The governors of Osun and Ebonyi states, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola and Engr. Dave Umahi respectively, have emerged winners at the Champion Newspapers 2020 awards. While Oyetola won double award as Champion Newspapers Man of the Year and Governor of the Year, Gov. Umahi emerged as Champion Newspaper Man of the Year on Infrastructural Development.

Others include the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Democracy Icon of the Fourth Republic; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Most Outstanding Public Servant of the Year; Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, Innovative Manufacturer of the Decade; Governor of Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Most Outstanding Security Conscious and Peaceful Governor; Hon. Sir Dr Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu, member Lagos State House of Assembly, as Champion Newspaper Most Outstanding Lawmaker of the Year; and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, as the Grand Peacemaker of the Year.

On corporate award category, Dr Adesola Adetuntan, Managing Director /CEO of First Bank, emerged Champion Newspaper Banker of the Year; Access Bank as Champion Newspaper Bank of the Year; African Alliance Insurance as Champion Newspaper Life Insurance Company of the Decade (2010 -2020); NLNG as Champion Newspaper Outstanding Company of the Year; NSIA Insurance as Champion Newspaper Most Innovative Insurance Company of the Year; and Charles Aigbe as Champion Newspaper Best Media Manager of the Year 2020.

For humanitarian service, Sir and Lady Goodluck Obi Foundation won the award for the Heart of Gold and Dangote Foundation as Champion Newspaper Philanthropist of the Year.

Welcoming dignitaries at the event, the Group Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Champion Newspapers, Dr. Mrs. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa, described the award as the print industry’s modest way of contributing its quota to the overall development of the society by providing a veritable platform to recognise heavyweights and institutions that have excelled both in private and public sectors of the economy.

She said the selected awardees have not only identified the needs and challenges of the citizens but proffered holistic solutions, thereby uplifting the standard of living of the people and contributing their best to the country’s socio-economic and political development.

The Newspaper's Editor-in-Chief revealed that for the first time since the inception of the awards ceremony decades ago, Governor Oyetola received the Governor and Man of the Year Awards based on his exemplary achievements in various fields.

According to her, the outstanding performance of Governor Oyetola and other awardees and the recognition given to them, will serve as an inspiration and beacon of hope not only to Nigerians but humanity.

In his address, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Dr. George Moghalu, who doubles as the Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, eulogised Champion Newspapers on the credibility of the award, describing the honour bestowed on the awardees as well deserved.

Receiving the award, Governor of the State of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, said the administration’s impact is being felt in various sectors of the state’s economy, using agriculture, tourism and mining as launch pads.

The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Benedict Alabi, at the event held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, said the award would further encourage his administration to serve the people even better.

Oyetola also said the honour was a vote for the creativity, proactiveness, prudence, integrity, inclusion, innovation, transparency, and the sense of purpose that the government had brought to bear on governance and the sustained commitment shown in revitalising the economy of the State for positive impacts.

He said the administration employed inclusive governance to identify and promptly meet the needs of the populace and as well open the State up for economic growth and development.

He added that Governor Oyetola, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was conferred with Champion Newspaper's Democracy ICON of the Fourth Republic, among other awardees, have made landmark and impactful contributions to the progress and development of the country.

On his side, the representative of the governor of Ebonyi and the Commissioner of Information and State Orientation, Uche Orji, said the award shows what was going in the state in terms of massive infrastructural development.

“It shows what the Governor has been doing for the past years as the governor of the state in terms of infrastructural development. This award will trigger his aspiration to want to do more,” he said.

•PHOTO: L-R; Chief of Staff, Osun State, Mr. Charles Akinola; representative of Governor Oyetola, the Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi, and his wife, Mrs Oyefunke Alabi; former NIMASA DG, Dr. Dakuku Peterside; representative of the APC National Leader, Dr. Tunji Bello; and Group Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Champion Newspapers Ltd, Dr (Mrs) Nwadiuto Iheakanwa, during the Champion Newspapers Annual Award Night held recently at Sheraton Lagos Hotel