WED, 31 AUGUST 2016-Winners in the second edition of the loyalty in Governance Award have been announced by the organisers, Maritime Media Limited. The loyalty in good governance award which is held every four years is predicated on the need to reward loyalty and governance deepen our current democratic experience, honour deserving Nigerians and corporate bodies for their contribution to the stability, unity and growth of our country.
In all six state governors, one from each of the six geopolitical zones emerged. They are Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (South-west), Governor Nyesom Wike (South-south), Governor IfeanyiUgwanyi (South-East), Governor Nasir El Rufia (North-west), Governor Kassim Shettima (North-east) and Governor Abdul-fatai Ahmed (North-east).
Governor Ambode was honoured for his pioneering effort to lighting up, improving security in the state, putting Lagos in the global map as an oil producing state; introducing a 25 billion Naira citizens empowerment fund, among other landmark achievements.
On his part, governor Wike received accolades from our team of researchers for his massive investment in infrastructure which was resulted in the construction of 27 new roads, completion of 15 strategic roads, provision of over 60 operational vehicles to security agencies in the state to beef up security, the payment of all outstanding tuition fees of Rivers state students studying abroad and the opening of South African Consulate in Port Harcourt.
Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna state got high marks for his outstanding leadership style in the state. The 10,000 trees to keep Kaduna green, the war against illegal structures, the mandatory issuance of building plans and C of O for structure in Kaduna and his impartial enquiry into the Army/Shitte clash endeared him into our team of researchers, thus making him one of the shinning lights in our present democratic experience.
Governor KassimShettima of Borno State was commended and appreciated for his total commitment to the restoration of peace in the North East in the after-math of the Boko Haram insurgency of particular interest our team of researchers and editors is the fact that, Borno state in spite of his challenges remains one of the few states that has not owed workers salary in the last 60 months. Apart from its huge investment in adult education which is yielding very tangible results, no fewer than 24 out its 27 council secretariats have commenced administrative activities, just as academic activities have resumed activities have resumed in most of the previously shut down institutions.
In Kwara, Abdulfatai Ahmed has continued to break new grounds in his effort to make kwarans reap from the dividends of democracy. One of the sign post of his achievements in the past 60 months has been his massive investment in agriculture and his ability to raise the state IGR to an all time high of 3.2 billion naira in the first half of the current fiscal year.
In Enugu, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwanyi has endeared himself to his people with 30% equity contribution to the civil servants housing scheme and the purchase of no fewer than 100 units of one bedroom flats at Elim Estate and 155million naira approved for rural electrification.
In yet other categories, the Dangote group emerged as “Nigeria’s corporate brand of the year” in appreciation of its huge investment in the world’s biggest oil refinery in Lagos with a 650bpd refining capacity while the Babatunde Fowler was voted the “most outstanding chief executive of the year” for his total total commitment to the overhaul of our tax laws leading to an unprecedented in increase in VAT proceeds in the last 12months and thus for the first time in over 50years, IGR from non-oil receipts came to about 60 percent.
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hn. Yakubu Dogara also made also made the honours list as he was voted the “legislator of the year”, for his outstanding leadership qualities as House Speaker and for exhibiting exceptional loyalty to his party, the All Progressive Congress.
The investiture of the awardees is scheduled for October 13, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as Chairman, while the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi would be Royal Father of the day.
