The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Man of the Year

  • VIO chief gets Osun first Man of the Year

    An Assistant Director at the Vehicle Inspectorate Office (VIO) in Abuja, and an indigene of Ilesa in Osun State, Asiwaju Tunde Aregbesola, has been awarded the first Osun State Man of the Year.

    The award was organised by the Nigerian Outstanding Leadership Award Forum (NOLAF).

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Akure, Ondo State capital, the awards committee coordinator Dr Akinbiola Sunday noted that Aregbesola is an enigma and erudite public servant, who has contributed to the development of Osun State and Nigeria, especially in bringing sanity to traffic situation.

    Akinbiola said as part of the programme, a book: The Diary of An Enigma – An Oasis in the Desert, the biography of the awardee, would be launched during the event at Idleness Hotel, GRA, Osogbo.

    Guest Speaker is the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Prof Opeyemi Ogunmodede and the special guest/chief host is Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.

    The Owa-Obokun of Ijesa, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, will be the royal father, with the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun as royal host.

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Nguru Nsani, will chair the occasion and the Director-General of Vehicle Inspectorate Department in Abuja, Wadata Aliyu Bodinga, the guest of honour.

  • Derin-Ologbenla is Osun Man of the Year

    An Ile-Ife, Osun State prince and philanthropist, Charles Adewale Derin-Ologbenla, has won the maiden Osun State Man of the Year.

    He defeated 20 nominees for the award.

    Prince Derin-Ologbenla polled the highest votes to defeat the three runners-up in the online selection.

    The award presentation, which will hold in Osogbo, the capital, on December 10, is expected to attract eminent personalities.

    Many people hailed Derin-Ologbenla for his developmental initiative in Osun State, his empowerment drive and his philanthropic disposition.

    In a statement at the weekend, organisers of the award Hero Magazine Group said the prince won because of hard work, positive initiative, tenacity and the philosophy of giving back to the society.

    Project Coordinator of Her Group Dr. Akinbiola Sunday said: “The Man of the Year Award is to publicly celebrate and honour the outstanding career achievements of illustrious sons and daughters, whose performances made significant contribution in the private and public sectors.

    “This award also seeks to attract annually the political and business leaders, academics and professionals from all disciplines, both famous and uncelebrated.”

    Some past winners in a similar award in the Ondo State edition are: Ajayi Borroffice, the senator representing Ondo North; Justice Babatunde Adejumo, President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN); Emeritus Prof David Ijalaye, Prince Rotimi Ibidapo, the Aare Atunluse of Owo kingdom, among others.

  • Enter Tinubu, the Man of the Year

    Enter Tinubu, the Man of the Year

    At the 13th edition of the annual Sun Awards, held last Saturday in Lagos, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, bagged the Man of the Year Award.  Anambra State Governor Wille Obiano is the Governor of the Year, reports NNEKA NWANERI.

    It was a night of fun and excitement last Sunday at the 13th annual Sun Awards. The event, which held at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, was to honour and reward many outstanding personalities who had distinguished themselves in their various fields.

    Many of them, self-made, did not walk to fame overnight. Some recounted how they began small till they became known in their fields.

    Top on the list were: the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed  Tinubu, who clinched the highest award as the Man of the Year and Anambra State Governor Wille Obiano who bagged the Governor of the Year. There were 17 others.

    Borno First Lady Hajia Nana Shettima (Most Supportive First Lady of the Year); Director General of PenCom Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu (Public Service Award); former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar; Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia; two-time Minister of Foreign Affairs Gen. Ike Nwachukwu; first female Chief Justice of Nigeria Mariam Aloma Muktar; first post-independence Minister of Aviation Chief Mbazulike Amaechi and Chief Kessington Adebutu aka Baba Ijebu got the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

    Other awardees were: Executive Chairman Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Dr Obiora Chukwuka (Businessman of the Year); Managing Director and CEO of Sterling Bank Mr Yemi Adeola (Banker of the Year); President Mater Energy Group Dr. Uche Ogah (Investor of the Year); President of Erisco Foods Ltd Chief Eric Umeofia (Manufacturer of the Year); President Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) Mr Amaju Pinnick (Sports Personality of the Year); Rockview Hotel  owned by The Young Shall Grow Motors boss, Chief Vincent Obianodo (Hospitality Firm of the Year); Mrs. Josephine Ugwu (Nigerian Hero of the Year); actress Omoni Oboli (Nollywood Personality of the Year); and songstar Harrison Okiri aka Harrysong (Creative Person of the Year).

    The arena was full with dignitaries, politicians and men of the pen.

    In attendance were: President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal; Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Ogun State Governor  Ibikunle Amosun; APC National Chairman Chief John Odigun Oyegun; Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu; APGA Chairman Chief Victor Umeh; Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Usman Mamman Durkwa; Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was represented by his Deputy, Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori; and that of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon.

    Also were serving and former ministers; senators and members of the House. Royalties from across the country were led by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu; business moguls and Nollywood acts were there to show their solidarity.

    Publisher of The Sun Orji Uzo Kalu, in an address, said the award was initiated in 2003, to show the outside world that there are great Nigerians. He also noted that the selection processes were open; transparent and got inputs from all parts of the country.

    “We are celebrating 19 Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various endeavours in 2015 and performed well during their lifetime; so let’s all bear in mind that selfless service and with I can do it spirit can make a positive difference for us.” Kalu said.

    The event was chaired by elder statesman Chief Authur Mbanefo, an alumnus of the roll of awardees during the 2012 edition. He added that that the award is in celebration of the characters, thoughts, words, actions and deeds of the recipients.

    Mbanefo said: “Character is greater than reputation. Character is who you are and reputation is what people perceive you to be. This country needs more role models for our teeming young individuals, so that way, we have ensured that the labours of our heroes past do not go in vain.”

    Asiwaju Tinubu, when called to the stage to receive his award, danced to the podium. He was accompanied by other party stalwarts who joined him in displaying their dancing skills.

    The icing on the cake was Harrysong’s stage performance of his hit song Reggae Blues.

  • Tinubu dedicates award to Nigerians

    Tinubu dedicates award to Nigerians

    National leader of the All Progressive Congress ( APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said the collective efforts of Nigerians was responsible for the 2015 electoral victory of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Without their support, Tinubu said the change would have been difficult to achieve.

    Tinubu who bagged Sun newspapers Man of the Year Award held in Lagos on Saturday said the people provided the bulwark for the unprecedented political change.

    “What was accomplished in 2015 was not a singular effort. It was done through the collective love and labor of millions of Nigerians. A handful of them were well known. Most of them are hardworking anonymous people who together constitute the backbone and great strength of this nation.

    “God in His wisdom placed me in the position to recognize the change that was needed and to help effectuate that change. I thank God for giving me this chance and for allowing me to be born a black man and a Nigerian, Tinubu stated.

  • Adenuga is City People Man of the Year

    Adenuga is City People Man of the Year

    Chairman, Mike Adenuga Group of  companies, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., has emerged ‘Man of the Year’ 2015 of leading society magazine City People.

    The magazine, in the citation for Dr. Adenuga, said the award was in  recognition of his humanitarian activities and business prowess, Nigeria’s top business entrepreneur and

    The award was presented to Globacom’s Group Executive Director, Mrs Bella Disu, who received it on behalf of her father at the Mike Adenuga Towers, headquarters of the Group.