The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has urged Nigerians and other stakeholders to emulate the Sun newspapers award initiative to honour and motivate patriots.
Anyim spoke on Saturday night as dignitaries from all parts of the country gathered at the Eko Hotel venue of the 2013 edition of the Sun newspapers awards.
Anyim, who was the chairman of the award ceremony, commended the management of the Sun newspapers for initiating the award as a humble way of honouring patriots.
He said that the award was a way of honouring Nigerian patriots whose public conduct and actions helped to inspire hope for a better country.
Anyim congratulated the award recipients at the event.
Femi Adesina, the Managing Director, Sun Publishing Limited, had earlier said that the award was a special annual event.
Adesina said: “We are here to recognise personalities who have shown exceptional qualities in governance and outside it.
“Those who have rekindled our hope in Nigeria as a country; a country well blessed by God with both human and natural resources.
“The Sun Awards has become a major item in the event calendar of the country; every February, it has become a major landmark for those who love quality entertainment and outing.”
Adesina described this year’s award, the 11th in the series, as being very significant and congratulated all the winners.
A former governor of Abia State and Publisher of The Sun newspapers, Dr. Orji Kalu, said that the Sun Awards, which debuted in 2003, was the most valuable one in Nigeria.
Kalu congratulated the joint winners of The Sun Man of the Year 2013, Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State.
The governors were presented the award for their outstanding performances and exceptional contributions to the sustenance of the country’s democracy and good governance.
Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio, also won the most supportive first lady award.
Akpabio bagged the award for her extraordinary humanitarian programmes through her NGO, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative, that added value to governance in the state.
She said: “This award is not a triumph for me, but a triumph for the human spirit.
“I accept it in trust for the widows whose lives we have touched.
“I accept it in trust for children that now have direction in life.
“I accept it in trust for all those lives we were able to touch with the light of God’s compassion,”
The Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, also received the Investor of the Year award, while the Banker of the Year was won by the outgoing Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Reginald Ihejiahi.
The duo of Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, the Chairman/CEO of MRS Group, and Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, the Chairman/CEO of Chisco Group, who distinguished themselves in the oil and transport sectors, were joint recipients of the Businessman of the Year Award.
Sam Amuka, the Publisher of Vanguard newspapers, and Chief Edwin Clark, elder statesman and prominent Ijaw leader, were jointly presented the Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The Creative Person of the Year and the Sportsman of the Year Awards were presented to the Founder, READ Foundation, Koko Kalango, and Stephen Keshi, Super Eagles coach, respectively.
Michael Anthony, who died while rescuing a neighbour’s baby from a raging house fire in Makurdi, Benue State, was recognised posthumously as winner in the ‘Nigerian Hero’ category.
The Nigerian Hero category is conferred on a citizen that has put his or her life in danger to help or save another.
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