Governor Sule Shines At The 18th LEADERSHIP Annual Conference And Awards

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi A. Sule, again stands tall at another Annual Conference and Awards by the LEDERSHIP Group which held recently at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, where he received the ‚Governor of the Year‘ 2025 trophy.

Sule, now proudly referred to as the “Engineer of Modern Nasarawa” for his transformative strides cutting across different sectors of the state economy, was honoured by the organisation for driving rapid industrialization, infrastructure development, and economic growth through the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), a working policy document which encapsulates enduring systems and business models that has repositioned the state into a thriving investment and industralisation hub.

During the award, LEADERSHIP highlighted the state’s progress in industrialisation, infrastructure renewal, human capital development, improved road networks, and renewable energy initiatives, among other accomplishments.

It praises the governor’s efforts in transforming Nasarawa into a manufacturing and investment hub, including the development of the largest lithium processing factory in Nigeria. Other achievements highlighted include massive infrastructure renewal, road network expansion, human capital development, and the expansion of renewable energy initiatives.

When the team from the LEADERSHIP Group presented the award letter to him in his office in Lafia, on November 12, 2025, Governor Sule expressed delight with the gesture, vowing not to take the gesture for granted.

The governor who paid growing tribute to the founder of the LEADERSHIP Group, late Sam Nda Isaiah for his vision in establishing the outfit, said he has followed the organization’s transformative stride from formative stage to becoming a leading voice not only in the North but the country at large.

Governor Sule said for such a frontline newspaper to consider him for an award is not a mean feat, while praising the organization for ensuring editorial integrity which stands it out among its peers.

“Let me sincerely thank you and show you appreciation for this. I‘m not taking this award for granted.

“I see so many awards every day, but there are a few awards that I admire, and I have admired the LEADERSHIP Award from a distance. And today, you are telling me I‘m one of them. So, it means so much to me that you have identified me.

“I have seen people who actually begged before the awards come to them, that‘s what I can never do. But there are awards I admire when people on their own identified someone and say, we are giving you such an award, especially the LEADERSHIP, which is an organization that I have respected. I have always respected your reporting; I have respected your documentations; your investigations; and the way you carry it. So, with all that, it means so much to me that you are giving me this award, and I want to sincerely thank you for that,” he stated.

Governor Sule was particularly elated with the choice of category which was considered for the honour, stressing that he felt so fulfilled that his effort is being recognized by such a reputable organization even as he said the honor would spur him to do more.

At the 2026 award, Sule was honoured alongside prominent leaders who have distinguished themselves by impacting on the lives of others. Among them include the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who bagged “Person of the Year” award. Sule’s colleagues such as Uba Sani (Kaduna), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Hope Uzodimma (Imo) were similarly decorated.

Sule who is also the Chairman North Central Governors’ Forum also got the organisation’s award’s prestigious “Governance Achievement in Industrialization of the Decade Award” in 2024, for his transformative contributions to industrial development in Nasarawa State.