•Ayade, Melaye, Buratai, Fidelity Bank, SUNTRUST Bank, five others too
•Dr. Ezeife to chair event, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) is keynote speaker
No fewer than 11 eminent Nigerians were honoured today in Abuja in the maiden edition of The AUTHORITY Awards For Excellence and Good Governance. Three corporate organizations will also share in the glory – for rendering excellent services to the nation.
Topping the bill of award winners is the Rivers State Governor, His Excellency (Barr) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who clinched THE AUTHORITY Governor of the Year 2016.
Enugu State Governor, His Excellency, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Sokoto State Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and the Executive Chairman of CHICASON GROUP, Dr Alexander Chika Okafor, emerged winners in different categories.
While Governor Ugwuanyi won THE AUTHORITY Outstanding Governor of the Year 2016 in Economic Development & Infrastructure, Governor Tambuwal emerged THE AUTHORITY Outstanding Governor of the Year 2016 in Education. Chief Okafor bagged THE AUTHORITY Businessman of the Year 2016.
In the flagship event which honoured 14 awardees in as many categories, the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Prof Ben Ayade, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye, Distinguished Federal Representative, Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Yusuf Tukur Buratai, also emerged winners.
The Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, Mr. Tony Ojobo, Public Affairs Manager of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and Phyno also bagged awards in different categories.
Fidelity Bank Plc, SUNTRUST Bank Nigeria Ltd and the African Independent Television (AIT) were the corporate organizations which also won awards.
In a statement released yesterday, the Management of The AUTHORITY newspapers said the awards ceremony will hold at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, by 4pm today.
“The awards event will be chaired by elder statesman, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former governor of Anambra State while foremost constitutional lawyer and rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, will be the keynote speaker and will speak on ‘True Federalism’,” the statement further added.
According to the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The AUTHORITY Newspapers, Mr. Madu Onuorah, “No country or society can be lifted meaningfully or journey safely in an environment where merit and excellence are not sufficiently recognized. In such milieu, a danger of moral recession and loss of faith in the polity delivery come to the fore.”
Laying out the rationale behind the awards, he explained that “Although 2016 provided a tapestry of heroes and villains, today in Nigeria, civilization remains a work in progress,” adding that “The AUTHORITY Awards For Excellence & Good Governance reflect a sober effort to recognize and fete merit and excellence in diverse arenas of human endeavour in our country.”
The AUTHORITY Newspapers marked its first anniversary in October last year and has received commendations from diverse stakeholders for its resilience and bold reportage and analysis of critical news and unfolding developments in the country.
– Authority
