LEADERSHIP Award A Push To Do More – Gov Oyebanji

Ekiti State governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has said the Governor of the Year 2025 award conferred on him by LEADERSHIP Group Limited will motivate him and his team to do more.

Speaking when he received a delegation from LEADERSHIP Newspaper in Ado-Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji said the award is quite encouraging.

“This award shows that whatever we do, we are being watched. We did what earned us the award because it is our duty, and we never anticipated this kind of recognition.”

Governor Oyebanji lauded the LEADERSHIP Newspaper for carving out a niche in responsible journalism and urged the media firm not to relent in supporting the effort to build a stronger Nigeria.

Earlier in a speech, Group Managing Director of LEADERSHIP, Muazu Elazeh, explained that Governor Oyebanji earned the Governor of the Year Award for his commendable developmental strides.

“The infrastructural development under your leadership is commendable, as is your effort to create employment by empowering women and youth, with a deliberate focus on agriculture.”

Elazeh stated that Governor Oyebanji earned the award in recognition of his administration’s laudable initiatives, including efforts in ensuring inclusive governance.

It would be recalled that in November 2025, LEADERSHIP unveiled its awardees for the year, with Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, emerging as the Person of the Year 2025.

Six governors, comprising Uba Sani (Kaduna), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Hope Uzodimma(Imo State), and Abdulahi Sule (Nasarawa), emerged as Governors of the Year.

The governors earned the award for “diligently focusing on the implementation of programmes and policies that transformed lives in their respective states.”

Governor Abiodun Oyebanji clinched the Governor of the Year 2025 award for his people-centred leadership that has transformed Ekiti State through inclusive governance.

Governor Abdullahi Sule won the award for focusing on infrastructure and human capital development.

Governor Dauda Lawal won the award for his unwavering commitment to restoring security, as well as his massive investment in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, which have repositioned Zamfara on the path of peace, progress, and sustainable development.

Governor Uba Sani emerged Governor of the Year 2025 for his inclusive and reconciliatory leadership that unites people across divides in Kaduna, while Governor Sheriff Oborevwori clinched the award for his visionary ‘MORE Agenda’ that has redefined governance in Delta State through peace, inclusion, and pragmatic reform.

The Banker of the Year Award went to the Managing Director/CEO of Development Bank of Nigeria, Dr Tony Okpanachi, for pioneering inclusive finance through innovation and integrity, and for empowering over 700,000 MSMEs. Providus Bank clinched the Bank of the Year award for its contributions to digital transformation and innovation in financial services.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) was named Government Agency of the Year for expanding Nigeria’s enforcement frontiers and recovering over N10 billion for consumers.

The LEADERSHIP Environmental Impact Agency of the Year award was presented to the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for championing sustainable industrialisation, renewable energy, and climate-friendly technologies that reduce carbon emissions and promote clean power solutions.

Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) won the Oil and Gas Local Content Champion of the Year 2025 for pioneering the development and operation of Nigeria’s first onshore crude export terminal.

Other winners include Fintech Company of the Year, won by OPay for revolutionising digital finance through inclusion; Product of the Year, Nestle’s Pure Life; and Company of the Year, Trade Modernisation Project.

Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu clinched the Young College Person of the Year 2025 for her outstanding achievement in elevating Nigeria’s presence on the international academic stage.

The LEADERSHIP Sports Person of the Year award went to Justine Madugu for guiding the Super Falcons to their record-breaking 10th WAFCON title.

The awardees will be celebrated for their outstanding leadership, vision and commitment to national development at the LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards ceremony scheduled to take place on 12 February, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.