Nigerian Pilot/Newsworld wishe to announce nominations for the fourth annual Man/Person of the Year Awards following
submissions from a panel of advisers comprising the stable’s Board of Editors alongside other professionals and stakeholders
in the media industry. The annual recognition is designed to identify and reward excellence in the face of competing challenges
locally and worldwide. The event will be beamed live on AIT, NTA, Silver Bird Television and Ben Television, London.
Thursday 16 December, 2013, Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Sheraton Hotels & Towers
Nominees for Man/Person of the year:
After rigorous exercise, the following nominees have been short-listed for the final round of voting
 2013/101: Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, Executive Governor,Delta stateBorn 22 October 1954, he assumed office on May 29, 2007 on theplatform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). A medical doctor byprofession, he was the state’s Commissioner for Health and later, theSecretary to the State Government. Uduaghan ran again for governorin the April 26, 2011 elections, and was re-elected. His achievementssince he became governor has seen to the upliftment of Delta state inmany spheres including rural development, peace and security andlarge scale improvement on various economic indicators signifyingbetter days ahead for the oil-producing state. He has revolutionised thePrimary Health Care sector in the state. On the strength of the above,
the governor is nominated for the Award |
 2013/102: Dr. Gabriel Suswam, Executive Governor, Benue stateBorn November 15, 1964, the governor inspite of his youthfulness hascontinued to blaze the trail of infrastructural development in his state.He became governor of Benue State on May 2007. He ran againsuccessfully in the April 26, 2011 elections on the PDP platform. Hisgenuine approach to governance in a state with much older politicalstakeholders of note distinguishes him. And across the Middle Beltstate, from state capital, Makurdi to Vandekya and from Gboka toOtukpa, Gov. Suswam’s landmark achievements abound. His maturemanagement of the recurring crisis in Otukpa area of the state standshim out too. |
 2013/103: Dr. Godswill Akpabio, Executive Governor, Akwa IbomstateBorn December 19, 1962, he became governor of Akwa Ibom State onMay 29, 2007. He is a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).He ran successfully for re-election on April 26, 2011.The Digital Governor as the people of the state love to call him, hasnumerous acknowledgements for his landmark achievements in hisstate. Though many argue that the huge funds that accrue to the stateaccount for his unprecedented strides, the panel did not lose sight of thefact that many others in his shoes would have failed to record theachievements he has done in office. For the huge transformation of
Akwa Ibom state on very many fronts under his administration, he is nominated for the Award. |
 2013/104: Alhaji Kashim Shettima, Executive Governor, BornostateKashim Shettima was born on 2 September 1966 in Maiduguri, BornoState. Despite the obvious challenges that pose hurdles to hisdetermination to turn things around in Borno state, the governor hasrecorded giant strides in providing the dividends of democracy to hispeople, the fallouts of current security challenges notwithstanding. Thepanel considers his cooperation with federal authorities in the foregoingregards as very unique that adds to his qualification for the Award.
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 2013/105: Babatunde Raji Fashola, Executive Governor, LagosstateHe is the 13th governor of Lagos State, and was sworn in on May 29,2007. He was re-elected on April 26, 2011.The governor’s massivetransformation of Lagos roads especially during his first term ingovernment threw him up as one state chief executive that had thepeople’s welfare close to his heart. Coupled with the huge turnaround inthe state’s security and related situations, the governor, according tothe panel qualifies for nomination for the Man of the Year Award.
