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By Agatha Emeadi and Christy Anyanwu
The Sun Awards 2025, held last Saturday January 31at the Expo Convention Centre of Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, was an evening of grandeur, glitz, glamour and entertainment. It was an avenue for celebrating Nigerians who have contributed immensely to the growth and development of the country.
The event had in attendance the top echelons in politics, business, economy and other Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their various fields. Some of them talked about their perception about the evening.
The organisation is impressive – Dr Dakuku Peterside
I was impressed with the organisation of the event. However, regarding the awards themselves, I see them as sending mixed signals about influence and credibility, yet, they also represent a genuine validation of the impact demonstrated by the awardees.
It’s a worthy award – Chief Dr. Andrew Oru, Chairman, Rojitel Group
It is a worthy award. The SUN first of all has a good outfit. It has both a national and international spread. The editorials I read from the newspaper are quite balanced. Then, all the people that are associated with The Sun newspapers, though I will not say they are all of unblemished character, but they are all substantial. The award signified reward of hard work and excellence.
It’s a good show – Ifeanyi Ifedi
This is my fourth time of attending The Sun Awards. In fact, I have been called upon to present an award to awardees two times during one of the occasions. Definitely, for me to have come three to four times means it is very good.
Highly commendable awards ceremony – Dr Erasmus Ekpan, Commissioner for Information, Cross River State
I think it is a good, national and prestigious award. It is very commendable. Looking at all the awardees, one can see that they have done very well in their different enterprises and I think they totally deserve this award. I want to praise The Sun Newspaper for organising this highly commendable award.
The nation is proud of The Sun Awards – Gerald Otiji, Commissioner for Housing, Enugu State
In fact, when The Sun Awards started, it was on the lips of everyone. Now, every Nigerian who can read and write, who has come of age is waiting to hear who gets those awards and how it is celebrated. It has become something that those within our age limit saw when it started and how it has grown. We can now tell that it is something that the nation is proud of. I say Kudos to the Publisher, management and unseen workers behind the publication of The Sun Newspapers. You guys are doing a great job, I say Keep it up.
An award that recognises hard work, diligence – Dr Malachy Agbo, Communication for Information, Enugu State
It is a fantastic award. An unbiased award that recognises hard work and progress in people’s spaces. It is also an award that recognises diligence in work. It is also an award that encourages people to do more. It touches humanity. For us in Enugu, it is an award that encourages us to do better because the little we are doing is being observed by the whole world and The Sun is helping to project Enugu as the hub of investment.
A good recognition – Sir Cyril Amaefula, General Manager, Samsung
I know about The Sun award; but the event has not started. I am here to support Dr. Julius Rone- CEO, UTM Offshore Limited. He is being awarded as the Investor of the Year by The Sun Newspaper. He has been a freight forwarder for over ten years. He made a landmark when he brought in the APSO facility in Nigeria worth USD300m investment. So, we fabricated the APSO here and later to offshore where it is drilling over 200 barrels. It was a successful transaction. It is a good recognition.
Good to encourage quality people – Patrick Nzekwe, CEO, Elvis and Eliviana Hotels, Enugu
The Sun Award is fantastic. It is a good arrangement to recognise quality people and encourage others. It is also to motivate other people. I am very happy with what I am seeing here today.
It’s bigger than any other award – Chief Lawal Orishadare, Principal Partner, Pleasant Advocates & and Solicitors.
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We on this table came here to support Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) who is representing Ogun West. My understanding is that this is the way to encourage, recognise and reward excellence. It is an encouragement for those who are doing well to keep the flag flying. It is also a challenging award because it is top-notch, bigger than any other award. So, for us, we believe that the person we came here to support is the man of the moment. He has done wonderfully well to deserve more. So, we believe in the integrity of The Sun newspaper as an objective news medium. Whenever this award is bestowed on anybody, it is given based on integrity.
We came here for Sen Adeola – Chief Jubrin Abiodun Elegbede, Administrator, Ogun State
I am proud of the calibre of people that are winning this award today. My principal, Senator Olamilekan Adeola is one of them. He is a unique politician. For many years, we have not seen his type of politician who touches everywhere – schools, road, orphanages, markets etc. We thank God for his recognition.
The Sun Awards are good – Dr Cecilia Ibru (OFR)
The Sun award is a good performance. But I do not like the fact that we have been sitting down since 7:00pm doing nothing. Many of us are very busy.
A worthy recognition for Igwe Orizu – Prince Dr. Obi Orizu, Crown Prince of Nnewi
I think it’s a very worthy recognition. Igwe Orizu is being recognised today by The Sun team. We are proud and happy about that for the recognition bestowed upon our traditional ruler. The award is good to encourage people.
