The Sun Publishers Name Mrs Yemisi Suswam As "Most SupportiveFirstLady".

Benue Firstlady,Mrs. Yemisi Suswam,has been named the Most Supportive First Lady for her exemplary humanitarian and charity works in Benue State. Through her pet project, SEV-AV Foundation, according to the organizers,Mrs. Suswam has provided succour to thousands of women, children, jobless youths and students throughout the state.

The early bird announcement coming today, instead of the usual last days of December, according to Mr. Femi Adesina, Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, is due to the fact that the awards ceremony will hold on January 17, 2015, instead of the traditional third week in February, because of the general elections. The Sokoto State governor was named as the recipient of the flagship prize in the 12th edition of the glamorous event after a unanimous vote by The Sun Board of Editors. Wamakko, it was decided, merited the laurel following his administration's outstanding performance and commendable d e v e l o p m e n t a l endeavours across Sokoto State. The governor, the board noted, had left ineffaceable footprints on many sectors in the North-western state, especially in the areas of education, agriculture, security and infrastructure, among others. He will, alongside other winners, be garlanded at a colourful ceremony holding at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos on Saturday, January 17, 2015.

Wamakko will be taking over the award from Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and his Kano State counterpart, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who emerged joint winners of the last edition. Speaker, House of R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , Mallam Aminu Waziri Tambuwal won the award in 2012, while the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio was named The Sun Man of the Year in 2011. Eminent businessman and Africa's richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and former governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Danjuma Goje emerged joint winners in 2010.

Besides the Sokoto State governor, several other eminent personalities in both private and public sectors would be honoured on the night.

Chief Charles Odunukwe, Chairman, Colonades Hotel, Ikoyi, would be recognized as Hospitality Man of the Year for his immense contributions to that field in 2014. The Nollywood Personality of the Year Award goes to filmmaker, actor and director, Kunle Afolayan for his latest big-budget film, October 1, which has continued to receive rave reviews all over the world.

Queen of the tracks, Blessing Okagbare, was named winner of the Sportsman of the Year Award for her exploits at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Popular artiste, music producer and head of Mavin Records, Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, is the Creative Person of the Year. His group and the artistes on the label have, without doubt, churned out more hits than any other artiste or musical group in the year.

The Nigeria's Hero of the Year Award goes to the late physician at First Consultants Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, for her efforts at curtailing the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease imported into Nigeria by Liberian- American, Patrick Sawyer. Adadevoh later paid the supreme price for her highly patriotic action.

Mr. Bisi Onasanya, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, wins the Banker of the Year Award for repositioning the country's pioneer banking institution. Under him, the First Bank has been able to pull off big-ticket transactions this year.

Five eminent Nigerian senior citizens were named winners of the Lifetime Achievement Awards. They are General Ibrahim Babangida, former military president; Professor Joe irukwu (SAN), respected insurance guru and lawyer; Chief Tony Anenih, chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Professor Jibril Aminu, former minister of petroleum, and Chief Mrs. Folake Solanke, eminent lawyer and first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to anyone who is not younger than 70 and has made profound impact in the lives of the country and the citizenry.

For their efforts in value creation and impact on the nation's economy, Dr. Ernest Nnaemeka Azudialu-Obiejesi, founder and group managing director, Nestoil Plc, Nigeria's foremost indigenous oil and gas company and Dr. Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi, executive chairman, Sifax Group, emerged joint winners of the Businessman of the Year Award.

Chief James Uzochukwu Uduji, chairman, chief executive officer of Cometstar, a state-of-the-art electric cable and wire manufacturing company based in Agbara, Ogun State, is winner of the Manufacturer of the Year Award.

The Investor of the Year Award is won by respected business manager and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia, who has continued to redefine financial services using the instrumentality of information and communications technology (ICT).

The Public Service Award is jointly won by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammed Sani Sidi.

Dr Juwah got the nod of the board of editors for his regulatory policies, including consolidation of telecom growth and national broadband development, while Alhaji Sidi was named winner as a result of the activities of NEMA since he became the helmsman, including his response to emergency situations in parts of the North being ravaged by insurgency, among others.

Nominations for each category were made in line with criteria stipulating the qualities and/or achievements a potential winner must possess. The nominations were consequently debated and decided. And in cases where the choices were not unanimous, a decision was reached by vote.

Source DailyTimes.