A purposeful leader, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State has been chosen to manage LEADERSHIP Newspapers as the Governor of the Year 2024 for his exemplary and creative leadership.
His focused and purposeful leadership style, geared towards transformative development in Enugu, has become the touchstone of leadership anchored on courageous reforms in Southeast, raising hope again in a region of multiple crises.
The governor brought his wealth of experience from his background in the oil and gas sector. He has embodied the industry and calculated strategy to move his people to the path of progress through massive investment in the critical sectors of the economy.
Mbah holds a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) degree from the University of East London, a Barrister-at-Law (BL) from the Nigerian Law School, and a Master’s in Maritime and Commercial Law from Lagos State University, but he found passion in Oil and gas where he founded of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited. This passion helped him build a reputation for prudent resource management. As the task is enormous in the state, Governor Mba refocused, reordered and reorganised the state administrative machinery to drive the process of change in the state. His strategic planning and impactful projects have resonated deeply with the people of Enugu.
In less than two years of his emergence as governor of the state, Governor Mbah has boosted the state’s infrastructure with a clear mission: to deliver innovative solutions, drive inclusive development, and set new standards for governance.
His massive investment in infrastructure projects has opened the floodgates for the rehabilitation of numerous urban and rural roads, with residents who have filled the Enugu people with enormous admiration for the quality and impact of these projects. He has demonstrated the ability to sustain these efforts to create 10,000 kilometres of roads within eight years. It is indeed a mark of commitment that the governor is on track, with over 71 roads commissioned in a year. This has already started impacting the lives of the people of Enugu.
Governor Mbah is also putting infrastructure together to enhance his Smart School project. It uses critical digital skills to make students more competitive in the modern era and strengthen their technology drive using digital tools.
Mbah 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.
Mbah 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 immensely contributing 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 2024, apart from Mbah, five other state governors were jointly nominated for the governor of the Year award. They are Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno of Akwa Ibom, 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 the emergence of Governor Monday Okpehbolo as the governor and his advocacy for democratic growth in Nigeria.
Benedict Peters, founder and CEO of AITEO, won the Business Person of the Year award for massively investing in Africa’s mining and hydrocarbons sector. In contrast, 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 the Private Sector) while Bamanga Usman Jada, MD/CEO of the Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority, clinched the CEO of the Year award for the Public Sector.
AVSATEL Communications Limited won the Company of the Year award in other award categories, 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. At the same time, 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.
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