Modupe Ozolua, a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist and princess of the Benin Kingdom from Sabongida Ora, Edo State, Nigeria has received a lifetime achievement award from the United States President, Joe Biden. The award presentation took place on Sunday in Houston, Texas.
According to Princess Ozolua’s publicists, Hamiltonstyle News & Views, “This is a great reward for Princess Modupe Ozolua’s lifelong commitment to helping humanity, as she received last Sunday, an award certificate and letter from the White House, personally signed by President Joe Biden.”
A Nigerian-American, Ozolua owned her first business in Los Angeles, California at the age of 21 before pioneering cosmetic surgery in Nigeria in 2001 at the age of 27 years. She has dedicated the last 19 years of her life to numerous charity milestones.
In 2003, she founded Empower 54, a US 501 C3, a non-profit organization which provides humanitarian aid in health, education and empowerment of women, girls and refugees; especially disadvantaged Africans across the continent. Late Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the Patron of Empower 54.
Prior to her latest honour by the seal of the US President, Princess Ozolua’s last 19 years of dedication to humanity have earned her many accolades, including One of Africa’s Leading Female Entrepreneurs by Elle Magazine (2015); One of 50 African Women Who Shape the African Continent, Elle Magazine (2016); Official Proclamation for Service to Humanity, City of Atlanta, Georgia, USA (2016); and Letter of Commendation for Service to Humanity from Governor Nathan Deal, Georgia, USA (2016).
Others are: Official Proclamation Declaring October 10, 2019 Princess Modupé Ozolua’s Day in Houston, Texas, USA (2019); Letter of Commendation from Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston, Texas for Princess Ozolua’s Humanitarian Activities (2019); and One of Africa’s 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria (2022). Ozolua’s latest US President’s award was presented on Sunday, February 19, 2023.
Responding to the honour done her by President Joe Biden, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, in a letter to Ozolua, signed by its Special Duties Head, Soso Muhammed, wrote: “Congratulations on the amazing news. The award is the recognition of your hard work, humility and commitment in your service to humanity.”