Ejiogu, Ezeagwu hail consistency of The Sun Awards

The Chief Executive Officer of CityGate Group Limited, Chief Mike Duru Ejiogu, and the Chief Executive Officer of Charzin Group Limited, Prince Charles Ezeagwu, have commended the management of The Sun Publishing Limited for sustaining the consistency of The Sun Awards.

Ejiogu and Ezeagwu, who will receive The Sun Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2025, spoke separately in Abuja and Lagos respectively when the Management of The Sun Publishing Limited, led by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Onuoha Ukeh, presented nomination letters to them.

They will be honoured alongside 34 other outstanding Nigerians and two organisations at The Sun Awards ceremony holding at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on January 31, 2026.

Ejiogu said: “I appreciate the fact that The Sun has sustained this award till date because as you know, in Nigeria, whatever they start, within a short time, it will fade away or people will say we are more than this one.”

Ejiogu further eulogised The Sun, stressing that a lot of people are still interested in the awards because the management has sustained its integrity, standard and consistency.

“This is the kind of thing I appreciate. I thank you for finding me worthy to be nominated as the Entrepreneur of the Year 2025. I know I have been doing a lot, but honestly, I didn’t know that anybody was keeping records on it because I never asked for this. I accept the award,” Ejiogu said.

He described The Sun Awards as special, adding that he has always admired The Sun and the awards ceremony.

Earlier, The Sun MD felicitated with Ejiogu on his achievements as the CEO of CityGate Group Limited.

Ukeh said Ejiogu had been adjudged to be a Nigerian entrepreneur whose leadership in real estate, construction, and hospitality has received wide acclaim.

The Sun MD said under Ejiogu’s leadership, CityGate Group/CityGate Homes, a real estate and hospitality conglomerate, has become known for quality, innovation and reliability, delivering multiple estates in Abuja.

“Over time, you have overseen infrastructure and construction projects beyond housing. Your projects in this category include a completed road project in Imo State awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and a mass housing project for the Bauchi State Ministry of Works.”

Ukeh also said Ejiogu’s ability to navigate the many challenges of real estate business in Nigeria, from securing capital, regulatory and land-title issues, to changing economic conditions, has distinguished him as a resilient and forward-thinking business leader.

“Beyond business, you are deeply involved in youth empowerment and community development. You have created employment opportunities across sectors, invested seed capital in small businesses, empowered numerous youths, and improved living conditions for indigent families in your Local Government Area,” he stated.

On his part, Ezeagwu, expressed appreciation to the Board of Editors of The Sun Publishing Limited for finding him worthy to be honoured with the highly coveted award.

He also eulogised the award, describing it as one that will motivate him to put more effort in the achievements that made him to be considered worthy to be honoured alongside other distinguished Nigerians who have done well in their various areas of interest.

While presenting the nomination letter to Ezeagwu, The Sun MD described him as a highly innovative, creative and self-motivated individual with great determination to succeed.

He said: “These qualities began to manifest in you at a very young age as you quickly integrated into Christo Group, a stationery business founded by your late father, from where you rose through the administrative ladder to becoming the company’s General Manager.”

He noted that Ezeagwu’s interests in manufacturing and bulk importation, recreational facilities and fast food business, real estate, direct sales management and international brokerage, reflect on the success story of the numerous organisations under the Charzin Group, including Charzin Stationery Limited, Charzin Industries, Romeo and Juliet Event Centre, Royal Terrace Hotel and Towers Limited as well as Charzin Construction & Property Development Limited.

Ukeh noted: “Away from business, you are committed to the well being of people and the pursuit of a better society. This is in line with your personal philosophy that unless life is lived for others it is not worth living, a principle upon which your business and social life stand.”

Apart from Ejiogu and Ezeagwu, other individuals and organisations that will receive awards include Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Dr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria and Sen. Solomon Adeola, Senator representing Ogun West (Man of the Year); Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Governor 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.

The Minister of the Year goes to Mr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of FCT while the Lifetime Achievement Award would be received by Oba Rashidi 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 will be received by Prof. Stella Ifeanyi Smith, Director of Research, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, and Dr. Emeka Agbasi, MD/CEO, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) while the 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, Pointek Limited.

Mr. Olasunkanmi Owoyemi, Chairman, Sunbeth Global Concepts Limited; and Dr. Eric Opah, CEO, Fortune Global will receive Entrepreneur of the Year award also, just as 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 real estate icon award going to Dr. Stephen Maxwell Nweze, Chairman, Seman Global Concept Limited.

The Humanitarian Service Icon award goes Senator Barau I. Jibril, 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 Anigbogu, 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 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.