First Lady, Six Governors, Notable Nigerians Bag LEADERSHIP Awards Today

| Amina Mohammed, Kukah, Etsu Nupe, Other Dignitaries Arrive

Nigeria’s most influential newspaper, LEADERSHIP will today, February 12, 2026 hold its annual LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards.

The much-anticipated event will be held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre,Abuja at 9am.

Notable Nigerians – governors, the current first lady and former first lady of Nigeria, legislators, members of the diplomatic corps and elder statesmen are expected to grace the 18th edition of Nigeria’s most  prestigious newspaper  award.

Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair, Sustainable Development Group, Dr. Amina Mohammed, is the Keynote Speaker for this year’s theme: “Political Stability and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Increasingly Unstable Global System: A Roadmap for Nigeria.”

A statement by the  Editor-in- Chief /Senior Vice Chairman of LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group, Mr Azubuike Ishiekwene, disclosed that Most Reverend Hassan Matthew Kukah, the  Catholic Bishop of Sokoto  Diocese is  the Chairman of the Occasion while the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike is the chief host. Chairman of LEADERSHIP Media Group, Mrs Zainab Nda-Isaiah is the Host  and the Etsu Nupe(Bagandozhi), His Royal Highness, Dr. Abubakar Yahaya, CFR, Etsu Nupe is the royal father of the day.

As laid down by the founding chairman of the Newspaper Group, the late Sam Nda-Isaiah, the selection of the award recipients as usual followed a critical review and thorough scrutiny of notable Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour through their contributions to the growth and development of  the country.

The  2025 award is not only phenomenal but special with the first lady of the federal republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu clinching the ‘Person of The Year’ award for: “ Redefining the First Lady’s office as a force for stewardship and nation building and for proving that compassion, when structured, can transform policy in purpose”.  Former first lady of Nigeria, Dr Patience Goodluck Jonathan will be in attendance at the epoch- making event.

For providing exceptional leadership qualities, massive infrastructural renewal, unwavering commitment to restoring security, fiscal discipline and massive urban-rural renewal in their respective  states , six(6)  governors emerged as LEADERSHIP 2025  ‘Governor Of The Year’.   They are: Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, Engr. Abdullahi Sule  of Nasarawa, Biodun Abayomi  Oyebanji (BAO) of Ekiti, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and Senator Uba Sani of Kaduna  State.

For his exceptional record in lawmaking, Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin  Okezie Kalu,  emerged  as LEADERSHIP ‘Legislator of The Year”, a newly introduced category of the LEADERSHIP coveted awards.

Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem,Ph.D is   ‘LEADERSHIP House of Rep Member of the Year on Constituecy Development’. This is another new category of the awards.

The LEADERSHIP Public Service Person of The Year was clinched by the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, a  trained economist and reformer who sees tax not merely as a fiscal tool but an engine of inclusive growth.

The Business Person of The Year Award was won by chairman of Mikap Group and Fertilisers and Inputs Suppliers of Nigeria (FEPSAN), Thomas Etuh. Etuh, a man who has turned fertiliser into a force of national renewal is one of very few Nigerian entrepreneurs who embody the spirit of nation building and self- reliance.

CEO of the Year award was won by the immediate past CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Oil and Gas Sector ( NUPRC) , Engr. Gbenga Komolafe. Notable among his many achievements and reforms is achieving a 1.8million barrels per day oil output leading to the sector surpassing its revenue target by up to 84.2 percent.

Dr Tony Okpanachi, a seasoned banker and pioneer Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Development Bank of Nigeria(DBN) emerged LEADERSHIP Banker of the Year. An  architect of  inclusive finance, Okpanachi in eight years has turned around  the fortunes of DBN through, innovation,sustainability and empowering MSMEs – the true backbone of Nigeria’s economy.

Providus Bank clinched ‘Bank of the Year’ for contributing to digital transformation in Nigeria’s banking sector,empowering small and medium scale enterprises, and driving innovation in financial services.

High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) is LEADERSHIP’s Social Impact Person of the Year 2025. Tompolo’s name is synonymous with the Niger Delta struggle. The oil  rich region despite being home to some of the largest and highest quality oil deposits in the world was  for several years  impoverished, mired in poverty, polluted and voiceless until Tompolo through his bravery  took up the struggle  for dignity, equity and self determination of the people of Niger Delta. Today, the region boasts of relative calm.

Other winners of LEADERSHIP’s coveted awards are : Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Environmental Impact Agency of the Year 2025; National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI); Oil & Gas Local Content Champion of the Year 2025, Green Energy International Limited (GEIL); Fintech Company of the Year 2025,OPay Nigeria; Company of the Year 2025, Trade Modernisation Project (TMP); Artiste of the Year 2025, Skales;  Artist of the Year 2025, Kanyenyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke;  Sports Person of the Year 2025, Justine Madugu;  Young College Person of the Year 2025,Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu ;  Primary Healthcare Model of the Year 2025, Dr. Seidu Adebayo Bello;  Primary Healthcare Worker Model of the Year 2025, Mrs. Mabel Ijeoma Duaka; and  Product of the Year 2025, Nestlé Pure Life Water.