Daily Times Nigeria has announced the winners in 29 categories of its DTN@100 Heroes Awards, with Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, emerging as the Outstanding Governor in the South-South following a nationwide public voting process.
The announcement was made by the Chairman of the DTN@100 Organising Council, Bolaji Okusaga, who said the winners emerged through a rigorous digital voting exercise that attracted thousands of verified votes from Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.
According to Okusaga, the awards are among the flagship initiatives marking the newspaper’s centenary celebration and were established to recognise individuals, institutions and organisations whose leadership, innovation and contributions have shaped Nigeria’s political, economic, social and corporate development.
He said the overwhelming public participation reflected Nigerians’ commitment to celebrating excellence, integrity and transformational leadership.
“The DTN@100 Heroes Awards were conceived not merely to recognise achievement, but to celebrate individuals and institutions whose leadership has created lasting value for Nigeria and a critical pipeline to select states, organisations and individuals to be featured in the Nigeria Grand Book.
“The quality of nominations, the scale of public participation and the credibility of the voting process reaffirm that Nigerians are eager to honour excellence wherever it is found,” Okusaga said.
In the political category, Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State, received the Governor of the Decade Award, while Mohammed Umar Bago, Governor of Niger State, emerged Governor of the Year.
The Outstanding Governor Awards across the six geopolitical zones went to Dauda Lawal of Zamfara (North-West), Bala Mohammed of Bauchi (North-East), Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa (North-Central), Peter Mbah of Enugu (South-East), Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom (South-South) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos (South-West).
Also recognised was Nentawe Yilwatda, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was named Politician of the Year. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, received the Lawmaker of the Year (House of Representatives) award, while Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada emerged Lawmaker of the Year (Senate).
Among other awardees, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, was honoured as Minister of the Decade, while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, received the Impactful Minister of the Year award. Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, was recognised as Transformative Minister of the Year.
In the business and public service categories, Jim Ovia, Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank, received the Change Maker of the Century Award, while Folorunsho Alakija was honoured with the Life and Legacy Award. Former President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, received the Global Impact Award, and Aliko Dangote was named Business Icon of the Century.
Adaora Umeoji, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, emerged Person of the Year, while George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, received the Public Impact Person of the Decade Award.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, was honoured with the Community Impact Award for his contributions to community development, cultural preservation and national cohesion.
In the corporate category, Green Energy International Limited emerged Energy Company of the Decade, while Emadeb Energy Group was named Energy Company of the Year. MTN Nigeria received the Digital Company of the Decade Award, while the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) won Transformative Project of the Year for its role in modernising Nigeria’s trade ecosystem through the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.
The Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) was named Government Agency of the Year, Jane Egerton-Idehen of NigComSat received the Enterprise Award, while Bashir Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, was honoured as Public Officer of the Year. The National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) also received the Climate Responsibility Award.
The organising council said public voting remains open for the Financial Innovation Award, National Development Award and Sustainability Award, with voting expected to close on August 5.
The DTN@100 Heroes Awards and centenary celebration will culminate in a ceremony on September 3 at the THISDAY Dome, Abuja, where recipients will be formally honoured and inducted into the Nigerian Book of Life, a commemorative publication celebrating individuals and institutions that have shaped Nigeria’s development over the past century.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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