UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, Headlines LEADERSHIP Conference, Awards

Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr Amina Mohammed, has confirmed her participation as the keynote speaker at the 18th edition of the LEADERSHIP Annual Conference and Awards.

The event will take place on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Dr Amina will speak on the theme of the Conference, “Political Stability and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Increasingly Unstable Global System: A Roadmap for Nigeria.”

A statement by the chairman of LEADERSHIP Group Ltd., Zainab Nda-Isaiah, said Mohammed was chosen as the keynote speaker because of her distinguished leadership at the United Nations and her invaluable contributions to sustainable development and respect for a rules-based global system.

“The theme of this year’s conference is very fitting and aligns well with Amina’s persistent call for sustainable development. Therefore, we expect her to analyse this topic and ultimately provide perspectives on how the world can achieve lasting political stability,” Mrs Nda-Isaiah stated.

The LEADERSHIP conference is one of the two main activities, with the other being the presentation of awards to deserving Nigerians and organisations.

A letter signed by UN Deputy Secretary-General Annalisa Orlandi-Boyd said she (Amina Mohammed) had accepted to attend the event.

LEADERSHIP had in November 2025 unveiled its 2025 awardees with the Nigerian First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, clinching the Person of the Year award.

Senator Remi Tinubu won the award for redefining the First Lady’s role as a force for stewardship and nation-building, and for proving that compassion, when structured, can transform policy into purpose.

“The defining criterion for this category is rewarding person(s) who have made extraordinarily positive impacts on our lives through achievements that inspired and continue to inspire the country,” LEADERSHIP’s Board said in a statement.

According to the Board, despite the country being on the brink of another election year, there was no winner for the Politician of the Year award.

However, Governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Uba Sani (Kaduna), and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) are the 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 Uzodimma jointly won the award for his transformative leadership, which is anchored in transparency, inclusive education, digital empowerment, infrastructure renewal, and security reform.

Governor Abdullahi Sule also won the Governor of the Year award for his visionary leadership anchored on industrialisation, infrastructure renewal and human capital development, which has transformed Nasarawa into Nigeria’s emerging investment hub.

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 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 reforms.

According to the newspaper, Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Dr Benjamin Kalu, clinched the Legislator of the Year award for his exceptional record in lawmaking, representation and oversight.

The LEADERSHIP Public Service Person of the Year award was won by the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, for championing a new era of tax reform anchored on efficiency, transparency and service. The award was for the public servant(s) whose service delivery record and responsiveness resulted in significant outcomes in the sector.

Thomas Etuh won the Business Person of the Year award for his visionary leadership in transforming Nigeria’s fertiliser and agribusiness sector.

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 contributing to digital transformation and driving innovation in financial services.

The founder of Tantita Security Services, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), won the Social Impact Person of the Year award for transforming conflict into cooperation, creating jobs, defending peace, and advancing social, cultural, and economic renewal in the Niger Delta.

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 went 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.

Mrs Mabel Ijeoma Duaka and Dr Seidu Adebayo Bello jointly won the Primary Healthcare Model of the Year award, while the Outstanding Young Person Award went to David Adeyemi for nurturing innovation, empathy and excellence by developing an AI-powered app that transforms access to education for visually impaired learners.

This year, the Artiste of the Year award was clinched by the duo of Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, better known as Skales, and Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke.

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