Uduaghan got the winning votes for envisioning Nigeria beyond oil and taking practical steps about it in Delta State. Governor Kwankwaso’s development strides within two years of his return to the saddle in Kano also won him the diadem.
The two state executives will be taking over the coveted award from the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who was the winner in 2012.
Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio had emerged The Sun Man of the Year in 2011, while two top-rated Nigerians, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group and former governor of Gombe State,
Senator Danjuma Goje jointly won the award in 2010. The 11th edition of The Sun Awards will also parade many other stars in both public and private sectors, that have become cynosure of all eyes and success stories.
The quartet of Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, a renowned sculptor and painter; Chief Michael Ade Ojo, automobile merchant and Chairman of Elizade Motors as well as Founder of Elizade University; Mr. Sam Amuka Pemu, Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers, the oldest practicing journalist and newspaper publisher in Nigeria, and Chief Edwin Clark, elder statesman and prominent Ijaw leader jointly bag the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to anyone who is not younger than 70 and has made profound impact in the lives of others, and of the country.
Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu was adjudged the Investor of the Year. The commitment by the Power Africa, an initiative of Heirs Holdings to invest $2.5 billion in Africa’s power sector was noted as remarkable.
Also on the list of the honorees is the duo of Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, Chairman/CEO of MRS Oil and Mr. Chidi Anyaegbu, Chairman/CEO of Chisco Transport, who jointly won the Businessman of the Year Award.
Dantata who started business as a small retailer of petroleum products with an initial capital of N5 million in 1993 stunned the oil industry this year when he acquired the downstream assets of Chevron Texaco for $1 billion, competing with well-established players in the industry.
The co-winner, Anyaegbu was chosen for building on his phenomenal success in the transport sector by diversifying into courier service, oil and gas, hospitality, real estate and bureau de change, among other businesses. Also expected on the dais are the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde and Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who jointly won the Public Service Award for their sterling qualities, initiatives and industry as public servants. Winning the laurel for Dikko was the achievement of N100 billion revenue generation target for the Customs, a feat, which no previous comptroller–general attained, as well as for making the welfare of customs personnel a top priority.
Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, was chosen as Banker of the Year for lifting the financial institution from a small bank into a tier-one category and playing critical role in the power sector by funding three Independent Power Projects single-handed and participating in syndicating loan facilities for about eight others. Celebrated footballer and Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi was voted Sportsman of the Year. Keshi began the year as one of two people to win the African Cup of Nations as a player and now as a coach and ended the year again as the only African sportsperson to captain his nation’s senior soccer team to qualify for the World Cup and also coached the same team to qualify for the Mundial. Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, won the Most Supportive First Lady Award for consistently promoting family values and implementing social and humanitarian programmes through her NGO, The Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
Creative Person of the Year Award goes to the founder READ Foundation, Mrs. Koko Kalango for her initiatives in developing reading culture in young ones.
Nominations were made for each of the award categories in line with criteria stipulating the qualities and/or achievements a potential winner must possess.
Then the nominations were debated and in any case where the panelists were not unanimous in their choice, a decision was reached by vote.
Winners of The Sun Awards will be honoured at a ceremony holding at the Eko Hotel in Lagos on Saturday, February 22, 2014.
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