• Also, Oludare Akande, Agwu, Ifekudu, Uche Ogah, Ndubuisi, Odii, Ebubeogu, Komolafe, Nwachukwu, Onwumere, Okafor, Tompolo, Oge Obih, Tobi Bakre, Umeoji, Olopade, Uzuh

• AIT, Silverbird to beam event live

Thirty-four Nigerians, whose excellent achievements stood out last year, will today receive various honours at The Sun Awards 2023 holding at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels  & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, starting from 7pm and beamed live on television.

The Sun Awards 2023, organised by The Sun Publishing Limited, publishers of Daily Sun, Saturday Sun, Sunday Sun and Sporting Sun, will have in attendance dignitaries from all walks of life, who will be treated to a night of glitz, entertainment and glamour.

Music diva, songwriter and actress, Jennifer Eliogu, host Frank Edoho and models donning adire by Adire Oodua Textile Training Hub, have been lined up to thrill the audience, the organisers revealed.  Those who will be honoured today are President, Dangote Group Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman, Heirs Holdings Limited, Mr Tony Elumelu; and Chairman, Innoson Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Limited, who will receive Man of the Year Award.

The Sun said Dangote emerged for successfully completing the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals, while Elumelu was chosen for empowering African youths with human and capital resources as well as giant strides in the power sector. Chukwuma was chosen for the investment and rapid expansion in vehicle manufacturing, especially towards conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG).

For Governor of the Year Award, the following will be honoured: Gov Peter Mbah of Enugu State, for restoring public water in Enugu within the stipulated time frame promised after more than 15 years and for efforts at restoring peace and security in the state, among others; Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, for consolidation in their states.

Elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, legal icon, Awa Kalu, SAN and renowned evangelist and philanthropist, Rev. Uma Ukpai, would receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, for their immense contributions to the country’s development over the years.

HRM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife and HRM Ogiame Atuwatse III, Olu of Warri, will be honoured with Most Impactful Royal Fathers of the Year, while Mr Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate, Labour Party (LP) in 2023, will receive Political Icon Award, for being the main focus in the last general election.

In the business and economy sector, High Chief Kenneth Ifekudu, Chairman, Diamond Leeds Ltd; Dr. Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, Chairman/CEO, Richland Property and Homes Limited and Chief Peter Oge Obi, Chairman, SeaMap Group of Companies, will receive Businessman of the Year award, with High Christopher Ndubuisi, Chairman, Pinnatech Group;  Dr. Oludare Akande, Chairman, Bellagio Airlines Limited and Dr. Jayne Onwumere, GMD, Property World Africa Network (PWAN) receiving Investor of the Year Award.

The Industrialist of the Year Award goes to Dr. Uche Ogah, Founder/President, Masters Energy Group and former Minister of State for Solid Minerals Development; Chief Celestine Ebubeogu, Chairman, Tiger Foods Limited, and Chief James Okwu Uzuh, Chairman, J-Jumac Industries Limited.  Ogah won the award for his massive investment in manufacturing, oil and gas, and motorcycle assembly; Ebubeogu for successes in food processing and Uzuh for manufacturing of travelling bags, suitcases and household items.

Lady Adaora Umeoji, DMD, Zenith Bank Plc; Chief Ikenna Okafor, Chairman, Keves Global Leasing Ltd and Archbishop Dr Emeka Agwu, President, Voice of Evangelism International, Houston, Texas, USA, will be honoured with the Humanitarian Service Icon Award for their enormous philanthropic activities, which have touched many lives across the world.

The First Lady of the Year Award will be received by Amb. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, wife of the Kwara State governor and founder, Ajike People Support Centre, for her efforts at women and youth empowerment, campaign against gender violence and drug abuse, while Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Chairman, Tantita  Security Limited, will be honoured with the Courage in Leadership Award for the determination and courage to confront oil thieves by diligently executing the pipeline surveillance deal with the Federal Government.

The Public Service Award will be received by Mr Robert Azibaola, Founder; Zeetin Engineering Limited, for the campaign to protect Niger Delta rainforest and environmental activism; Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, CEO, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), for strides in the upstream oil and gas sector; and Mr Charles Odii, DG, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) for the robust and enriching programmes to uplift small and medium scale enterprises.

The Banker of the Year Award goes to Mr Femi Bakre, Managing Director, Parallex Bank, for technological innovations in banking, and Moruf Oseni, MD/CEO, Wema Bank, for innovation in healthtech, edtech and SME growth.

Mr Bukola Olopade, MD/CEO, Nilayo Sports Management Ltd., will receive the Sports Personality Award for his consistency in organising Access Bank Lagos International Marathon and other investments in sports, while Lady Ngozi Ezeonu, iconic actress and film producer as well as Tobi Bakre will be honoured with Nollywood Icon Award winners.

Managing Director, The Sun Publishing Limited, Onuoha Ukeh, said the award winners are “a blend of unassuming young Nigerians who are silently making waves in their various endeavours and established citizens who have been steadfast, dogged and consistent in their efforts at contributing to national development.”

Meanwhile, singer Jennifer Eliogu, will thrill the audience at The Sun Awards ceremony with her popular and engaging hits.

Eliogu, who gained popularity in Nigeria and beyond for her roles in many great movies, delved into music in 2012 with a debut entitled “Ifunnaya,” which was nominated for Best R&B Video at the Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA), the same year.

Since then, Eliogu has been churning out popular hits, including Doh Shirt (2016), Olu Ebube (2020), Golibe (2021), Peace, Beautiful (2021), Olisa (2022), Onulu Ube Nwanne (2022), and Asa (2023) etc.

The delectable diva has made waves in Nollywood since 1997 when she made her entry with “House on Fire.”” She has featured in countless movies thereafter, like Behind the Plot, A Frenzy of Emotion, Risky Affairs, Sister’s Love, My Blood, Plane Crash, Faces of Beauty, Moment of Confession, Love and Pride, A Little White Lie and A Time to Heal.

Eliogu has a diploma from the University of Jos and a BSc from Lagos State University.

Also on parade is iconic events host and filmmaker, Frank Edoho, who returns in style as the compere of the event.

Edoho of Who Wants to be a Millionaire fame returns to The Sun Awards with panache, ready to hold the audience spellbound with his arresting voice.

Ehodo studied Animal Science at the University of Calabar. He started broadcasting as a presenter at the Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation after graduation, where he anchored a breakfast television show for the Nigerian Television Authority, Channel 9, Calabar.

He joined Metro FM 97.6 in 1999, where he anchored radio shows for the radio station.  Edoho’s fame soared when he started the popular television show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.  Meanwhile, beautiful and smart models draped in custom-made “adire” by Adire Oodua Textile Training Hub in Ile Ife will also thrill the audience at the event as they rock the red carpet and walkway.