As commendations continue to trail Champion Newspaper’s award investiture on the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman, South/East Governors Forum, Engr. Dave Umahi, as the Best Governor in Nigeria of the year 2020, erstwhile Technical Assistant TA to the Governor on Media, Lady Monica Chidinma Ada Eze, has described the conferment as a special confirmation of Umahi’s rare leadership model which she said is intensely rooted in service delivery anchored on infrastructural and human capital development which are the critical elements of governance.
In a statement made available to the media in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital, the former Media Aide to the Governor commended the Champion Newspaper for beaming their searchlight to ensure that the honor is conferred on merit, noting that it remains the duty of the national media and other independent assessors to do their assessments transparently and inform Nigerians accordingly on all subjects.
Lauding the Media House for staying true to the cause of truth and dispelling every monetary influence in determining who deserves what honor, Monica who is President and Founder of DUNAETA, a non-governmental, non-profit organization with operational base in Ebonyi, said Champion Newspaper remains an embodiment of all that a transparent media organization represents.
Recall that the executive management and editorial board of Champion Newsmedia Limited, publishers of Champion Newspaper, voted Gov. Dave Umahi as the best Governor of the year 2020 in infrastructural development, an award which was presented to him alongside other serving and former Governors, Business moguls, captains of industry etc, who emerged in other categories, on Friday, May 28, 2021 at a high profile event held at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos State.
Lady Monica highlighted that, the Group Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Champion Newspapers, Dr. Mrs. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa while welcoming the Awardees and dignitaries stated that “the selected awardees have not only identified the needs and challenges of the citizens but proffered holistic solutions, thereby uplifting the standard of living of the people and contributing their best to the country’s socio-economic and political development.”
Commending the Governor for always bringing honor to the state, Monica Aka Ada Ebonyi called on Nigerians to be conscious and always ensure that the right people in the right frame of mind, perception, mentality and most importantly, with the fear of God, like Umahi, are voted into power, to allow for democratic dividends to trickle down to those at the grassroots.
Other award recipients include-Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola who bagged the man of the year award; National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who emerged in the category of Democracy Icon of the fourth republic 1990 till date; Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma.
Dangote Foundation, African Alliance, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Access Bank Plc were among institutions and corporate organizations that received different categories of awards at the event.
Governor Dave Umahi is one among the 36 State Governors, whose giant strides especially, in infrastructural development, human capital development, health and education, job creation and security, has endeared him to Nigerians across tribes and political divides.
With over thirteen (13) overhead bridges to his credit, Lady Monica said Umahi has redefined governance in Ebonyi as the state now prides herself as host to the biggest shopping mall in West Africa, beautifully designed road networks adorned with street lights, a world class medical college, and a stable economy with IGR steadily on the rise.
Aside raising billionaires from his various youth empowerment schemes, Gov. Umahi is improving the livelihood of families through agriculture, job creation, entrepreneurial development amongst others. It is he who built the biggest ecumenical centre in Africa. His intelligent political carriage has earned Ebonyi an international airport which is currently under construction.
“What more could be said of a silent achiever and a man of many firsts, indeed the Champion Newspaper Award conferment on him is well deserved”. Monica stated.
Receiving the Award on behalf the Governor, the workaholic Commissioner of Information and State Orientation, Barr Uche Orji who represented the Governor during the event stated that “the award shows what was going in the state in terms of massive infrastructural development are been recognized and appreciated by the outside world. This award will trigger his aspiration to want to do more,”
