Nigerian Legion And Green Heroes Foundation Honour Princess Florence Ita Giwa (OON)

By Godwin Onyemaechi

Princess Florence Ita Giwa (OON) was on Friday November 11th honoured alongside other Nigerian soldiers by the Nigerian Legion And Green Heroes Foundation for her doggedness for Bakassi to remain in Nigeria and her outstanding performance in politics at the ‘celebrating our heroes Award 2022’.

Reacting after receiving the honour, she thanked God that she’s receiving the award in her lifetime, she said “for all the risk I took for Bakassi to remain in Nigeria, the risk of uncountable trips to the creeks to support the gallant Nigerian soldiers,getting foods to my people that was trapped in the creek, the pains of the final loss of the territory, it’s indeed well today as I’m fulfilled being honoured”.

She however remained proud of those soldiers that fought so hard for Bakassi, and pray to Almighty God to bless those that are still alive and their families.

Princess Ita-/Giwa attended the Kilburn Polytechnic in London, United Kingdom. She became a nurse, then a representative for the Beecham pharmaceutical company, and then moved to Standall Pharmaceutical where she represented Lagos State.

She was married to Dele Giwa, the founding editor of Newswatch magazine.

Princess Ita-Giwa joined politics and emerged as NRC chairman for Delta State. Thereafter, she was elected a member of the federal House of Representatives (1992–93) and was a member of the committee on devolution of power constituent assembly 1994–95.

She became involved in Bakassi affairs, and earned the nickname “Mama Bakassi”. Princess Ita-Giwa was elected Senator for the Cross River South constituency in April 1999 and was appointed to committees on Rules and Procedures, Environment, Foreign Affairs, Women, Niger Delta and Drug & Narcotics.

After leaving the senate in 2003, she joined the People’s Democratic Party PDP, and became President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters.

Princess Ita Giwa has worked against human trafficking and sex slavery.

She has received multiple awards, which includes Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award, Thisday Award for Excellence etc