Vice President Kashim Shettima; FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; Governors Chukwuma Soludo, Dauda Lawal, Bassey Edet Otu, Ademola Adeleke, Babagana Zulum and Bala Mohammed of Anambra, Zamfara, Cross River, Osun and Borno States, respectively and Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, have been nominated by Nigerians for the maiden edition of Nigeria’s Pride Awards, being organised by African Leadership Scorecard Magazine in collaboration with The Beauties of Nigeria TV.
Other personalities and agencies nominated for the awards include the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogala; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan-Ogunwusi; retired Justices Mariam Aloma Muktar and Mary Odili; the CEO of Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema; CEO of Brittainia-U, Mrs Uju Ihejrika; Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome; African Director, IAWPA, Amb. John Metchie; MD/CEO Zenith Bank, Adaora Umeoji; House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Hon. Hon. Benjamin Kalu; Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isa; Executive Secretary of PTAD, Dr. Chioma Ejikeme; Arise TV CEO, Nduka Obiagbena; Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu and former HOCSF Dr. Yemi Esan.
Agencies that were nominated for the awards are the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Jaiz Bank, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Funds, NSITF, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC and Rural Electrification Agency, REA.
It would be recalled that the Awards Organising Committee had on August 2, 2024, published an advertorial requesting the public to nominate leaders and agencies of their choices that they consider qualified for the various categories. The publication gave August 24 as deadline for the nominations.
In a statement released Friday, August 30, 2024, the Committee stared that a total of 52 persons and 24 agencies were nominated for the awards, noting that after due consideration of number of votes for each nominee, 25 personalities and eight (8) institutions were approved for the awards.
The statement was signed by the Awards Facilitator, Bonaventure Phillips Melah who is also the Publisher/CEO African Leadership Scorecard Magazine/The Beauties of Nigeria TV, the Chairman and Secretary of the Committee, Ahaziah Suleiman (Former Executive Director, Voice of Nigeria) and Hajia Medina Dauda-Nadabo, (Bureau Coordinator/Prpgrammes Officer, Voice of America, VOA) respectively.
Other members of the Committee are Victorson Agbenson (Deputy Director News, FRCN). Omotola Oleyede, Chudi Brass and Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed (Ex-Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Kaduna/Katsina/Kano Zone).
The Committee stated that although it is true that Nigeria is a country in dire need of quality leadership and visionary leaders, there are some who are doing very well in the areas of their individual calls by deploying their intellectual capabilities, education and their experiences; to impact positively, the lives of the people.
“These exceptional leaders and institutions should be celebrated, as a way of encouraging them to do more while spurring others to wake up,” the statement said.
The nominees and categories include Vice President Kashim Shettima,-Quintessential Vice President,
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Overall Best Nigerian Minister, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa- Shield of the Nation, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo- Best Governor on Empowerment, Dr. Dauda Lawal- Best Governor on Urban Renewal, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu- Best Governor on Agric/Food Security, Sen. Ademola Adeleke- Best Governor Infrastructure, Prof. Babagana Zulum- Most People-Oriented Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed- Best Governor on Urban Transformation, Sen. Ned Munir Nwoko- Protector of the Environment, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogala- Protector of Nigeria’s Territories, Ooni of Ife- Exemplary Custodian of African Values, Retired Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar- Mother of Justice in Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili- Pillar of Truth and Justice, Mrs Uju Ihejrika- Most Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year, Chief Mike Ozekhome- Most Fearless Advocate, Amb. John Metchie- Prince of Peace and Reconciliation, Mrs. Adaora Umeoji-Light of the Girl-Child, Hon. Benjamin Kalu- Champion of Equity, Hon. Ali Isa- Best Grassroots Empowerment Lawmaker, Dr. Chioma Ejikeme- Pensioners’ Angel,
Chief Nduka Obiagbena- Nigeria’s Media Pathfinder, Dr. Tony Ojukwu- Champion of Human Rights, Dr. Yemi Esan- Best Head of Civil Service Award, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC- Most Innovative Agency, Jaiz Bank- Most People-Oriented Bank, Social Insurance Trust Funds, NSITF- Most Employee-Friendly Agency, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND- Most Educational Institution of the Year.
Others include Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC- Most Inclusive Educational Institution, Rural Electrification Agency, REA- Best Rural Connectivity Agency, PTAD-Best Reforms/ICT Compliance Agency, NHRC- Most Committed Agency of the Year.
