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The Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Enyinnaya Abaribe and elder statesman, Alhaji Buba Galadima, have expressed delight over their nomination for the 2025 The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award.
Abaribe and Galadima spoke separately in Abuja when the Management of The Sun Publishing Limited, led by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Onuoha Ukeh, presented nomination letters to them.
Abaribe and Galadima would be honoured with 34 others and two organisations at The Sun Awards ceremony holding at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on January 31, 2026.
The senator, an evangelist and ex-deputy governor of Abia State, thanked the Management of The Sun for the honour.
While acknowledging that there were more deserving people for the award, Abaribe said: “You have made your choice; you have made your decision. We are delighted.”
He said the presentation was coincidental as he was asked the previous day, during a book presentation centred around the lifetime of the late Sam Mbakwe, a former governor of Imo State, why he (Abaribe) was the way he is.
The senator said he told the interviewer that God created him that way and that he was trained by his parents to be the way he is, condenming what is going on today in the society, where most parents no longer take interest in how their children are brought up, particularly to be civil, to show defference to age and authority and not to do those things that will disgrace family name.
Speaking on Nigeria of the past, Abaribe recalled his admission into the University of Benin in 1975 just by simply showing his name that was published in the newspaper to officials of the institution in the Registrar’s office, who, without asking for his certificate of indigeneship and results, immediately allocated a room to him and a meal ticket.
Abaribe stated that all he did was to go from there to the place where he was to stay with his bags. “That was it. I was now in the university. Think about whether it will be possible today for any student to walk to a Registrar’s office and show a newspaper publication. They will doubt everything about you.”
He further said the development showed how the country had degenerated up till today.
“I think that people don’t care for their names anymore. So, you could see someone, a public figure, who is not showing any restraint. All you now show is how can I be on social media? How will I be trading words with people, husbands and wives?” Abaribe asked no one in particular.
He concluded that Nigerians needed to take a step backward and look at themselves again.
Earlier, The Sun MD felicitated with Abaribe on his achievements as an outstanding political figure and senator.
Among others, Ukeh said that as the senator representing Abia South, he has, by his deeds, made his constituents believe that he is a man of courage who speaks truth to power.
“You are widely regarded as one of the strongest advocates for equity in the country,” Ukeh said.
On his part, Galadima said he was highly elated and honoured that a newspaper like The Sun, among nearly 300 million Nigerians, recognised his contribution, not only to nation building, but also to the development of democracy in the country.
“It goes without saying that when one is recognised in this manner as you have done to me, without a single prompting, it means he is deserving of it. I had no idea about this award, except when I was informed that I had been picked for it.
“I know for a fact that several Nigerians, highly placed, even pay for national honours and they are given. Here I am; hardly do I have what to eat, being recognised by you because of my deeds not because of what I gave. That makes me highly elated.”
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Taking a look at the state of the nation, Galadima gave a damning verdict, saying the country was at a crossroads.
“Sir, you and a team of your colleagues should know that Nigeria is at crossroads. What people say is different from what they have here. That is our problem,” Galadima told The Sun team.
He further called on editors and journalists in the country not to relent in interrogating those in authority, saying, “because we are not having leaders, we are having rulers, rulers where the ordinary man has no input in governance. It is just an absolute dictatorship.”
Addressing Galadima, Ukeh said his achievements as a statesman and an accomplished politician are towering.
He said Galadima was selected for the award because he is one of the most vocal politicians in Nigeria, known for speaking his mind on national issues without fear of contradiction.
Ukeh said: “Like most notable politicians, you have done your bit of party shuffles, having moved from the ANPP to lead the breakaway Buhari Organisation, which later transformed to the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and eventually merged with other political groups to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“One thing that stands you out is the fact that you are a fearless politician. Although you spent almost a decade promoting the political interest of former President Muhammadu Buhari, when the time came for you to oppose his style of governance, you did so in the most eloquent manner, despite the fact that other politicians criticised him in whispers. The interesting thing was that you did all that in good faith.
“In your political career, you have been arrested, detained and harassed for about 38 times and in some cases, under dehumanising conditions, but you stood your ground as a patriotic, loyal and dedicated democrat.”
Apart from Abaribe and Galadima, other people to receive awards include Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Dr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Senator Solomon Adeola representing Ogun West (Man of the Year); Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Gov Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River (Governor of the Year).
The First Lady of the Year award goes to Mrs. Chioma Uzodimma of Imo State while the Political Personality of the Year award would be received by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State just as HRM, Igwe Kenneth Orizu of Nnewi Kingdom would receive the Most Outstanding Royal Father of the Year award.
Minister of the Year goes to Mr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of FCT while the Lifetime Achievement Award would be received by Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, Olubadan of Ibadanland; Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Presiding Bishop, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) and Chief Simeon Eyisi, Chairman/CEO, SIMS Nigeria Limited.
The Public Service Personality award would be received by Dr. Emeka Agbasi, DG, FERMA and Prof. Stella Ifeanyi Smith, Director of Research, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research. Banker of the Year goes to Mr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, MD, Premium Trust Bank Plc just as Investor of the Year award will be received by Dr. Julius Rone, CEO, UTM Offshore Limited; Dr. Andrew Oru, Chairman, Rojitel Group; and Engr. Oguchi Emeka, Chairman/CEO, Point Technologies Ltd.
The Entrepreneur of the Year award would be received by Prince Charles Ezeagwu, CEO, Charzin Group; Mr. Olasunkanmi Owoyemi, Chairman, Sunbeth Global Concepts Limited; Chief Mike Duru Ejiogu, CEO, Citygate Group; and Dr. Eric Opah, CEO, Fortunes Global.
Mr John Ezeobi, chairman, Zobis Cable Nigeria Limited; Chief Emeka Agbanari, chairman, Seaman Group, and Chief Peter Orogwu, chairman, Chuby Zion Industries Limited, would receive the Industrialist of the Year award, with the Real Estate Icon award going to Dr. Stephen Maxwell Nweze, chairman of Seman Global Concept Limited.
The Humanitarian Service Icon award goes Sen. Jubril Barau, Deputy Senate President, with the Hospitality Icon award going to Mr. Paul Onwuanibe, CEO, Landmark Africa Group, owners of Landmark Hotel & Resorts, and Chief Livinus Anibogu, CEO, AG Lexon Nig. Limited, owners of Villa Park Hotel & Suites.
The Courage in Leadership award would be received by Bishop Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto while the Nollywood Icon award goes to Dr. Kenneth Okonkwo, ace actor, film producer and activist.
Mrs. Onyeka Michael-Ugwu, founder, Hello Perfect and Mr. Tunde Onakoya, founder, Chess in Slum Africa, would receive the Young Achievers award, with Zenith Bank Plc receiving the Bank of the Year award and Opay Digital Services Limited receiving Fintech/Digital Bank of the Year award.
