Dangote, Wike, Governors, Others To Receive Awards

The 17th edition of LEADERSHIP Newspapers’ annual conference and awards will take place tomorrow at the Old Banquet Hall of State House, Abuja, by 9 a.m.

During the event, the newspaper will present its prestigious awards to the president and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and Governors Umo Bassey Eno (Akwa Ibom), Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), Peter Mbah of Enugu, Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke (Osun) and Bala Mohammaed of Bauchi.
Dangote, Wike and the governors are among 26 individuals and organisations that bagged different categories of the awards. While Dangote clinched the Person of the Year award, Wike bagged the Quinquennial award for governance and Infrastructure.

It would be recalled that the LEADERSHIP Newspapers’ Board of Editors nominated 26 distinguished individuals and organisations that have made exceptional contributions to governance, business, social impact, and public service in Nigeria after extensive deliberations at a meeting held in November 2024 at the company’s headquarters in Abuja.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Africa’s foremost industrialist and philanthropist, won the Person of the Year Award for his immense contributions to the nation’s economy. His philanthropic efforts make him a deserving recipient of this highest honour.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, emerged as the winner of the maiden Quinquennial Award for Governance and Infrastructure, a rare recognition by the LEADERSHIP Group Limited.

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Six governors were jointly nominated for the award of Governor of the Year. They are Ume Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State, Mallam Umar A. Namadi of Jigawa State and Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke of Osun state.

The governors were recognised for driving sustainable growth, infrastructural development, and policy innovations in their respective states.

Adams Oshiomhole (CON), former Governor of Edo State, won the Politician of the Year award for his political influence in the state, where he frontally led the campaign that led to Governor Monday Okpehbolo’s emergence as governor and his advocacy for democratic growth in Nigeria.
The Business Person of the Year award was won by Benedict Peters, Founder and CEO of AITEO, for massively investing in the mining and hydrocarbons sector in Africa, while Dame (Dr) Adaora Umeoji, GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, clinched the Banker of the Year award for her exceptional role in the banking industry.
Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR), Comptroller-General of Customs, emerged as the Public Service Person of the Year for his exceptional leadership in improving the efficiency of Nigeria’s Customs Service (NCS).

Other remarkable business leaders, including the CEO of NORD Automobiles Ltd, Oluwatobi Ajayi, won the CEO of the Year award for the private Sector, while Bamanga Usman Jada, MD/CEO of the Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA), clinched the CEO of the Year award for the Public Sector.
In other award categories, AVSATEL Communications Limited won the Company of the Year award, while ARCO Engineering Limited bagged the Oil & Gas Local Content Champion of the Year award.
The Social Impact Person of the Year award was won by Olori Ivie Atuwatse III for her tireless efforts in championing education and healthcare initiatives. OPAY won the Fintech Company of the Year award for promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria, while Alternative Bank clinched the Most Innovative Bank of the Year award for its pioneering work in digital banking.

Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal will be honoured as Environmental Impact Person of the Year for his leadership in advancing environmental policies and addressing climate change.
The Outstanding Young Person of the Year 2024 award will go to the ENACTUS team from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. They are recognised for championing innovation and sustainability. Terra Cube will receive the Product of the Year award for its innovative solutions in sustainable living.
The awardees will receive their awards during a conference on the theme “The Challenges and Opportunities in Nigeria’s Fiscal Federalism,” where issues around the distribution of financial resources and responsibilities among different levels of government will be thoroughly discussed and workable solutions proffered. Vice President Kashim Shettima will serve as the keynote speaker.
Vice President Shettima, the event’s keynote speaker, is expected to share his thoughts on how Nigeria will effectively harness the opportunities and address the challenges in the thorny issue of fiscal federalism.

The annual LEADERSHIP Conference and Award is a platform where the newspaper recognises Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their chosen field of endeavour and whose contribution to the country’s social, political, or economic sphere is deemed outstanding.

It is part of LEADERSHIP Group Limited’s contributions to recognising performance and stimulating discussions on topical issues that will advance the growth and development of Nigeria.