The Independent Newspaper on Saturday, March 15, 2025, honoured “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” with awards.
According to the organization the “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 the year’s edition, ‘Celebrating Landmark Accomplishments’”.
Seven governors were dully recognised by the organisation for outstanding performance in various fields. They include Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule; Oluseyi Makinde, Oyo; Usman Ododo, Kogi; AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq; Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, Delta; Senator Bassey Edet Out, Cross River; and Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo respectively.
Among them, Governor Sule, emerged 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.
He emerged after his candidature was duly screened by the Board of Editors of the Daily Independent newspapers.
The award notification letter given to the governor earlier showed that the board unanimously voted for him for providing impactful leadership expected to change the course of the state.
The managing director/ Editor-in-Chief of Daily Independent Steve Omanufeme said the “award is in recognition of your unique contributions to the diversification of the state’s economy, particularly your recent unprecedented initiative that resulted in the inauguration of the largest Lithium processing plant in the country.”
The organisation also considered other transformative strides in the choice of Governor Sule for the award.
“Equally worthy of note is the Nasarawa State Cash Transfer Scheme, the first of its kind in the state as well as the investments in agricultural development, infrastructural upgrade, advancements in the educational sector, public service transformation and rural-urban development, among others,” the letter reads.
According to the Editor-in-Chief, the award ceremony slated for the March 2025 in Lagos is designed to celebrate landmark accomplishments which in Nasarawa State are verifiable and worthy of emulation.
Award an encouragement for us to do more for our state
Responding, Governor Sule expressed appreciation to the Board of Editors of Indepen¬dent Newspapers for counting him worthy of the award based on his modest efforts at boosting the contribution of the sector to the state’s economy.
He assured that the award is indeed to the people of the state, even as it is an inspiration for his government to do more in the last remaining two years of the administration.
“The award is to me, but indeed, it is to the people of Nasarawa State. So, on behalf of the government and people of Nasarawa State, we wish to sincerely appreciate you for recognising our little efforts here and there… that has attracted your attention,” he stressed.
Many have described the award conferred on Governor Sule as deserving and not an image laundering stunt that has become the order of the day. They point at the thriving lithium exploration activities that has turned the state into emerging industrial hub to buttress their arguments.
Even the federal government had cause to recongnise the state’s potential as a thriving solid mineral hub and the significant steps taken by the governor in creating the enabling environment that has been attracting investors to inject billions of hard currencies into exploration of various mineral deposits that abound in the state.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu last year commissioned a Lithium processing factory built in Nasarawa State by a Chinese firm, Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited at Kama Otto in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.
The president had praised Governor Sule for providing the much-needed support that ensure the emergence of the largest lithium plant in sub-Saharan Africa describing it as a historic leap.
He said the project was in line with the government Renewed Hope Agenda of diversifying the nation’s economy by leveraging on the mining sector in order to expand the country’s sources of revenue for socio-economic development.
Also, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, at a different forum also praised the governor for fostering cooperation with the federal government on mining development, while also championing the administration’s industralisation drive.
He urged other states to emulate Nasarawa`s efforts in facilitating the value addition of minerals, which were expedient for the growth of the industry and for boosting Nigeria`s economic profile.
