The widely adored and lively governor of Osun State, Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, with his grassroots-oriented development strides and agro-industrial drive, coupled with his policy of financial inclusion, business development, and philanthropic disposition, is the choice of LEADERSHIP Newspaper Limited as Governor of the Year 2024.
From a lawmaker with a significant stint in the Senate, Governor Adeleke proved critics wrong when he began massive infrastructure development in all parts of the state. The Governor, who often goes by the sobriquet “Dancing Governor” for his magical dancing steps, has introduced great steps in the rapid transformation of the state.
Governor Adeleke comes from the enormously famed Adeleke Dynasty of Ede, and this renowned background motivated him to leave an enduring legacy. Since he became governor, he has completed a network of road projects he initiated state-wide. To crown it all, he launched an N100-billion infrastructural development funding that has witnessed advanced stages of completion without securing loans for execution.
He has put smiles on the faces of Osun workers by paying a substantial backlog of salaries owed by his predecessors with only a few months left to be paid. In light of this fulfilled promise, Osun workers declared him ‘The Man of the People’ amid other juicy packages that he will soon unfold.
Governor Adeleke has made great efforts in food security, including procuring tractors and distributing seedlings, herbicides, and cassava cuttings, among other things, to farmers and women’s associations and releasing huge funds to poultry farmers participating in the Osun Broilers Outgrower Production Scheme.
He has also invested in education by bringing back bursary awards to students in tertiary institutions and ensuring the take-off of Ilesa University by providing funds and ensuring that existing institutions do not suffer from a lack of them.
His strides in the health sector are demonstrated by upgrading over 120 health centres out of the planned 345 in the state’s 335 wards. This is in addition to the periodic free medical outreaches involving medical consultations, with eye surgeries periodically rotated in the state’s three senatorial districts.
Yusuf and 25 other distinguished individuals and organisations who have made exceptional contributions to governance, business, social impact, and public service in Nigeria were nominated by the LEADERSHIP Newspapers’ Board of Editors after extensive deliberations at a meeting held in November 2024 at the company’s headquarters in Abuja.
Adeleke and other nominees will be celebrated for their outstanding leadership, vision, and commitment to national development at the LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards ceremony next year.
Alhaji Aliko Mohammad Dangote, Nigeria’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 won the 2024 Quinquennial Award For Governance and Infrastructure, a rare recognition by the LEADERSHIP Group Limited.
Also, for the year 2024, apart from Adeleke, five other state governors were jointly nominated for the award of Governor of the Year. The are Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Pastor Umo Bassey Eno of Akwa Ibom; 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 Edo State where he frontally led the campaign that led to the emergence of Governor Monday Okpehbolo as the governor, and 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 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 role in transforming 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 thePrivate Sector) while Bamanga Usman Jada, MD/CEO of the Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority clinched 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 is the Oil & Gas Local Content Champion of the Year.
The Social Impact Person of the Year award will be presented to 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 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.
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