The award is worthy – Nnamdi Ezeigbo, CEO SLOT Group
The award is worthy. That is why hard-working people deserve it.
The Sun Awards is in its own class – Obiora Okpala, Entrepreneur/Agro-preneur
The Sun Awards is classy. I have been attending The Sun Awards from year 2008-2009. I know the award has a class on its own. If you look at the profile of the recipients, you will be convinced that they deserve it. It is an award that has value in the Nigerian economy. It means that The Sun team knows what they are doing.
The Sun Awards have no political inclinations – Dr Mrs. Pat Iwu, wife of SSG, Imo State
The Sun award is a very realistic one. It does not have political inclination so to say. It is an award where The Sun team monitors a recipient’s activity, antecedents and at the end of the day, found him or her, or the organisation deserving to become a recipient of the prestigious The Sun award. They are simply realistic.
I’m proud to be an awardee – Chief Peter Chibuike Orogwu, Chairman, Chuby Zion Industries Limited.
I feel proud that I am a recipient of the prestigious Sun award. It means that we are being noticed in our little corner. I am happy that The Sun newspaper knows what they are doing to encourage entrepreneurs as well as upcoming entrepreneurs a push to know that the sky is not even the limit. This award simply teaches us to do our best in whatever we are doing, and that you will be recognised someday.
It’s well organised – Chief Mrs. Yewande Durosaye, President Rental Association of Nigeria
The SUN award is fantastic. It is well organised. Those who were given award really merited it. I came from Ibadan to support my Kabiyesi, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The Sun adds value to society with these awards – Louis Alozie, MD, Zobis Cable Nigeria Limited
The Sun Award tries to recognise those that have stood out in the society, country and the economy. They have proved that they are doing something well while adding value to the growth of the economy. It does a lot of other things like collaboration, a platform to bring credible people together. The moment people gather, they begin to exchange pleasantries and ideas on how to take the next step on business collaboration, network and synergies. A producer can meet a distributor or importer at the event. That is the platform that brings credible people that have done well in the society for business collaboration, enhancement of growth economically and to improve overall GDP of the country. Most importantly, they are creating jobs. It is something that is good, one cannot stop something like The Sun Awards, especially that it is not political nor sentimental. So it’s something that is very nice. Other mediums should borrow a leaf from The Sun team.
The event is good – Senator Kofo Bucknor Akerele, former Deputy Governor, Lagos State
I came to The Sun Awards this Saturday to honour Oba Ladoja. Oba Ladoja and I were in the Senate together. He’s been a long-time friend and as well we have been together in the Senate. The event is okay. The music is good. I like the band, but the way the thing is done is a bit disorganised. People don’t follow instructions; well, that’s the typical Nigerian. When they say five people on the stage and we see 50 people on the stage.
I’m so elated to have been honoured — Chief Livinus Anigbogu, founder, Villa Park Hotels & Suites
I feel so good that I’m one of the awardees. I’m so happy and elated. What else would I say? I’m very happy. This is my first time attending this award ceremony and I’m pleased about it.
We thank God our efforts are recognized — Mrs. Abiodun Loretta Anigbogu, director, Villa Park Hotels & Suites
I am deeply honoured that The Sun recognises what we have been doing and what we are still doing for society. We create employment for people, for families, and at the same time it’s something that we have passion for. We see people coming from all over the world to stay in the hotel. They love that comfort, they want to see home away from home. It gives me great joy. I work with my husband, so it gives me great joy that people come in and they are happy, they are satisfied and at the same time we are able to put food on the tables of many Nigerians that we employ in Abuja and Lagos.
I feel very delighted that our little efforts of providing jobs and employment are being recognised. I feel very happy and it would spur us to do more. People want places where they can go, relax and unwind in a safe and comfortable place. Villa Park Hotel & Suites provides that in Lagos and Abuja
We thank God for the awards, we thank God that our efforts are being recognized. We thank God that we are able to see that day come to pass in our lifetime, that the award of recognition came when we are still strong. This will help us give more excellent service to the people and to inspire the next generation that is coming behind us that, whatever you do, others are looking at you.
I feel quite honoured to be recognised – Prof. Stella Smith
I feel quite honoured to be recognised, that my work is being recognised. My work on Helicobacter Pylori, the germs that cause major diseases of all sorts. It’s inspiring me to do more, to look into the accurate diagnosis and the management of Helicobacter Pylori not just in Nigeria but Africa as a whole. I think this is an honour not just to me alone but to the group I founded in 2022.
It’s a well done event — Ayinba Tolulope Harry Akande
It’s always good to honour people who have done well in society. It’s a well done event. We all had a good time here. That is my first time attending the awards. I have seen it several times on television but this Saturday is my first time coming here.
