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Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, have said the recognition of their legislative work by The Sun will spur them to render greater service to the nation.
Kalu and Bamidele spoke while accepting The Sun Innovative Legislator of the Year and Senator of the Year awards respectively when the management team of The Sun Publishing Limited, led by its Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Onuoha Ukeh, presented their award nomination letters.
Kalu said: “I am delighted to be recognised by our own newspaper. I say ‘our own’ because I was there when this newspaper was born. The day the first edition was published, I was in the publisher’s house. The first copy came out and we were thrilled.
“Over the years, a lot of other newspapers have approached me for one award or the other. The Sun, meanwhile, was busy monitoring the activities of my office to determine whether I deserved the award.
“It is usually said that a prophet has no honour in his own home. But when the honour comes from your own place, and in this case the publisher is my constituent and the senator representing me, it means the observation is likely to be fair and not biased. It also took a long time, because it came out of a well-researched process. Listening to the citation you just read shows that you were thorough. None of you approached me for money for this award.
“It is only recently that I was persuaded to start taking them. It is not that awards are not good, but sometimes accolades cloud the reasons behind the effort, and for me that reason is impact. Impact is the driving force behind every legislative act I engage in.”
He also hinted at forthcoming bills in the health and security sectors, which he said would make a tremendous change in the way Nigerians live.
Senator Bamidele, on his part, described the honour as a significant endorsement from a credible media organisation, and said he was particularly grateful that it came without any lobbying on his part.
“God Almighty knows that I just wake up every day and do what I have to do, without having any expectation, because I’m at a point in my life, by God’s grace, and a point in my career that I will not do anything to hurt anyone. I just won’t do anything in expectation of an applause,” he said.
“I just do things based on a sense of commitment and trying to also stay loyal to the oath that I took to serve the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in whatever capacity that I find myself.
“This kind of recognition for me, especially when it has come the way it has come, without having to lobby for it, without having to go out of my way to do anything, means a lot to me. And I do not take it for granted.
“The Sun group of newspapers has also attained a status in credibility and integrity, so this kind of thing coming from The Sun family would mean something serious to me. I receive it with a high sense of gratitude. I’m not taking it for granted.”
The Senate Leader said that his selection for the award is a lesson for public officials whose efforts are being observed by others, assuring that the award would make him want to do more.
Earlier, Ukeh said the Board of Editors selected Kalu after extensive deliberations, describing him as a legislator with a dynamic and result-oriented style of representation.
He praised the Deputy Speaker’s modernisation of the House’s communication architecture as its spokesperson, in the past, his chairmanship of the Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, and his Peace in the South East Project, which he said had promoted dialogue and non-kinetic solutions to insecurity.
On Senator Bamidele, the Managing Director cited his leadership of the 10th Senate, which has passed more than 90 bills, and his role in the Student Loan Act and reforms to the Nigeria Police Act.
He also noted Bamidele’s background as former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students and member of the defence team of the late Chief Moshood Abiola.
The Sun Awards 2026 will hold on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Among the headline winners is Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who emerged Man of the Year. The Governor of the Year award goes to Governors Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Uba Sani (Kaduna) and Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi).
Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, First Lady of Zamfara State, wins First Lady of the Year, while the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, will receive the Courage in Leadership Award.
Beyond Bamidele and Kalu, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, former Zamfara State Governor, emerges Political Icon of the Year, while Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, member representing Borno State, will receive the House of Representatives Member of the Year award. In entertainment, music star Chinedu Izuchukwu Okoli (Flavour) wins Creative Icon of the Year.
The Minister of the Year award goes to Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, and Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education. The Lifetime Achievement Award will go to former Ogun State Governor and serving senator, Gbenga Daniel; Archbishop of the Church of God Mission International, Most Rev Margaret Benson-Idahosa; former Chairman of Lasaco Assurance Plc, Chief Mrs. Teju Phillips; former Anambra State Governor, Senator Jim Nwobodo; and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje. Those to receive the Public Service Personality Award include Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Mr. Sonny S.T. Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFund; and Dr. Kunemofa Asu, Director of Finance and Accounts, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The Real Estate Icon Award goes to Mr. Samuel Ajose, CEO of Levitikal Group, and Dr. Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac, CEO of Homadil Realty.
Group Managing Director/CEO of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Oliver Alawuba, is named Banker of the Year, while Access Bank Plc wins Bank of the Year. The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), under Chief Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, will receive the Parastatal of the Year award.
The Entrepreneur of the Year award goes to Chief Joseph Ukeji, Chairman of J.I. Ejison Group International Ltd; Mr. George Obi, Chairman/CEO of Fidel Associates Limited; and Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, Founder/CEO of Binani Group of Companies. Chief Sunday Ephraim Ezeobiora, Chairman of Sunchi Integrated Farms Limited, and Chief Anthony Obele, CEO of Mekens Integrated Nigeria Limited, are named Investors of the Year.
The Industrialist of the Year award will be received by Chief Williams Agbo, Founder/Chairman of Willson Group; Chief Ikenna Ekeagu, CEO of Blueworld Cosmetics; and Dr. Badamasi Burji, Group Managing Director of First Class Refreshment Limited. Chief Kester Okike Agwu, Founder/CEO of Tastia Restaurants, and Chief RemiChris Nwagbo, Chairman of BON Octagon Hotel, Abuja, emerge as Hospitality Icon award winners.
The Sports Personality of the Year award goes to Chief Leo Edochie, a renowned gold promoter and Chairman/CEO of Solotone Global Ventures Limited. Chief Friday Nwabueze Umeh, Founder of Ofiafuluego Foundation, and Chief Abraham Ikechukwu Otti, CEO of Allied Victory Nigeria Ltd., win the Humanitarian Service Icon Award, while HRM Alexander Uzo Onyido, the Igwe of Ogidi, will be honoured as Royal Father of the Year.
