The strides of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, in opening new frontiers of development in the state have brought him more recognition. Over the weekend, BusinessDAY newspapers and SERA conferred awards on him in Lagos.

For revamping the health sector in the state, BusinessDAY adjudged Uduaghan the best governor in the health category in its States Competitiveness and Good Governance Awards 2014.

On the other hand, SERAs Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Nigeria Award named him its Governor of the Year 2014, hailing him for pioneering a paradigm shift in the drive to boost development in his state and for keeping the peace and public safety.

Chike Ogeah, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, represented the governor at both ceremonies, which were held separately.

Presenting the BusinessDAY award, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher of the newspaper, stated that its Board of Editors adjudged Uduaghan to have excelled among his peers in the health sector where phenomenal success has been recorded in the quality of health care delivery.

Aigbogun singled out the free maternal care and free health care for children up to five years as programmes that have tremendously reduced infant and maternal mortality in the state.

Similarly, Ken Egbas, Chief executive of SERAs CSR Nigeria, commended the Governor for opening a new vista in the management of the economy through the Delta Beyond Oil initiative.

In a glamorous ceremony at Muson Centre, Dr. Uduaghan stood out among the array of corporate organisations and other governors, carting away the Governor of the Year Award.

Ogeah, who received the award alongside Dr. Rukevwe Ugwunba, Special Assistant to the Governor on Health Monitoring, said the success of Uduaghan’s administration is the product of planning, having anchored his game plan on the tripod of human capital development, development of infrastructure and peace and security.

•Photo shows Delta State Information Commissioner Chike Ogeah receiving the CSR Award on behalf of Governor Uduaghan . . . over the weekend in Lagos.