Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has expressed his determination to ensure that the Nigerian Police Force, Customs, Immigration and other government security agencies wear shoes made in Aba.

Ikpeazu made this known last Friday night in Lagos, at the 7th Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award.

“It is possible,” Ikpeazzu enthused, “because we have over 1,000 shoemakers and we are working hard to do something about it in the next 12 months. Our plan is to help them circulate their products. I urged you all to seat back and relax and watch made in Aba shoes or made in Nigeria shoes come back to fore.”

Governor Ikpeazu said the state is repositioning and focusing at a speed rate and commends Nigerian Breweries, saying “I have the authority and mandate of Abia people to say that Nigerian Breweries has been with us all through the phases of our development, long before the unfortunate civil war in Nigeria; the very few years we needed to recuperate after the civil war and in this wonderful phase in which we've re-launched and re-focus the economy of Abia State.

“Nigerian Breweries has also come back to make a huge investment in our State and its now our responsibility to make sure that the returns on their investment is worth the while. Like in photo journalism, the figures don't lie. Nigerian Breweries knows how much money they make in our state and if they calculate that from the 1950s, I think the national treasury will be opened in Abia.”

The governor further urged journalists to report positive stories about Nigeria in order to change the negative effect of the outside world towards Nigeria despite these challenging times.

“I want to thank you (NB) for this initiative, I quite understand why you are doing this, because when I witnessed the winner of the photo journalist of the year walking away, something occurred to me that photos don’t lie, they are like figures. We are passing through challenges here and there but I think Nigerians are wonderful people and we are the only people that can re-direct the thoughts that people from the outside world have about us and focus on things that are good and positive and add value to things we are doing here.”

Mr. Stanley Ogidi of The Sunday Punch was the 2nd runner up of the Photo Journalist of the Year. He was given N200,000, a Samsung x5 phone and a special statuette. Mr. Isaac Ayodele of the Nation was the first runner up and was given N250,000, Samsung x5 and special statuette while the winner was Mr. Godwin Irekhe of the New Telegraph won a cash prize of N300,000, iphone6 and special statuette.

The Golden Pen NB Report of the Year went to Nwanna Opara of Businessworld with N500,000 cash prize, iphone6 and special statuette. The 2nd runner up of the Reporter of the Year was Mr. Mojeed Alabi of the New Telegraph with N200,000, Samsung x5 and a special statuette. 1st runner up was Lawrence Njoku of the Guardian with N300, 000, Samsung x5 and the winner was Mr. Anthony Akaeze of the Tell Magazine with N1m, iphone6 and special statuette.

The Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award was inaugurated in 2008 to celebrate Nigerian journalists and to promote professionalism and objective reportage of events in corporate Nigeria. It is also meant to reward journalists who abide by ethics of the profession.

•Photo shows Gov. Ikpeazu.

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