Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, with Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume (photo left) and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State (photo right) when he led management delegations to present letters nominating them for the Lifetime Achievement Award and Governor of the Year Award respectively, in Abuja.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume and Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, have described their nominations for The Sun Awards as honours well-cherished.
Speaking separately in Abuja when the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Onuoha Ukeh, led delegations of the company’s management to present award nomination letters to them, Akume and Ododo said that the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Political Personality of the Year Award respectively were great honours from an impartial news organization.
The SGF and Governor Ododo are among 36 Nigerians, who will be honoured at The Sun Awards celebration holding on March 1, 2025, in Lagos.
Akume said he was accepting the award because of The Sun time-tested adherence to professionalism, fairness and objectivity as well as its commitment to nation building.
According to him, “I appreciate this honour, profoundly, and I accept it.
“The Sun has come a long way in information dissemination and Nigerians look to your newspaper because you stand for the truth.
“Your newspaper is very informative and you show a lot of patriotism in the discharge of your mandate.
Earlier, The Sun MD informed Akume that he’s being honoured because of his contributions to the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria, having served the nation as a civil servant, local government sole administrator, elected governor, senator, minister and currently SGF.
Ukeh said of Akume: “Your experience manifests in the critical roles you play in fostering federal-state relations, promoting transparency, and advising the President.
“Your dedication to public service has received wide acclaim through honours and recognitions in different forms, including the Distinguished Alumnus honours and the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). At the international level, you are also well recognised with honours such as the Key to the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.”
On his part, Governor Ododo said the Political Personality of the Year Award will serve as impetus to deliver more on his social contract with his people, regardless of political or religious divides.
He expressed his commitment to serve Kogi people well since God used them to make him governor.
Ododo said: “I’ve told every Kogite, that whatever happened before, during and immediately after the election was a process God designed for us to be where we are today. I’ve invited everybody, our critical stakeholders, irrespective of political party affiliation or beliefs to join hands with us to build our state.
The Sun MD, while explaining why Ododo was chosen as Political Personality of the Year, said that the governor has done well in grassroots mobilisation and building of political consensus across the state.
Ukeh said: “As governor, you have shown political sagacity, gingering the people to be politically conscious and to contribute their quota to the development of the state. “Your prowess in grassroots mobilisation has its roots during your days as Auditor-General for Local Governments in Kogi State. You worked with local government officials to formulate policies and implement measures that brought about financial transparency, accountability, and good governance.
“Your midas touch in building political consensus and bridges across party lines is legendary. This manifested recently when you convened a meeting of all Kogi political stakeholders from all political parties, where you impressed it on them to contribute their quota to make the state great and to forget partisan politics since election had been won and lost.”
The Sun MD said Ododo “aims to deliver good governance that is impactful and equitable, with the view to ensuring that the standard of living for all citizens reaches new heights.
“You have adopted a strategic approach that tackles every facet of the state’s economy, aiming for sustainable growth and development. “In the spirit of inclusiveness, you carry stakeholders along, with a belief in a society where individuals, regardless of their abilities, feel valued and included. You are breaking down barriers and ensuring that people living with disabilities, the youth, women and others have equal opportunities to thrive and succeed.”
Ukeh described Governor Ododo as “a likeable personality, owing to your warmth and charm, proving that you are a leader to watch in politics.”
Others who will receive The Sun Awards are female oil mogul and Chairman, Brittania-U Nigeria Limited as well as Amazon of Nigeria’s real estate business and Group Chief Executive Officer, PWAN Group, Dr. Jayne Onwumere, who are winners of the Man of the Year award. Governors Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto (Sokoto State), Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra State), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) and Mohammed Bago (Niger State) are winners of Governor of the Year award, while wife of Ebonyi State governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, is First Lady of the Year, with Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management as winner of Minister of the Year.
For the Lifetime Achievement Award, Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, former Governor, Sokoto State; Mrs. Annkio Briggs, environmentalist and civil rights advocate; Prof Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Chief Joseph Ezeokafor, Chairman of Jezco Oil, are winners.
Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, MD, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Prof Dantani Wushishi, Registrar, National Examination Council (NECO) and Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller
General, Nigeria Customs Service, are winners of the Public Service Award, with Mr. Walter Akpani, MD, Providus Bank, as Banker of the Year.
In the business categories, Chief Polycarp Obiukwu, Chairman, Bolton White Group; Dr. Aisha Achimugu, President, Felak Group, and Dr. Kennedy Okonkwo, Group MD, Nedcomoaks Limited, are winners of Entrepreneur of the Year, with Ichie Ken Chimezie Nwankwo, Chairman, Bigly Group and Amb Emmanuel Udechukwu, Chairman of Roxbury Leisure Homes Limited, clinching Investor of the Year award.
The Industrialist of the Year award goes to Chief
Cyril Okoye, CEO, Grape Tree International Limited, and Chief Chika Emenike, Chairman, Kontec Group, while
Mr. Seyi Adekunle, Founder, Vodi Group, and Chief Jideofor Ezeofor, Founder, Zeof Excluzi- oni, are winners of the Creative Personality of the Year Award.
The Humanitarian Service Personality Award goes to Dr. Darlington Nwabunike, President, De Imperial Philanthropic Family; Chief Habeeb Okuola, CEO, TILT Group, and Chief Michael Onuoha, CEO, AILES Group, with Mr. Pascal Okechukwu (Cubana Chief Priest) and Dr. Dotun Sanusi, Founder/Chairman, Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, emerging as winners of the Hospitality Personality of the Year award.
Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume and legal icon, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, are winners of the Courage in Leadership Award, with President of Actors Guild of Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Rollas Ejezie and actress and film producer, Regina Daniel-Nwoko, emerged as Nollywood Personality of the Year award winners.