Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has emerged as the winner of the ThisNigeria Newspaper Gold Prize for his “Infrastructural Revolution and Exceptional Leadership” since he assumed office in the FCT.
According to a survey conducted by the Public Sector Performance Index, PSPI, on behalf of the newspaper organisation, the FCT, within eight months of Wike’s tour of duty, witnessed a remarkable turnaround in infrastructural renewal, aggressive pursuit of developments across the Territories that make up the Federal Capital City.
The report states that “What HE Nyesom Wike has done remains unprecedented in the annals of FCT Administration. He has continued to impact substantially not only on road networks in the city, but you can also find his bold imprints in the security, health, and education sectors.”
Apart from Wike, other winners of the Gold Prize awards are Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf of Kano State; and Governor Umo Bassey Eno of Akwa Ibom State.
While Yusuf will go home with the Courage in Leadership award, Eno clinches the award for Peace Building and Innovative Leadership.
In rating Governor Yusuf, the Performance Index Report of ThisNigeria Newspapers, noted the courage, determination, and commitment of the governor in the service of the people.
“Not only is he impacting positively in education, agriculture, and security, Governor Yusuf in his short stint in office so far continues to show commendable resilience in the governance of a complex and diverse state like Kano.”
Governor Eno is being garlanded for enthroning a culture and conducive atmosphere of peace and tranquillity, which has in turn led to the harvest of democracy dividends for the people of the state.
Through innovative leadership, he has, in the last year, made bold statements in rural development and health care services and fostered political inclusion in a state hitherto fractured along ethnic and political divides.
The Special Investigator of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Jim Osayande Obazee, and other government business entities will receive the prize in the Public Service category.
Obazee, a patriotic and fearless Nigerian, was saddled with the arduous task of unearthing and cleansing the Augean stable of economic malfeasances in the Central Bank of Nigeria under the embattled former Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The trial is still ongoing, but to Obazee and his team’s credit “there has been no story or case of anyone succumbing to inducements to sway them from the path of rectitude.”
Veteran labour leader and Director-General of the Michael Imoudu Institute of Labour Studies, Comrade Issa Aremu, is also a recipient of the Public Service Award.
Aremu has been silently but effectively transforming the labour institute regarding capacity and relevance to the country’s government-workforce engagement. The policy body has been quietly engaging different labour sectors to ensure a better understanding between all interest groups.
He has served variously as vice president of the NLC; also, in the continental labour organization in an executive capacity, among other positions.
