Today, all roads lead to Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, as the INDEPENDENT Newspapers awards hold.

The highly anticipated awards will kickoff at 7pm.

Motivated by its avowed commitment to promoting the common good and rewarding excellence in the society, this edition will be a breakaway from the norm in the quality of awardees, programme of events and guests.

Nominated as the ‘INDEPENDENT 2017 Man of the Year’ is the amiable and respectable Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, Executive Governor of Delta State.

In his two years in office, Governor Okowa has retained the admiration of his people via his development strides through the Smart Agenda.

Governor Okowa was inaugurated as Governor on 29 May 2015, after winning the state elections conducted in April 2015.

Prior to being Governor, he was elected Senator for Delta North, in Delta State, in April 2011, on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

An Ika from Owa-Alero in Delta State, Governor Okowa, till date, he holds the record of being the first person from Anioma to clinch the governorship position of Delta State.

Other governors to be awarded include, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State. The Governor is nominated as ‘Governor of the Year’ for his achievements in Lagos State.

Born June 14, 1963, Governor Ambode was a civil servant for 27 years and a financial consultant before running for public office as Governor of Lagos State in 2015.

His road to his current office was on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the state’s ruling party. He won the election, defeating the second-place candidate by 150,000 votes.

Governor Ambode began his tenure as the governor of Lagos State on 29 May 2015, succeeding former governor Babatunde Fashola.

On his part, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is nominated for ‘Political Icon of the Year’.

Prior to being the governor of his state, Wike who was born on 24 August 1967, had been contributing to the development of the state in his own unique way. From 1999 to 2007, Wike was the Executive Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government in Rivers State, an office he used to redefine and exhibit his special brand of governance.

He was the National President of All Local Governments of Nigeria from 2003 to 2006 (ALGON), between 1999 to 2007; he was also the Executive Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area where he distinguished himself exceedingly.

An outstanding administrator, lawyer, leader and politician, Barrister Wike was born to the family of Reverend and Mrs. Nlemanya Wike of Rumuepirikom community, Rivers State. He holds degrees in Political and Administrative Studies as well as Law.

For his sterling role in weathering the storm of the killer herdsmen in his state recently, Samuel Ortom of Benue was nominated and would be decorated as ‘The Governor of the Year on Security’, while David Umahi of Ebonyi State emerged ‘Governor of the Year in Agriculture’.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State is equally nominated as the ‘2017 Grassroots Governor of the Year’, while the ‘Outstanding Deputy Governor of the Year’ goes to Otunba Titilayo Tomori of Osun State.

Otunba Tomori’s recognition comes deservingly. Aside being the Deputy Governor of Osun State, she is also the Honourable Commissioner for Education.

Born in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State to the Amon Oyeyemi Laoye family, her early education includes St. Catherine Girls Grammar School, Owo and Victory College, Ikare.

Read the full story here.

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