By Kingsley Ighomwenghian
Independent Newspapers will on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 5p.m hold its annual Independent Awards ceremony to celebrate distinguished men, women and institutions that made the year 2024 remarkable in their various spheres – economy, politics, leadership, as well as the arts and entertainment.
Their nominations, which were determined by the Independent Board of Editors, took cognisance of the verifiable achievements of the awardees, in line with the theme of this year’s edition, ‘Celebrating Landmark Accomplishments’.
His Excellency Engineer Oluseyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, will receive the flagship Man of the Year Award for the priority and sustained attention given by his administration to multi-sectoral investment in infrastructure across the state in education, health, road, and the all-important agricultural sector, as part of his commitment to make Oyo State a modern agribusiness hub in sub-Saharan Africa.
Other governors,who will be recognised in that evening of glory for providing impactful leadership expected to change the course of their states in the short to medium-term include Engineer Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who is the Governor of the Year (Solid Minerals Development), for his giant strides in the all-important sector, therefore diversifying the state’s economy and boosting its revenue base.
Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State will being recognised for his efforts to enhance national food security by providing funding and equipment for mechanised farming in farming communities across the 21 local government areas of the state, while his counterpart in neighbouring Kwara – Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq (recognised for Hospitality, Enterprise and Creative Economy) – is also working to attract investors and creating more jobs by making the state a hospitality and entertainment hub.
The Independent Newspapers Award for development in the Healthcare sector goes to Elder Sheriff Francis Oborevwori of Delta State for his efforts to transform the sector, not only in the area of infrastructure and provision of working tools, but also by employing more health workers and providing a conducive working environment.
The Award of Governor of the Year 2024 (Economic Transformation) goes to Senator Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State, in recognition of his turnaround efforts aimed at transforming the state from a beacon of tourism, that it has always been, to a hub of economic activities and an investment destination for self-sustainability by undertaking signature projects like the planned 365-kilometre railway project connecting the capital to the northern extremities of the state.
This project will change the infrastructural landscape and help boost international trade with the movement of goods and services across international borders with Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and Sao Tome and Principe, besides enhancing the Calabar Free Trade Zone (CFTZ), the largest export processing zone in Nigeria, thus enhancing the movement of the state’s abundant agricultural produce.
In the area of ensuring calm in a state that was already polarised by varied political interests and intrigues leading to a near stalemate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa caught the attention of the Board of Editors.
It was no surprise that he was rewarded with an election after completing the tenure of his former boss. For this reason, he is the Independent Governor of the Year (Stability).
Also, Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo State will return to Owerri, the capital of Imo State with the Award of Governor of the Year (Digital Economy) 2024 for the huge investment by his administration in Digital Infrastructure, especially fibre optic cables for high-speed internet connectivity, expected to bring Imo up to speed with the global economic space.
This is in addition to implementing initiatives capable of scaling up digital skills among youths of the state through innovation hubs and support for startups to foster entrepreneurship, all of which demonstrate the state’s commitment to harnessing digital technology to drive economic growth and socio-economic development.
Remarkably, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State will receive the award for Governor of the Year (Urban Renewal) 2024 based on his administration’s urban transformation agenda involving about 70 percent of the state at the last count and signature projects aimed at regenerating the four biggest cities of Onitsha, home of West Africa’s largest market with an estimated annual trade value of over $3 billion; Awka; Ekwulobia and Nnewi, the industrial hub, as a deliberate state policy; in addition to the rail master plan for improved movement of goods and people that would significantly impact the economic and socio-cultural life of the people, as well as the state’s infrastructure and entire landscape.
This is expected to cause a spiral in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The Award of Minister of the Year goes to Barr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, for his efforts that have led to the removal of Nigeria from the aviation watchlist following her compliance with the Cape Town Convention (CTC) Compliance Index, resulting in Nigeria’s credit score leaping to 75 percent, from just 49.5 percent; without forgetting the clearing of over $800 million backlog of trapped funds belonging to foreign airlines in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
For his outstanding and quality contributions to legislative business, particularly the dimensions, insights and maturity he brings to debates on national issues on the floor of the Senate, and for his effective representation of the people of Edo North Senatorial District, the Senator of the Year 2024 Award goes to Senator Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, former labour leader, former governor of Edo State and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Similarly, Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi will receive the Award of the House of Representatives Member of the Year, just as Hon. Nnamdi Chimdi Ibekwe will receive the House of Assembly Member of the Year Award.
