Awards - News Agency Of Nigeria

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Fri, 2025

Leadership Excellence Awards: Tony Elumelu voted 2025 Man of the Year

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By Ebere Agozie

Mr Tony Elumelu, founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation has been voted winner of the prestigious Man of the Year for 2025 at the 7th Leadership Excellence Awards (LEEX).

In an online voting monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Elumelu secured an overwhelming victory with 1,093,475 votes, significantly outpacing other distinguished nominees including Allen Onyema (634,855 votes) and A. A. Rano (185,397 votes).

NAN reports that the LEEX award, now in its seventh edition is organised by Igbere TV to recognise outstanding leadership and contributions of individuals to national development.

The selection process involves a rigorous two-stage procedure beginning with open public nominations, followed by a transparent voting process where citizens across the nation participate in selecting winners.

The awards have become a benchmark for excellence, celebrating individuals who have made remarkable impact in their respective fields.

Elumelu’s recognition is believed to be based on his transformative impact on Africa’s economic landscape through both business leadership and philanthropy.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), established in 2010, represents his most enduring legacy.

The foundation operationalises his economic philosophy by empowering young African entrepreneurs, having committed 100 million dollars in 2015 to create the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.

The recognition coincides with the foundation’s announcement of its 2025 entrepreneurship cohort of 3,000 entrepreneurs who will receive training, mentorship, and 5,000 dollars in seed funding each.

The award is expected to enhance the foundation’s ability to form strategic partnerships and scale its impact across Africa.

TEF alumni is said to have created over 1.5 million jobs and generated more than 4.2 billion dollars in revenue across all 54 African countries.

The foundation has 40 per cent of female entrepreneurs as beneficiaries, making significant strides in women’s economic empowerment.

The foundation’s digital platform, TEFConnect, has become Africa’s largest entrepreneurship hub with over 1.5 million registered users and have trained, mentored, and provided seed funding to over 21,000 African entrepreneurs.

Elumelu’s recognition as the 2025 LEEX Man of the Year represents a public endorsement of his two-decade commitment to transforming African economies through strategic investments and entrepreneurial empowerment.

Former past winners include Dr Godwin Maduka, 2019, Dr Godwin Maduka, 2020, Obi Cubana, 2021, Peter Obi, 2022, Abdul Rabiu, 2023 and Udom Emmanuel, 2024

The award, endorsed by the African Union and the African Film Institute is scheduled to hold in Abuja Oct. 31. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

NOSDRA D-G gets Blueprint Award for public service

Ismail Abdulaziz
Jul, Tue, 2025

General News

NOSDRA D-G gets Blueprint Award for public service

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The Blueprint Newspapers has awarded the Director-General of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Chukwuemeka Woke, with a Public Service Excellence.

This is recognition of Woke’s exceptional leadership and commitment to public service since he assumed office.

The award took place during the newspaper’s 2025 Public Lecture, Impact Series, and Award Ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja.

President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Woke as the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the NOSDRA in May 2024.

The Blueprints, with the theme “Exploring the Potential of Livestock Exports” was attended by the top government functionaries, media, civil society, and the private sector.

It is aimed at celebrating individuals and institutions making impactful contributions to national development.

Woke was commended for his outstanding commitment to environmental protection, regulatory excellence, and innovative leadership in oil spill detection and response.

The award particularly noted NOSDRA’s deployment of technology-driven solutions and strengthened enforcement of environmental compliance within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Receiving the award on behalf of the Director General, Dr Olusola Oladipo, Director of Planning, Policy Analysis, and Research at NOSDRA, commended Blueprint for the honour.

“This award is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and visionary leadership of Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke.”

The event also featured discussions on national resilience, institutional performance, and the media’s role in shaping governance.

Personalities from public and private sectors were recognised for their contributions to sustainable development.

Members of NOSDRA’s management team were in attendance in solidarity with the Director-General.

Blueprint’s management emphasised that the event aims to inspire excellence, accountability, and visionary leadership across all sectors of Nigerian society.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

18 FG’s commission workers receive merit, productivity awards

Ismail Abdulaziz
Dec, Tue, 2024

General News

18 FG’s commission workers receive merit, productivity awards

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By Mohammed Baba Busu

The National Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has given 18 of its staff Merit and Productivity Award for dedication, commitment and hard work.

The event was organised at Justice Legbo Kutigi Hall in Minna on Tuesday, to mark the end of the 2024 activities.

During the ceremony, N-HYPPADEC Managing Director,

Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, reassured the staff that their welfare packages would not be compromised.

He also appreciated the support from all the staff in ensuring the success of the commission so far.

Sadiq-Yelwa urged staff to rededicate themselves to punctuality, discipline, transparency and accountability in discharging their duties.

He said the journey was not easy from the start and commended the management committee for their zeal, resilience and endurance.

He added that the entire workforce deserved commendation as they prepared for future mandates.

The Niger State Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Economic Affairs Office of the SSG, Idris Legbo, applauded the commission for its achievements since inception.

He said Niger State alone had benefited from over 200 interventions and appealed for more.

Earlier, the N-HYPPADEC Director of Finance and Administration, Jimoh Haruna-Gabi, commended the leadership style of the Managing Director for his transparency and accountability and described him as a “Pathfinder”.

The staff received different categories of awards, including best staff, best driver, and best State Coordinator.

The Managing Director, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, received the Most Distinguished Award.

Some of the awardees, including Rahmat Maijabi and Hassan Maji, appreciated the Management committee for finding them worthy of the award, adding that the award would spur them to do more.(NAN) (www.nannewsngr)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz