The much anticipated 30th anniversary of THISDAY Newspapers took place on Monday at the prestigious Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.The
Others were the Federal Capital Territory minister Nyesom Wike; Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; Atedo Peterside, founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank; Maiden Alex Ibru, chairman and publisher of The Guardian Newspapers; Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa; and Aminu Bello Masari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The event was anchored by ARISE News personalities Ojy Okpe and Akinfemi Akinsanya, alongside comedian, Bovi Ugboma, who kept the crowd entertained with their vibrant energy and charm.
There were a few highlights at the awards ceremony. One of them was when FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike was called on to receive his award as the Minister of the Year. He was accompanied by three of his former colleagues who have all gone into political oblivion – Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State. Makinde was however conspicuously absent.
Recall that in the months leading up to the 2023 general elections, the quintet of Wike, Ortom, Ugwuanyi, Ikpeazu and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, all governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had broken ranks from the party for what they described as Atiku Abubakar’s decision to contest the 2023 presidential elections as well as the refusal of Iyiorchia Ayu, an ally of Atiku, to step down as the chairman of the party. Their grouse was that a northerner cannot be a presidential candidate and another northerner the chairman of the party which was against a supposed agreement reached before the presidential primaries. They called themselves the G5 governors or the Integrity Group. Unfortunately, while Makinde won his re-election as Oyo governor and Wike got appointed as the FCT minister, the other three lost their senatorial bids.
Another major highlight at the high-profile ceremony was the musicians chosen to thrill the audience. Legendary and ageless songstress, Diana Ross was specially flown into the country to add prestige to the occasion by belting out some of her timeless hit songs from her repertoire with her sonorous voice for about half an hour. Despite her age, at 80 years, she delivered with the support of two backup dancers, who added vibrancy to her performance. She had the crowd on their feet, clapping and singing along to every lyric.
- Folake Akindele
- Ibrahim Bello Mohammed
- Olori Atuwatse III
- Neya Uzor Kalu
- Jennifer Adighije
- Shola Akinalade
- Temilade “Tems” Openiyi
- Nnamdi Ekeh
- Khalil Halilu
- Iyinoluwa Aboyeji
- Abdullahi Bashir Haske
- Olugbenga Agboola
- Oyinkansola “Ayra Starr” Aderibigbe
- Tunde Onakoya
- Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong
Titans of the Year
- Jim Ovia
- Segun Agbaje
- Demola Bero
- Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede
- John Tanimola Obaro
Minister of the Year
- Nyesom Wike
Governors of the Year
- Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos State)
- Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori (Delta State)
- Uba Sani (Kaduna State)
- Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State)
Titans of the Year:
- John TanimolaObasi, CEO of SystemSpec
- Jim Ovia, founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank
- Mike Adenuga, Chairman ConoilPlc,
- Aigboje AIG-Imoukhuede of Access Bank
- Mohammed Indimi, Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources
- SegunAgbaje, CEO Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO)
- Demola Bero, founder and CEO of First E&P
Bank of the Year
Zenith Bank
Global Bank of the Year
Access Bank
Banker of the Year
Walter Akpani of Providus Bank.
Brand of the Year award
MTN
Company of the year
Dangote Petroleum
Investor of the Year
Shell
Philanthropist of the Year
UBA Foundation
Transaction of the Year
Bank of Industry (BOI)
House Member of the Year
Babajimi Benson
Senator of the Year
Comrade Adams Oshiomole and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
CEOs of the Year
Leo Smart of Zinox
Gbenga Komolafe of NUPRC
Lifetime Achievers
Mustafa Chike-Obi, Chairman of Fidelity Bank
AtedoPeterside, founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank
Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, founder of Alpine Group
Maiden Ibru, Chair and Publisher of the Guardian Newspaper
Eniola Fadayomi, former Lagos State Attorney General, newspaper