows his nomination by the Editorial and Advisory Board of the IBC in November last year, from among a number of world intellectuals.

Though his nomination was in November last year, he was eventually presented with the award in October 2,000 in Kumasi where he now resides. The award, a hand carved in fine wood and detachable from an engraved wall plaque, symbolises authority and grandeur, according to the IBC.

Briefing newsmen on Wednesday, Dr Owiredu, 74 said the honour is not for him alone but he shares it with the entire nation. He advised students to stop at nothing in their determination to climb the educational ladder to the highest level, since that is the only way they can become full assets to the nation.

Dr Owiredu who was headmaster of Apam Secondary School in the Central region from 1959-1979, was assessed as a distinguished examiner in 1964 by the Moderator of Mathematics, West African Examination Council (WAEC).

He scored "A" in all aspects of examining. Dr Owiredu is currently the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Mpasaatia Secondary/Technical School in the Atwima district and City Girls Educational Complex in Kumasi.

He is also life patron of the Voluntary Workcamps Association of Ghana of which he was president for several years in his Apam days.