The annual LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards will take place on 12 February 2026 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, celebrating individuals and institutions whose leadership and innovation have transformed lives across Nigeria.
Among the honorees is Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, recognised for her compassionate yet structured approach to social investment through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
In a year marked by economic turbulence and reform-induced hardship, RHI has emerged as a disciplined national network of relief, reaching widows, students, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
According to the organisers, the initiative has empowered 20,000 rural women, supported 3,000 students with education grants, and assisted 5,000 seniors with stipends, training, scholarships, and medical care.
“RHI is not charity; it is a purposeful platform engineered with discipline and compassion,” the citation noted.
Governors of the Year
The LEADERSHIP Board of Editors named six governors for their transformative leadership in 2025:
- Hope Uzodimma (Imo): Transparency, inclusive education, digital empowerment, infrastructure renewal, and security reform.
- Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa): Industrialisation and human capital development, positioning Nasarawa as an investment hub.
- Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti): People-centred governance transforming Ekiti State.
- Dauda Lawal (Zamfara): Security restoration and investment in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
- Uba Sani (Kaduna): Inclusive, reconciliatory leadership uniting diverse communities.
- Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta): Visionary MORE Agenda driving peace, inclusion, and pragmatic reform.
Other Distinguished Awardees
The awards also spotlighted excellence across public service, business, finance, and social impact:
- Legislator of the Year: Dr Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives.
- Public Service Person of the Year: Dr Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), for championing tax reform and transparency.
- Business Person of the Year: Thomas Etuh, for transforming Nigeria’s fertiliser and agribusiness sector.
- Banker of the Year: Dr Tony Okpanachi, MD/CEO of the Development Bank of Nigeria, for empowering over 700,000 MSMEs.
- Bank of the Year: Providus Bank, for driving digital transformation.
- Social Impact Person of the Year: High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), for peacebuilding and job creation in the Niger Delta.
- Government Agency of the Year: FCCPC, for recovering ₦10 billion for consumers.
- Environmental Impact Agency of the Year: NASENI, for promoting renewable energy and climate-friendly technologies.
- Oil & Gas Local Content Champion: Green Energy International Limited (GEIL), for pioneering Nigeria’s first onshore crude export terminal.
Innovation, Youth, and Culture
The awards also recognised innovation and cultural impact:
- Fintech Company of the Year: OPay, for revolutionising digital finance.
- Product of the Year: Nestlé Pure Life.
- Company of the Year: Trade Modernisation Project.
- Primary Healthcare Model of the Year: Mrs Mabel Ijeoma Duaka & Dr Seidu Adebayo Bello.
- Outstanding Young Person: David Adeyemi, for developing an AI-powered education app for visually impaired learners.
- Young College Person of the Year: Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu, for elevating Nigeria’s global academic presence.
- Artiste of the Year: Skales & Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke.
- Sports Person of the Year: Justine Madugu, for guiding the Super Falcons to their record-breaking 10th WAFCON title.
The LEADERSHIP Awards 2025 highlight how conviction, innovation, and compassion can converge to strengthen Nigeria’s path toward sustainable development.
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