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 2013/106: Alhaji Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Hon. Minister, FedCapital TerritoryMohammed was born in 1958 in Alkaleri. He studied English at theUniversity of Maiduguri (1979–1982), where he gained a BA. He joinedThe Democrat as a reporter in 1983, then working in the public serviceas an administrative officer from 1984-2000. He worked variousministries and was elected a Senator in 2007 to represent BauchiCentral constituency from where he was appointed a minster. Since heassumed office as minister of the Federal Capital Territory, he hasrecorded outstanding achievements. And this he is doing inspite of
competing challenges and distractions. Though he remains the most reported minister in the present administration, he is focused in administering the FCT recording successes. |
 2013/107: Arc. Mike Oziegbe Onolememen, Hon Minister of WorksThe tremendous transformation going in Nigeria’s once largely abandonedroads sector is due to the minister’s doggedness. Given that the total roadnetwork in Nigeria has an estimated length of about 195,400 km out ofwhich the Federal Road Network is 34,300 km while 30,500 km belongs tothe State governments with the balances of about 2,627 km of the roadswhich are dual carriage ways, with about 1,842 km leading to internationalboundaries, the task being undertaken by the minister cannot be ignored.The panel nominated him for realizing that road infrastructure remains thebackbone of our national economy, considering that roads account for themovement of about 95 percent of all goods and persons in Nigeria. By
taking on the challenge head-on to make things work in that sector, the minister qualifies for the nomination.
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 202013/108: Diezani Alison-Madueke, Hon. Minister, PetroleumBorn December 6, 1960, Mrs Alison-Madueke has blazed the trail in herchosen career. An architect by profession, she is the first female ExecutiveDirector of Shell Nigeria. and first Petroleum Resources Minister.Appointed July 2007, she has recorded several achievements throughvarious reform programme such as the Local Content Act, which hasrevolutionalized activities in the oil sector by empowering Nigerians.Despite many distractions by those who benefit from the status quo, theamazon is determined to see to fruition of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIBwhich when passed into law, will remove the many veils of secrecy in the
industry. With these and many more Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke has been nominated for the award. |
 2013/109: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Hon Minister, FinanceAs the coordinating minister of the economy, she has supervised the rise inforeign reserves, the creation of jobs through such programs as SURE-Pand YOU-WIN and her transparent ways of managing the economy standsher out. Those who know how it used to be in comparison to what isobtainable now knows that she has succeeded in putting a lid to the usuallyleaking national purse by making sure of strict prudent disbursement offunds from the federation account. When it comes to prudence andeconomic management, she can be described as a standalone. She isvery qualified for the Award. |
 2013/110: Mallam Sanusi Lamido SanusiBorn July 31, 1961, Sanusi was appointed Governor of the Central Bank ofNigeria on June 3. 2009. He is a career banker and a respected Islamicscholar. The articulate and outspoken banker did not mince words about hisintention to reconstruct the country’s banking sector when he assumedoffice. Years later into his tenure, it is reassuring that the transformation hechampioned in the industry has returned confidence and security to thecountry’s banking sector. |
 2013/111: Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote GroupBorn 56 years ago, Aliko Dangote is by far Africa’s richest man, withinterests in cement, sugar, flour and salt, though the vast majority of hisfortune lies in Dangote Cement. In May, he announced ambitions to enterthe country’s largest industry, petroleum, and build Africa’s biggestpetroleum refinery in the country. Inspired by fellow billionaires Bill Gatesand Warren Buffett, Dangote is making a name for himself on thephilanthropic circuit and has given away millions to education, health andsocial causes in Africa. Inspite of his tremendous wealth estimated at$16.1bn, his simplicity and humility endear him to the panel as a nomineefor the Man of the Year Award.
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 2013/112:Senator Idris Audu Umar, Minister of Transport Born on December 28, 1959 in Gombe State, Senator Umar holds aBachelor Degree in Law and was appointed as a State Counsel to the stateMinistry Of Justice, Bauchi State. Umar was elected to the House ofRepresentatives in 1999, and re-elected in 2003. In 2007, he moved to theSenate before his present appointment. Under his tenure the FederalMinistry of Transport has made several achievements and has attainedover 71.2% performance of its 2013 budget. Umar as transport minister,has carved a niche for himself through new and innovative projects such asreturn, revitalization, modernization of railways, seaports reforms andexpansion, improved maritime safety & security, construction of dry ports,
as well as linkage of various modes of transportation including inland waterways. |
And the winner is……
With this announcement, voting for our 2013 Man of the Year has begun. To vote, e-mail nominees name and code to pilotnominees@yahoo.com
Voting closes 12 am, Saturday November 30, 2013. Vote now for your Man/Person of the Year!!!!