Adamawa State Governor, Hon. Ahmadu Fintiri, has emerged the 2021 Pilot Personality of The Year.

This year’s edition of the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper 12th Anniversary Award Lecture Series is organised and managed by Red Sapphire Nigeria Limited, a reputable events management company based in Abuja. It was originally schedueld to hold on April 29, 2021 but has been shifted to May 26, 2021 due to the on-going Ramadan and the Sallah to follow. However, venue remains the International Conference Center (1CC) in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

News Express learnt that the Editorial Team of the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper voted for Fintiri “based on the giant strides the Governor made in infrastructure development in spite of the security challenges in the region.”

It also commended Fintiri for his successes with the Rural Access and Mobility Project – RAMP, a Donor Funded Project in Nigeria, which has identified the Adamawa RAMP-2 as the best performing in Nigeria under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Editors in voting for Fintiri for the award noted that the phase two rural access roads and river crossings spread across the 21 LGAs of the state now link the communities to healthcare facilities, security and markets, adding that the Urban renewal and rural roads transformation in his state have been accorded prominence and are critical factors in his administration’s development agenda for Adamawa State.

A document on the awards sighted by News Express further said: “Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri is a versatile personality who distinguishes himself from the crowd with his innovative ways of doing things. He believes in hard work and leaves a positive footprint anywhere he works. No wonder he is addressed as the Project Master, ATM and Freshair Governor. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri is a unique blend of first hand experiences.

“He started out in the Adamawa State Government as Member representing Madagali in the State Assembly. He later held several positions in the Assembly and was to later become The Speaker, and twice the Governor of Adamawa State in acting capacity. Even though brief, his tenure as Acting Governor was quite memorable because of the giant strides achieved.

“Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has proven to be a purposeful leader and by all standards, a good manager providing development in all spheres of life, his tremendous and visible projects spread across the State is the icing on the cake in making Adamawa work again.

“As a leader who knows the art of governance and a student of History, Policy and Strategic studies, he has made significant progress in virtually all critical sectors of the economy of the State.

“Investing in infrastructure is believed to drive economic growth, provide jobs, and deliver vital services to the State and the majority of its citizens, it also translates to opportunities for sponsors or investors that are keen on developing infrastructure projects in the State.

“His revolutionary approach to rural development has seen him opening up hard to reach rural communities who are predominantly farmers. It is easy for them to transport their farm produce to urban centres hitherto difficult to do because of the bad roads. The story is different today as a journey of four hours can be covered in fifteen minutes.

“Opportunities exist across all core and social infrastructure sectors. That is the difference the Governor is making in the Adamawa of today and tomorrow.”