Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, on Sunday night in Lagos received the prestigious 2024 Silverbird Man of the Year Award amidst a funfair at Eko Hotel Convention Centre.
The governor, nominated among other great Nigerians, won with the highest votes and was presented with the award by the founder of the Silverbird Group, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce.
Oyebanji was followed to the podium to receive the plaque of honour by three former governors of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Engr. Segun Oni, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
Aside from the governor, thirteen other great personalities, including Governors of Lagos and Enugu, also bagged different awards at the event.
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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Governor Peter Mba of Enugu State were given “Governor of the Year Award.”
Also, Prof. Tam David West; Chief Alex Akinyele; Alhaji Ahmed Joda and Prof. Dora Akunyili, received the PostHumus Achievement Awards.
Ayo Animashaun, the Executive Producer, The Headies and owner of HipTV, and Folake Olowofoyeku, an actress and musician also received the Special Achievement Award.
Actor Chidi Mokeme and Actress Toyin Abraham Ajewole won the Trailblazer Award while veteran Nollywood actor Richard Mofe Damijo clinched the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Legendary music producer and Mavin Records boss, Michael Collins Ajereh, better known as Don Jazzy won the Silverbird Extraordinary Achievement Award
Speaking on his award, Oyebanji, who could not hide his feelings, said the award was not for him but for all those who had been working behind the scene to develop Ekiti State.
He said, “I’m just a captain of the team. I represent a team who had won this award to receive the plaque. I also thank all the residents of Ekiti State, all the former governors, including the leader of the senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele for the support.”
Oyebanji noted that he received the news of his emergence through a call by Senator Ben-Bruce and later found out how big and prestigious the award is, having gone through the list of past winners.
“It’s a big deal and I want to promise Silverbird that we will not relent or mess up this honour,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, described the event as a great pleasure because it is the gathering of greats Nigerians who had excelled in their chosen fields and service to humanity.
He went down the memory lane as he gave a vivid account of his service to the nation, buying a leave from the friends he made outside the country.
He related his story to his time with late boxer Muhammad Ali, whom he described as his mentor, Mr. Jesse Jackson whom he invited to Nigeria during apartheid regime of South Africa to change the course of things among Africans.
He said, “I want to tell you about my journey. I wanted to understand the world in 1979. The friends I made were outside Nigeria. Who could be my hero. I met Muhammadu Ali.”
He called on Nigerians to support the government instead of criticising it, saying in this will the country grow out of its present economic debacle.
To him, African countries are not united and it is high time they get their acts together to create a better continent.
Citing the current Miss Universe Nigeria as an example, Ben-Bruce narrated how Silverbird embraced her because South Africa discriminated against her.
In his own speech, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State who won the governor of the year award, noted that the award is an opportunity to double his effort.
He commended Silverbird group for recognising him again within the space of three years, first as the Silverbird Man of the year and now governor of the year.
He dedicated the award to Lagosians for their support and promised to deliver on all his promises more than ever before.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said his predecessor and the president of the country, Bola Tinubu had laid a foundation on which successive governors had been putting blocks.
He thanked the president for his support as he also revealed the plans to build better tourist and entertainment sectors in the state.
Another Governor of the year is Peter Mba of Enugu State who emphasised on the creation of smart green schools in Enugu, which according to him is deliberate to build the minds of the pupils.
He said the government is building standard schools that the children of the governor and the deputy themselves can be so proud to go.
Mba called on the residents of Enugu to bear with him in his plan to rebuild the state, adding that his plan is to also create robust primary healthcare services, which of course his government had been doing.
He used the opportunity to thank the Minister of Works, Umahi for his quick intervention when a bridge collapsed in Enugu.
Mba noted how the speech of senator Ben-Bruce had touched him so much, describing it as his own takeaway on the night.
On his part, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who won the Minister of the year award, took his time to speak about the four legacy projects of President Bola Tinubu, describing it as projects that will last the test of time.
“These projects are not wasteful as some people have criticised. These projects are coming because Nigeria is having a visionary and divine leadership in president Bola Tinubu in whom I’m very loyal because of his smartness,” he said.
He called on all Nigerians to support the government, saying that the roads that are being built now will last for 50 to 100 years.
He dedicated the awards to his wife, his children, the people of Ebonyi, the minister of State for works and all Nigerians.
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