Follow Us on Google
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of J.I. Ejison Group International Limited, Dr. Joseph Ukeji, and Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, have expressed delight over their emergence as winners of The Sun Entrepreneur of the Year and The Sun Parastatal of the Year awards respectively for 2026.
Speaking separately when the Managing Director/Editor in Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Onuoha Ukeh, led a management team, made up of Iheanacho Nwosu, Editor, Daily; Moses Akaigwe, Motoring Editor, Fred Itua, Politics Editor and Chinwe Obioha, Deputy Business Manager, to their offices to formally present the letters of nominations, the duo expressed delight that the honour underlines their contributions to national development.
Dr. Ukeji and Osanipin are among prominent Nigerians and corporate institutions that will receive awards in different categories on Friday, November 13, 2026 at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Expressing happiness for his choice, Ukeji said the award meant a lot to him and his family.
“It shows that the little things being done by us are noticed,” he said.
He stated that the recognition would encourage him to do more in entrepreneurship for the good of the country and its people.
Ukeji pledged continued contribution to economic development of Nigeria and the welfare of those in need.
The Sun MD, while presenting the letter of award, said Ukeji has grown his business from little beginning to conglomerate.
He told Ukeji: “You started as a textile trader in Onitsha with about N4,000. Through disciplined reinvestment, strategic partnerships and gradual expansion, you built a multi-division enterprise. J.I. Ejison Group now has distribution and production footprints across Nigeria’s 36 six states. The group is recognised for manufacturing and beverage production with brands such as Bullet Energy Drink and Pure Heaven wines.
“Apart from manufacturing, you have expanded your business into real estate, oil & gas and hospitality, embarking on such big project as building Hilton Hotel in Asaba.”
Highliting Ukeji’s feat, Ukeh said:
“Your business influence has attracted commendations from former British Prime Minister David Cameron and the diplomatic community in Dubai.”
He listed Ukeji’s philanthropic gestures, saying: “You have supported road construction, educational initiatives, healthcare assistance and the building of a Catholic church in your hometown of Oraukwu in Anambra State.”
Speaking on NADDC award, Osanipin said it was gladdening and pleasantly surprising that editors of a highly reputable newspaper like The Sun had, in the past few years, been silently watching the efforts being made by the management and staff of the agency to uplift the auto industry.
Expressing his gratitude for the honour to NADDC, the DG lauded The Sun for the diligent and painstaking manner in which it selects its awardees.
“It gladdens our hearts that the little things we are doing here are being noticed and recognised by a respected newspaper like The Sun,” the Director-General stated, while giving assurance that the immediate impact of the honour would be to inspire the NADDC to set more goals and achieve them.
Telling his story at NADDC, he said: “When we came in, we knew that there were a lot of hurdles in the automobile industry. We knew that we could not surmount all the challenges in three, four or even five years.
Other News
“But we knew we had to start from somewhere by laying the foundation to uplift the automotive industry. That was why we had to first identify what the problems were after consultations with industry experts and all the stakeholders. We successfully identified the majority of the problems and summarised them into three, including the imperative of a policy backed by law, the need for consumer credit, and the issue of imported used vehicles.”
Osanipin described auto manufacturing as a highly capital-intensive investment requiring long-term planning and policy stability, revealing that makes legislated legal framework inevitable.
He listed some of the measures so far taken by the NADDC to address the identified challenges, including drafting the National Automotive Industry Bill in conjunction with relevant ministries, other agencies of the Federal Government and industry stakeholders.
According to him, the draft bill has since been revised at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos in preparation for its impending transmission to the National Assembly for passage, after the necessary fine-tuning by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Earlier, Ukeh noted that under Osanipin’s leadership, the NADDC “championed automotive industrialisation, clean mobility, skills development and local content promotion.”
He also.noted that NADDC had established Automotive Training and CNG Conversion Centres in Kano, Lagos, Yobe, Zamfara and Niger states.
Ukeh said: “Training manuals for compressed natural gas and electric vehicle operations were developed and more 335,000 CNG conversion workshops were accredited. A N20 billion consumer credit fund was created through a memorandum of understanding with CrediCorp, enabling the first beneficiaries to receive locally assembled tricycles and motorcycles. “
“The Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme was launched with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria. End of life vehicle recycling regulations and a national vehicle dealership registration framework were introduced.
“Design challenges for hybrid and electric vehicles involved universities from all six geopolitical zones. More 10, 000 and technicians have been trained in mechatronics, CNG conversion, heavy duty vehicle maintenance and related skills.“
Apart from NADDC and Ukeji, other award winners are Governor Hope Uzodimma, who will receive Man of the Year award as well as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Governor Uba Sani (Kaduna), Governor Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Governor Hyacinth Alia (Benue), and Governor Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), who will be honoured with Governor of the Year award.
Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, First Lady of Zamfara State, is First Lady of the Year, with the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, receiving the Courage in Leadership Award.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele will receive Senator of the Year award, with former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, emerging as Political Icon of the Year, while Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, is Most Innovative Legislator of the Year and Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, member representing Borno State, will receive the House of Representatives Member if the Year award.
In entertainment, celebrated music star Chinedu Izuchukwu Okoli (Flavour) wins Creative Icon of the Year award.
Other to receive awards are Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, and Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education (Minister of the Year), the Lifetime Achievement Award goes 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 Governor of Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo and former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje.
Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC), Mr. Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFund, will receive Public Service Personality Award, with the Real Estate Icon Award going to Mr. Samuel Ajose, CEO of Levitikal Group, and Dr. Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac, CEO of Homadil Realty.
Access Bank Plc wins Bank of the Year, while Mr. George Obi, Chairman/CEO of Fidel Associates Limited, will receive Entrepreneur of the Year award, with Chief Sunday Ephraim Ezeobiora, Chairman of Sunchi Integrated Farms Limited, and Chief Anthony Obele, CEO, Mekens Integrated Nigeria Limited clinching the Investor 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, with Chief Kester Okike Agwu, Founder/CEO of Tastia Restaurants, and Chief RemiChris Nwagbo, Chairman of BON Octagon Hotel, Abuja, billed for honour with Hospitality Icon award.
The Sports Personality of the Year award will be received by Chief Leo Edochie, a renowned gold promoter and Chairman/CEO of Solotone Global Ventures Limited, with Chief Friday Nwabueze Umeh, Founder of Ofiafuluego Foundation and Chief Abraham Ikechukwu Otti, CEO, Allied Victory Nigeria Ltd., receiving Humanitarian Service Icon Award.
