The second Orchid Award ceremony, hosted by China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, was held in Beijing on July 10. Issah Fatimoh Abiola, a Nigerian employee of CCECC, received the "Friendship Envoy Award."

The Orchid Award stands as one of China's premier international cultural honors, celebrating foreign individuals and organizations who have made exceptional contributions to advancing universal human values, fostering cross-cultural dialogue, and strengthening the humanitarian foundation for building a community with a shared future for mankind. As the first recipient from a state-owned central enterprise, Issah Fatimoh Abiola has achieved a remarkable career transformation over the past decade since joining CCECC in 2008 – evolving from an office assistant to Nigeria's first female train operator.

Since the launch of Abuja Light Rail on July 12, 2018, Issah Fatimoh Abiola has safely completed over 2,000 train journeys, serving more than one million passengers. Today, she has embarked on another career transition, working as a professional driving instructor. To keep pace with rapidly advancing rail technology, she has returned to China for cutting-edge technical training in Xi'an. "I hope more Nigerians can achieve fulfilling lives through professional excellence, just as I have," Issah Fatimoh Abiola said. Her inspiring journey has become a social media phenomenon in Nigeria, motivating countless Nigerian women to break barriers and pursue their dreams.

Beyond her technical expertise, Issah Fatimoh Abiola serves as a cultural bridge between China and Nigeria. She regularly teaches Chinese at the China-aided Friendship Primary School and volunteers with the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, exemplifying the people-to-people connections at the heart of the Belt and Road Initiative.