LEADERSHIP Award Took Me By Surprise – Gov Yusuf

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has said he was surprised by the award of Governor Of The Year conferred on him by LEADERSHIP Group.

The governor stated this when he received a team from the newspaper in his office to officially present the nomination to him on Thursday.

The governor was nominated Governor of the Year 2024 by the newspaper’s board of editors for redefining governance in the state with special focus on education, economic empowerment and welfare of workers and retirees, among others.

Speaking when he received the team, Governor Yusuf said he was preoccupied with delivering dividends of democracy to the state in line with his campaign promises and never knew his administration’s modest efforts would earn him recognition from LEADERSHIP Newspaper.

“I was surprised when I learnt of the award as I never knew that we are being watched to that extent and that is a testament to the transparent and merit-based manner with which the selection was done.

“The media must continue to discharge its onerous task of  monitoring and holding the government accountable to the people at all times,” he added.

The governor described LEADERSHIP Newspaper as an embodinent of quality journalism, saying, “LEADERSHIP is the most prestigious paper in the country, as far as I am concerned.”

He said the award would spur him and his team to do more, assuring that he would remain committed to discharging his campaign promise of building a better Kano for the present and future generations.

Earlier, the group managing director of LEADERSHIP, Muazu Elazeh, said Governor Abba’s nomination was in recognition of his performance, especially in critical areas of education, infrastructure development, support for small and medium enterprises and welfare of pensioners, among others.

“You know a good leader by how his leadership treats the weak and vulnerable. You have demonstrated how people-centred your administration is by prioritising the payment of owed pensions and gratuities so the elderly can breathe. You are also focusing on education and disbursing funds for women to engage in small and medium enterprises so the children and women who are the most vulnerable can have a better future.

“These among other outstanding leadership qualities that you have demonstrated since assuming office are part of what qualified you for the 2024 Governor of The Year Award,” he said.