The management of LEADERSHIP Group Limited, publishers of LEADERSHIP Newspapers, has picked Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, for the Governor of The Year Award.
Eno has brought pragmatic and imaginative leadership that reverberates with success within a short time, as well as his inclusive drive to bring succour to the state. Governor Eno pushed his political and managerial proficiency and recruited the best hands to help him cover all sectors, including health, education, economy, job creation, and others. Through this, his administration has established bold imprints in the past 15 months on the saddle.
From the pulpit to the most important political office in the state, the “Golden Boy” Governor became an instant discovery in leadership ingenuity after the impressive tutoring by his political mentor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, into mainstream politics, first as the commissioner for lands.
From a humble beginning, Governor Eno made a breakthrough after surmounting immense obstacles to become a leading investor in the hospitality business in his state. He has contributed immensely to job creation and value addition.
Under his administration’s Agriculture, Rural Development, Infrastructure, Security and Empowerment (ARISE) Agenda, food security, social empowerment, job creation and effective security management have continued to make the state a haven for tourists, visitors and investors, boosting the Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) of the oil-rich Niger Delta state.
His tact, diplomacy, and strategic initiatives, with visible performance that can be seen and measured by Governor Eno, have endeared him to the Akwa Ibom people and the centre despite the state being run by an opposition party. President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, and others across Nigeria have also shown admiration for the Governor because of his inclusive politics.
Eno and 25 other distinguished individuals and organisations who have made exceptional contributions to governance, business, social impact, and public service in Nigeria were nominated by the LEADERSHIP Newspapers’ Board of Editors after extensive deliberations at a meeting held in November 2024 at the company’s headquarters in Abuja.
Eno and other nominees will be celebrated for their outstanding leadership, vision, and commitment to national development at the LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards ceremony next year.
Alhaji Aliko Mohammad Dangote, Nigeria’s foremost industrialist and philanthropist, won the Person Of The Year Award for his immense contributions to the nation’s economy. His philanthropic efforts make him a deserving recipient of this highest honour.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike won the 2024 Quinquennial Award For Governance and Infrastructure, a rare recognition by the LEADERSHIP Group Limited.
Also, for the year 2024, apart from Eno, five other state governors were jointly nominated for the award of Governor of the Year. The are Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State; Mallam Umar A. Namadi of Jigawa State and Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke of Osun state.
The governors were recognised for driving sustainable growth, infrastructural development, and policy innovations in their respective states.
Adams Oshiomhole (CON), former Governor of Edo State, won the Politician of the Year award for his political influence in Edo State where he frontally led the campaign that led to the emergence of Governor Monday Okpehbolo as the governor, and advocacy for democratic growth in Nigeria.
The Business Person of the Year award was won by Benedict Peters, Founder and CEO of AITEO for massively investing in mining and hydrocarbons sector in Africa while Dame (Dr) Adaora Umeoji, GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, clinched the Banker of the Year award for her role in transforming the banking industry.
Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR), Comptroller-General of Customs, emerged as the Public Service Person of the Year for his exceptional leadership in improving the efficiency of Nigeria’s Customs Service (NCS).
Other remarkable business leaders, including the CEO of NORD Automobiles Ltd, Oluwatobi Ajayi won the CEO of the Year award for thePrivate Sector) while Bamanga Usman Jada, MD/CEO of the Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority clinched CEO of the Year award for the Public Sector.
In other award categories, AVSATEL Communications Limited won the Company of the Year award, while ARCO Engineering Limited is the Oil & Gas Local Content Champion of the Year.
The Social Impact Person of the Year award will be presented to Olori Ivie Atuwatse III for her tireless efforts in championing education and healthcare initiatives. OPAY won the Fintech Company of the Year award for promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria, while Alternative Bank clinched the Most Innovative Bank of the Year award for its pioneering work in digital banking.
Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal will be honoured as Environmental Impact Person of the Year for his leadership in advancing environmental policies and addressing climate change.
The Outstanding Young Person of the Year 2024 award will go to ENACTUS team from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. They are recognised for championing innovation and sustainability. Terra Cube will receive the Product of the Year award for its innovative solutions in sustainable living.