Ayemidejor Hails Oborevwori’s Leadership Governor of the Year Award, Says Developmental Strides Speak Across Nigeria and Beyond

By Endurance Ikanone

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has been honoured with the Leadership Governor of the Year 2025 Award by Leadership Newspapers Limited in recognition of his outstanding achievements in infrastructure development, inclusive governance and socio economic transformation across the state.

The award was presented on Thursday at the 18th Leadership Annual Conference and Awards, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, with the theme: “Political Stability and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Increasingly Unstable Global System: A Roadmap for Nigeria.”

Governor Oborevwori was represented at the ceremony by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, who received the award on his behalf.

According to the organisers, the governor earned the honour for effectively translating his MORE Agenda into tangible development outcomes, including massive investments in road infrastructure, flyovers, school rehabilitation, healthcare upgrades, empowerment programmes and improved social welfare schemes across the three senatorial districts of Delta State.

Reacting to the recognition, Hon. Austin Ayemidejor, an APC leader in Delta State and Special Adviser to the Governor on Aviation, described the award as a reflection of the administration’s visible and people oriented development strides, noting that Governor Oborevwori’s achievements are speaking across Nigeria and beyond.

Ayemidejor, who previously served as Special Project Director of the Asaba International Airport, where he played a pivotal role in the management and successful concessioning of the airport, as well as Special Adviser on Entrepreneurship Development under former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Civil Commissioner between 2014 and 2015, said the governor had demonstrated uncommon leadership, fiscal discipline and commitment to the welfare of the people.

“This award is well deserved. The governor’s achievements in infrastructure, education, healthcare and empowerment are visible and measurable, positioning Delta State as a model of progressive governance and sustainable development,” he said.

Speaking after receiving the award on behalf of the governor, Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme expressed gratitude to the people of Delta State for their continued support, attributing the administration’s successes to collective effort and divine guidance.

“I thank Deltans for the huge support they have been giving to this administration. It is because of their support that we have been able to achieve all we have achieved. I thank God that our efforts are being recognised across the nation,” Onyeme said.

He highlighted ongoing and completed road projects, bridges, market developments, healthcare interventions and investments in education, including the state’s four state owned universities, as evidence of the administration’s commitment to delivering dividends of democracy.

Governor Oborevwori was honoured alongside Governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Uba Sani (Kaduna), while Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was named Person of the Year 2025.