Tinubu, others make Aljazirah 2025 leadership excellence honours list

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Ojulari, and six state governors have been named among the recipients of the 2025 Aljazirah Personality of the Year Awards.

The awards, organised by AljazirahNigeria/London Newspapers, recognise individuals whose leadership, public service, entrepreneurship and contributions to national development have distinguished them in their respective fields.

In a statement by the Chairman of the Award Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Abubakar, the newspaper said the 2025 edition was designed to celebrate “excellence in leadership, integrity, innovation, public service and visionary governance.”

According to the committee, the awards are also intended to encourage leaders whose contributions “inspire progress and promote the broader interests of society.”

Tunji-Ojo emerged as Minister of the Year, with the committee citing what it described as his transformative leadership at the Ministry of Interior.

The committee said his administration had pursued reforms aimed at improving service delivery, institutional efficiency and digital innovation across key operations of the ministry.

It specifically highlighted reforms in passport processing, border surveillance, identity verification and correctional administration, saying the initiatives had contributed to improved efficiency, national security and public confidence in government services.

The committee also honoured Seyi Tinubu as Distinguished Humanitarian Service/Entrepreneur of the Year, recognising his youth-focused humanitarian initiatives, educational support, community outreach and interventions aimed at empowering young Nigerians.

It said Seyi Tinubu had continued to establish an independent identity through “entrepreneurship, philanthropy and youth advocacy”, despite coming from a family with a prominent place in Nigeria’s political history.

The award committee said his focus on Nigeria’s large youth population reflected the importance of equipping young people with opportunities and resources to become “self-reliant, productive and active contributors to national development.”

Also honoured is Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), as Government Agency/Public Servant of the Year.

Ike-Muonso was recognised for his leadership of the council and contribution to Nigeria’s raw materials development agenda, particularly in promoting innovation, value addition and greater economic opportunities in the sector.

The committee said his efforts were contributing to the broader objective of strengthening local production, industrial development and economic transformation.

For the Africa’s CEO of the Year category, the award committee picked Engr. Bashir Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited.

It cited his more than three decades of technocratic experience and his contribution to the transformation of the national oil company.

According to the committee, Ojulari’s administration had focused on “commercial discipline, the restoration of joint-venture operations and major investments in deep-water projects”, with the objective of improving operational performance and increasing crude oil production.

He was also recognised for his role in advancing Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas” ambitions through strategic infrastructure development, including the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline.

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Six governors also made the 2025 honours list for what the committee described as contributions to development and governance in their respective states.

They are Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State.

Oborevwori was recognised for his administration’s M.O.R.E. Agenda, particularly infrastructure development, institutional strengthening and governance reforms in Delta State.

Fubara was honoured for his administration’s emphasis on prudent fiscal management, infrastructure development and institutional reforms, with the committee also citing investments in critical infrastructure and public services.

For Kaduna State, the committee said Governor Uba Sani had promoted “stability, justice, equity and peaceful coexistence”, while placing significant emphasis on capital expenditure in education, healthcare and rural infrastructure.

Kefas was recognised for initiatives including measures against illegal mining, free and compulsory basic education, the provision of more than 950 tractors for agricultural development and the engagement of 10,000 citizens in sanitation-related activities.

The committee also highlighted Kefas’ security-focused approach, which it linked partly to his military background.

In Bayelsa, Diri was recognised for efforts in infrastructure development, human capital investment and socio-economic growth, while the committee cited strengthening of public institutions and improved delivery of essential services.

Bago, on his part, was honoured for his focus on agricultural transformation, infrastructure, economic expansion and human capital development.

The committee said the Niger governor’s emphasis on agriculture and large-scale investment reflected an effort to position the state as a major contributor to Nigeria’s food security and wider economic development.

The awards are expected to be formally unveiled by AljazirahNigeria/London Newspapers as the organisation celebrates individuals it considers to have made significant contributions to Nigeria and beyond.

The newspaper said the Aljazirah Personality of the Year Awards 2025 represented another chapter in its commitment to recognising people “whose work and contributions continue to influence society and advance the cause of national development.”