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Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has expressed happiness over his nomination as The Sun Man of the Year, saying that although this would increase the burden of expectations on him and his team, it would propel him to do more.
In the same vein, Gov Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State said that The Sun Governor of the Year would challenge him to sustain the momentum in the delivery of the dividends of democracy to the people.
Speaking separately in Enugu and Kano, when Management teams of The Sun Publishing Limited, led by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Onuoha Ukeh, met with them to present nomination letters to them as winners of the awards,
Mbah and Yusuf expressed profound gratitude to The Sun for finding them worthy of being honoured.
The two governors would be honoured with 35 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 Enugu State Governor expressed happiness over his nomination for the Man of the Year Award, saying: “One thing it does is that it increases the burden of expectations on us and motivates us to work hard to meet the high rating by Nigerians. We cannot afford to slow down or disappoint. It is totally out of the question.”
Mbah revealed his administration’s determination to change the narrative of public service, saying: “We believe that as public servants, what we do is to hold the future in trust for those who would come after us. And as trustees, we have to discharge our responsibilities most creditably. We must make sure that the future of these young ones is secured. That is what we are doing.
“We have to make sure that we discharge our mandate creditably to ensure that the future of these young ones as well as those to come after them is safe.”
Mbah said that although he and his team are not doing well in order to be praised, they are concerned about the lasting impact they leave behind for the people.
“This explains what we are doing in education, where we are building 260 Smart Green Schools, which all together translate to over 7,000 classrooms in just almost three years to make sure that our children are imbued with 21st Century skills. In fact, for the third straight year, we allocated over 30 per cent of the entire budget to education.
“Again, if you look at our N1.62 trillion budget for 2026, which is unprecedented in the history of the South East, just a fraction of it, about 20 per cent goes to recurrent expenditure. So, 80 per cent of the humongous budget goes to capital expenditure. That is because of the sheer size of the project and investment we are doing.
“In terms of sectoral allocations, you see that the economic sector would be getting N825.9 billion, representing 51 per cent of the total budget, followed by the social sector (N644.7 billion), representing 40.1 per cent of the budget.
“Of course, allocating N825.9 billion to the economic sector is strategic and deliberate because, as I stated during the budget presentation, when we invest in agriculture, industry, and trade, we create jobs, reduce poverty, and generate revenue that strengthens the entire economy. The performance of this sector remains central to our vision of achieving a seven-fold GDP growth in Enugu State.”
The Enugu governor said in addition to other massive infrastructure already done or ongoing, his government would commence a 135.3km intrastate standard gauge rail project this year to improve connectivity.
According to him, the state also budgeted N10 billion equity contribution to the concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, which he said, would see to the completion of the international wing this year to make Enugu a regional aviation hub.
He promised that his administration would increase the fleet of the state-owned Enugu Air to 20 in thus year, revealing that the coming agro processing zone in Enugu would enable the state “to process what we produce and also export them through the cargo terminal that would also be built under the concession arrangement.”
Mbah expressed thank to The Sun for nominating him to receive the Man of the Year award, while giving assurance that the state government’s officials would “continue to hold ourselves to the highest standards.”
Earlier, The Sun MD commended Governor Mbah for delivering on his campaign promises and explained that it was on account of that he was being honoured by the newspaper.
He disclosed that Gov Mbah was overwhelmingly voted by the Board of Editors based on his many achievements . Ukeh said: “Mr Governor, you have transformed the education sector, lifted the health sector and developed infrastructure in Enugu.”
On his part, Governor Yusuf of Kano State, lauded The Sun for sustaining a reputation of upholding the truth always and speaking for the voiceless.
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The elated governor said he never knew that his policies and programmes were not just being appreciated by the people of Kano State, but also by Nigerians from outside the state.
He promised to complete all ongoing projects and start new ones in order to lift Kano State to have its pride of place in socio-economic development index.
Listing why The Sun chose Governor Yusuf as Governor of the Year, the newspaper’s MD explained that the Board of Editors only nominates people who have used their positions to lift the country.
He applauded Governor Yusuf for allocating nearly one third of the 2024/2025 state’s budget to education, an allocation he said exceeded the UNESCO’s benchmark.
Ukeh praised the governor for recruiting over 6, 000 male teachers and absorbing over 2, 000 volunteer instructors, while highlighting the fact that the governor ordered a 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees for state -owned tertiary institutions and approved the payment of examination fees for thousands of students in the state, apart from reviving the state’s foreign post -graduate scholarship programme, which had benefited over 2, 000 students so far.
Reeling out other achievements and policies of the governor that earned him the award, Ukeh submitted that Governor Yusuf has surpassed the benchmark set for health care funding by the Abuja Declaration while praising him for recruiting more than 500 health personnel and professionals in the state.
The MD lauded Governor Yusuf for the establishment of the Kano State Center for Disease Control and Prevention and for the introduction of free cesarean services for pregnant women in the state.
Ukeh stated that agriculture has received a huge boost under the governor’s charge, adding that Governor Yusuf distributed free fertilizer worth over N1 billion to 52,800 small- holder farmers as well as launched N16 billion irrigation project at Jankara dam.
Similarly, he disclosed that the Kano State Agro- Pastoral Development Project has supported more than 477, 000 farmers, exceeding the initial target set by the government as well as rehabilitated more than 17 dilapidated roads and committed more than N27 billion to major inter-change projects in the metropolis.
Ukeh stated that the Yusuf administration has restored operations at the Tamburawa Water Plant and has procured pumping machines to boost water supply.
“Similarly women and youths have received attention under your administration with the launch of N2.3 billion livestock entrepreneurship programmes and the distribution of 7,158 goats to 2386 women across the 44 LGAs of the state,” he noted.
Apart from Mbah and Yusuf, other people to receive awards include Dr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria and Sen. Solomon Adiola, Senator representing Ogun West (Man of the Year). Gov Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and Gov Bassey Otu of Cross River (Governorof 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 Gov 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 Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia South; Oba Rashid Ladoja, Olubadan of Ibadanland; Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Presiding Bishop, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); Alhaji Buba Galadima, former Secretary of defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), 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, with the Banker of the Year going to Mr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, MD, Premium Trust Bank Plc and Investor of the Year award going to 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 Real Estate Icon award going to Dr. Stephen Maxwell Nweze, Seman Global Concept Limited.
The Humanitarian Service Icon award goes Sen. Jubril Barau, Deputy Senate President; Dr. Johnbosco Ozigbo, CEO, Burnsville Integrated Service Limited, 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.
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.
