L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi being presented the Champion Newspapers’ Governor of the Year (2013) award by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal in Lagos.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi Friday night received the 2013 edition of Champions Newspaper’s Governor of the Year Award amidst commendations of his selfless service to Ekiti State and Nigeria.
Others who also received award at the award ceremony chaired by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal include; business mogul, Aliko Dangote, statesman and former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chairman of Honeywell group, Dr Oba Otudeko, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; Minister of Agric, Dr Akinwumi Adesina; Nigeria’s first Envoy to France, late Amb Raph Uwechue, and Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola.
The rest are Lady Odochi Orji, Dr Stella Okoli, Chief Leo Stan-Ekeh, Engr Ernest Nwapa, Chief a Sunny Odogwu, globacom limited, Zenith Bank, and Mutual Benefit Assurance.
Speaking at the event, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola described Fayemi as a “remarkable servant of the people, selfless individual” and someone who is irrevocably committed to the development of just causes.
Fashola who lauded Fayemi’s tenacity in retrieving the mandate given him by Ekiti people in the 2007 and 2009 elections expressed confidence that Fayemi has used the mandate to better the lots of Ekiti people by making a remarkable difference in their lives.
He stressed that the transformational strides of the Ekiti Governor must have become very glaring to all and sundry to call the attention of Champions Newspapers to honour Fayemi, even as the Governor was also last year named the Leadership Newspaper’s Governor of the Year 2012.
Governor Fashola said he was proud to be associated with Fayemi whom he described as one of the best hands Nigeria has in the new Nigeria project.
Also speaking, former Governor Obi who received the Outstanding Igbo Personality of the Decade award at the event described Fayemi as a creative and credible leader who has earned the trust of the people through hard work and purposeful leadership.
Describing Fayemi as a performer, the former Anambra State Governor said while other aspirants in the June 21 Ekiti State governorship election would be telling the people what they could do, Fayemi would be telling them what he has done, adding that his achievements in office in the last three and half years are remarkable.
Receiving the award, Governor Fayemi said it was an impetus for his team to work harder for the development of Ekiti State and restore the State to its pride of place in all spheres.
The Governor who had pioneered many programmes in the country including the N5,000 monthly Social Security stipends for the Elderly, the provision of computers to school children to enhance their ability to compete with colleagues from across the globe said all his effort at transforming the State is not a favor but a duty to the people who gave him their mandate to serve.
Fayemi who said he is not tired of offering more people-driven service asserted that he is prepared to heed the people’s call to serve more as the State goes into the polls on June 21.
He assured that he won’t be deterred by any obstacle in the course of delivering more dividends of democracy to the people.
“What I am doing is not a favour but a duty and it is a privilege to serve our country and our people. We owe them a duty to serve with diligence, compassion and commitment and that’s what we have done in Ekiti in the last three and a half years.
We have served our people with every fibre in us and we are not tired of doing more.This award is an impetus for us to work harder”, he said.
The Governor was presented with the award by Speaker of the House of Reps, Ahlaji Aminu Tambuwal.
The Chairman of the occasion and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Tambuwal expressed delight at the calibre of people who were honoured at the event, saying it was an encouragement for them to put in more selfless service for the benefit of the Nigerian people.
Tambuwal also called on the media to continue to give objective publicity to those who are putting in selfless sacrifice for the growth of the country.
In his remarks, the executive chairman of Champions Newspaper, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said the awards were not aimed at “massaging anyone’s ego or to promote frivolity” but are based on assessments made by independent assessors.
Iwuanyanwu who was represented by Chief Bonnie Mnachukwu, said there is no doubt that there is dearth of committed and selfless leaders in the country but it is imperative to consolidate the nation’s democracy by recognizing people who have utilized every opportunity to the benefit of the masses.
He added that recognizing the selfless service of the award recipients is a modest way of contributing to the uplift of the society.
The event was attended by Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; former Ekiti State Goveror Niyi Adebayo; Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Speaker of the State Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin, Senator Tony Adeniyi, members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers from Ekiti State, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Prof. Gbenga Aribisala and a host of others from across the country.
Last modified: April 12, 2014
