The 14th Anniversary and Award Ceremony of NewsDirect Newspaper, held at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos on Friday, brought together high-profile leaders from across Nigeria to celebrate outstanding achievements in governance, business, and public service.
The event, themed “Achieving Economic Prosperity: The Role of Human Capacity Development, Fiscal Prudence, and Revenue Generation,” honoured notable figures, including the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and the governors of Ogun, Borno, and Jigawa, alongside business moguls, in recognition of their significant contributions to the nation’s development.
Publisher/Executive Director of NewsDirect, Mr. Mathew Ibiyemi, expressed gratitude to the awardees for their exceptional leadership and dedication to national progress. He remarked that the awards were designed to celebrate individuals and organisations that have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to nation-building, governance, and socio-economic growth.
Ibiyemi also noted that the event provided an opportunity to spotlight the positive impacts of good governance, particularly amid the challenges currently facing the country. He urged other leaders to follow the example set by the awardees.
A notable winner was the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), which was named the Revenue Administrator of the Year for its innovative use of technology in boosting Lagos’ revenue generation. The award recognised the state’s fiscal prudence, which has considerably strengthened its financial base and supported numerous development initiatives.
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, was named 2024 Governor of the Year (Nationwide). Represented by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, Zulum’s award celebrated his commitment to restoring peace in Borno and implementing policies that have propelled the state towards prosperity.
Tar expressed appreciation for the recognition, noting that the award would inspire the governor to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity and promote lasting peace in the state. He also highlighted Zulum’s ongoing focus on education and infrastructure development, despite the state’s challenges.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, received the NewsDirect 2024 Man of the Year Award. Represented by his Special Adviser on Media & Communications, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, Abiodun expressed his determination to leave behind a legacy of growth and prosperity for Ogun State.
He highlighted his administration’s achievements, including the construction of over 600km of roads, the development of a world-class Agro-cargo Airport, and improvements in the state’s revenue generation.
“Our government has made unprecedented progress across all critical sectors,” Abiodun said. “We are committed to ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity for Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole.”
Governor Namadi, who received the Governor of the Year in Agro-Investments and Security, was celebrated for his transformative efforts in Jigawa’s agricultural sector and security landscape. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim,
Namadi unveiled plans to achieve $200 million in import substitution through agricultural investments. Ibrahim revealed that Jigawa aims to produce 15 percent of Nigeria’s wheat demand, creating a value chain that will benefit both farmers and the broader economy.
He pledged to double efforts in these areas to further improve the welfare of the people of Jigawa State, adding, “This award will inspire us to do more for the people.”
In his Chairman’s address, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, stressed the importance of tax reforms for Nigeria’s future and urged citizens to place the nation’s interest above personal concerns. He expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bill, emphasising the need for the country to move beyond outdated systems.
Ashiru also commended NewsDirect for organising such an impactful event and encouraged continued support for initiatives promoting transparency, accountability, and national development.
The awards ceremony highlighted achievements across various sectors, recognising the contributions of prominent figures in governance, industry, and education to Nigeria’s development.
Business magnates and public figures were also celebrated, with Alhaji Aliko Dangote receiving the Business Leader of the Year Award and Otunba Bimbo Ashiru being named Corporate Icon of the Year.
Other recipients included Gboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, and Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa, CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who all received Exemplary Leadership in Public Service awards.
Additional accolades were presented to Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who was named Lawmaker of the Year; Mr. Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director of UBA, named Banker of the Year; and Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson, President of Master Energy Group, who took home the Industrialist of the Year Award.
Otunba Ashiru also praised the vision of the late Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi, the founding Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Nigerian NewsDirect, who initiated the awards. He emphasised that the legacy left by Ibiyemi continues to inspire the success of the awards, while commending Mr. Matthew Ibiyemi for continuing his father’s vision.
Mr. Mathew Ibiyemi, acknowledging the contributions of his late father, highlighted the role of the media in identifying and celebrating excellence across various sectors. He revealed that NewsDirect’s team had conducted extensive assessments in multiple states to select the recipients of the prestigious awards.