Two national newspapers, Daily Independent and the NewsDirect and the Silverbird Group have said the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, deserves accolades for the impact of his transformational strides in the year 2019 as a result of his investment in human capacity development, job creation, healthcare and education sectors, and infrastructural development, among others.
The Silverbird Group awarded the governor the 2019 Extraordinary Personality, while Daily Independent and the NewsDirect honoured Governor Obaseki with the 2019 Governor of the Year.
While presenting the letter notifying the governor of the award during the State’s Weekly Executive Council Meeting at Government House in Benin City, the Editor, Daily Independent Newspaper, Don Okere, said the governor’s steadfastness and multidimensional approach in addressing issues in Edo propped him up for the award.
He noted, “Edo has been recognised as a model in education in the country under the Governor Obaseki-led administration. The governor has improved the socio-economic conditions of the people in the state.”
The Chief Creative Officer, Silverbird Group, Mr. Jacob Akinyemi, said the Silverbird Man of the Year award started in 2005 and was initiated to recognise the contributions of outstanding persons to Nigeria’s development.
He said Governor Obaseki and the former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu were the two persons recognised with the Silverbird Extraordinary Personality Award.
Managing Director, News Direct Newspaper, Prince Samuel Ibiyemi, said the governor is being bestowed with the award after the newspaper’s assessment of state governors’ performance in the country for the year 2019.
After receiving the notification of the awards, the governor said it was a call to continue to prioritize the welfare of Edo people.
He noted, “We had a clear vision in November 2016 that our concern was to prioritize the welfare of our people. We are transforming the nature and structure of our state, using the basic principles of governance of accountability and transparency to optimise our God-given resources.”
Obaseki, who reassured that his administration would not relent in serving the people of the state, noted that Edo people are his prime priority, which is driving his motivation to build a vibrant economy.
