Local Manufacturing Spotlighted As Sun Honours Ezeobi

Chairman of John Zobis Group, Chief John Ezeobi, has been honoured with the prestigious 2025 Sun Industrialist of the Year Award, a recognition reserved for individuals whose contributions have shaped Nigeria’s economic and manufacturing landscape.

The award was presented over the weekend at the Sun Awards ceremony held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event drew captains of industry, political leaders, traditional rulers, senior government officials, clergy, and other distinguished personalities who gathered to celebrate excellence and outstanding achievements across various sectors of national life.

zeobi’s emergence as Industrialist of the Year stood out not only because of the calibre of past recipients but also due to his age and the pace at which he has built a formidable industrial brand.

He is among the youngest Nigerians to receive the Industrialist of the Year Award from The Sun Newspaper and the youngest indigene of Anambra State to be so honoured, further cementing his reputation as one of the most dynamic young industrial figures of his generation.

The award recognised his visionary leadership and sustained contributions to Nigeria’s economy through manufacturing, particularly in the cable production industry. Under his leadership, the Zobis Group has grown into a major player, driving local production, creating employment opportunities, and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported industrial materials.

Presenting the award to him, the chairman of United Nigeria Air, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, commended Ezeobi’s courage and entrepreneurial drive, describing his achievements as a source of pride not only to Anambra State and the South-East but to Nigeria as a whole.

He noted that the country needs more entrepreneurs of his calibre to drive sustainable economic growth.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the managing director of Sun Publishing Limited, Mr Onuoha Ukeh, described Ezeobi and other awardees as uncommon achievers who refused to be constrained by the limitations of a developing economy.

He said the honourees distinguished themselves through bold risk-taking, resilience, discipline, and innovation.

In his reaction, Ezeobi expressed profound gratitude to The Sun Newspaper for the recognition, describing the honour as both humbling and inspiring.

He pledged to remain committed to industrial excellence, innovation, and national development, noting that the award would further spur him to do more for the country.

He dedicated the honour to his family, the management and staff of John Zobis Group, and hardworking Nigerians whose resilience continues to inspire his entrepreneurial journey.