In the public sector, Independent Newspapers is recognising Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), as Public Servant of the Year 2024 for his efforts at boosting the revenue generating profile of the agency, following which there is now a significant growth in the monthly Federation Accounts.
Charles Odii, Director-General of the Small & Medium-scale Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), is being recognised as Public Sector CEO of the Year 2024, while Prof. Charles Anosike will receive the award for Aviation Sector CEO of the Year 2024. For its radical approach to philanthropy and interventions in capital projects in critical sectors as health and tertiary educational institutions in the country, the Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR) Africa Initiative will receive the award of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Champion of the Year 2024.
The Philanthropist of the Year Award goes to OB Lulu-Briggs Foundation, while Humanitarian Personality of the Year Award goes to Mr. Peter Omoh Dunia, Chairman, Oceanwave Group of Companies, for his exceptional commitment to humanitarian causes, particularly the less privileged – orphans, widows, and people with disabilities in such areas as education, sport and healthcare.
The Interventionist Agency of the Year 2024 Award goes to the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), judging by its contributions that have helped sustain peace and stability in the oil-bearing Niger-Delta region.
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) is also being recognised for the sustained customer confidence in the nation’s banking sector as they perform their inter-mediation role in the nation’s economy, especially the increase in Maximum Deposit Insurance Coverage from N500,000 to N5 million to mitigate the impact of bank failures.
There was also the seamless liquidation of Heritage Bank Limited by the corporation. Access Bank Plc will receive the Independent Award 2024 for the growth trajectory that has transformed it into a formidable operator across the African continent, its efforts at becoming a global brand and a Nigerian pride.
Mr. Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director, United Bank for Africa Plc, will receive the Award of Banker of the Year 2024 on account of how his leadership has ensured that the group continues to impact the Nigerian economy and those of her over 20 host countries meaningfully.
Transcorp Hotels Plc will receive this year’s Hospitality Company of the Year 2024 for the value it has brought to the post-privatisation brand, ensuring that it continues to compete favourably with smaller emergent hotels in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Similarly, the Indigenous Oil Company of the Year 2024 Award will be received by Falcon Corporation Limited.
Rites Foods Limited has been nominated as Food Company of the Year, in reference to its contributions to the carbonated soft drinks sub-sector as seen in its expanding product portfolio that meets the changing consumer preferences, besides adding value to the Nigerian economy through job creation and payment of taxes, among others.
The Maritime Industry Trailblazer of the Year 2024 Award goes to Mr. Sheyi Money, MD/CEO, Nembe Crude Oil Export Terminals Limited.
Also, the Vice Chancellor of the Year Award will be received by Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, for the way he has successfully engineered the young and fledgling ivory tower through transformational leadership, vision and innovation, and turning it into a centre of academic excellence in Nigeria less than fifteen years of its establishment.
The Independent Private Sector Administrator of the Year Award goes to Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, Director-General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), the umbrella organisation of employers in the organised private sector, for ensuring that it remains the credible voice of operators in the country’s private sector in matters of the operating environment and the larger economy as they affect business owners, entrepreneur s and the living conditions of their workers.
Engr. Festus Osifo, President of the Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), will receive the Outstanding Labour Leader of the Year Award for his sustained efforts in the Nigerian labour ecosystem where he remains a leading light, having traversed that space for decades.
On a royal note, Oba Saheed Elegushi, Kushenla III, the Royal Father of the Day, will receive the award of Bridge Builder of the Year for his prominent roles in that respect, which has also resulted in the transformation of his kingdom.
Chief Bisi Akande, a former governor of Osun State and founding chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and Otunba Mike Adenuga (Jnr.), GCON, will receive the Life Time Achievement Awards for their activities in Nigeria’s political, business, and economic space, respectively.
In the social media sphere, Kiekie, Social Media Influencer, will receive the Social Media Influencer of the Year Award for her multi-dimensional talents across social media platforms where she has remained a mentor to millions of subscribers on YouTube and loyal followers on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok hungry for insightful and regular posts used to entertain and educate them.
credit: izon news daily
