• Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Publishing Limited, Onuoha Ukeh, presenting letters of nomination as The Sun Businessman of the Year Award 2023 to Chairman, SeaMap Group of Companies, Peter Oge Obih (left, 1st photo) and Chairman, Pinnatech Engineering, Christopher Ndubuisi (left, 2nd photo) as The Sun Investor of the Year Award 2023
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Sea Map Group, High Chief Peter Oge Obih and Chairman/CEO, Pinnatech Group, High Chief Christopher Ndubuisi, have declared that they will, in a long time to come, cherish The Sun for painstakingly identifying and honouring people who are doing great things from all walks of life.
Obih and Ndubuisi will receive The Sun Businessman of the Year and The Sun Investor of the Year awards respectively along 32 others, who will equally be honoured on February 17, 2024 in Lagos.
The two awardees spoke separately in Abuja and Lagos when the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, presented their letters of nomination.
Obih declared that with his knowledge of the rigorous process in the selection of The Sun Awards winners, he will forever cherish the award, describing it as a great recognition for the maritime industry where he has been a major player for nearly three decades.
“I will live to cherish this award. I know how widely The Sun is read. I know what it takes to select the awardees. I am honoured to be one of the lucky ones this year,” he said.
Ndubuisi, on his part, commended The Sun for considering him worthy for the honour, saying that with the award he was starting the year on a positive note.
He expressed surprised that The Sun noticed him despite his deliberate attitude of avoiding publicity.
He said: “Let me thank the management of The Sun for considering me worthy for this honour. It is a great thing to start the year with. I never knew that people were reckoning with the things we are doing.
“I have passion in what I do. I don’t do it for people to commend me. It was just between my God and I. I have even avoided undue publicity because I am doing it for humanity believing that God will help people through my little efforts.
“I didn’t just evolve today; it has been over 20 years of hard work. Yes, greatness is from God, but you have to work to be great.”
While outlining the reasons Obih was chosen by The Sun Board of Editors, Ukeh described the maritime chief as a renowned freight forwarder with almost three decades of practice, a man of immense courage and perseverance, who could pass for the father of freight forwarding organisation in Nigeria.
The Sun MD said: “You tested your business skills in different sectors and general commerce, and resolved to settle for a more professional field. Consequently, in 1990, you ventured into freight forwarding and shipping business for which reason you moved to Lagos.
“Over these years, you have remained the beacon that had nurtured Sea Map Group to stardom, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Nigerian youths from different parts of the country.
“We are aware that your commitment and contributions to national economic development have been remarkable. Under your tutelage, the Sea Map Group has become a registered Corporate Member of the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).
“Through Sea Map Nigeria, you have birthed several globally competitive subsidiaries that are fully indigenous and 100 per cent Nigerian companies, including Bond Shipping Nigeria Limited, which has made remarkable impact in the maritime and shipping industry by providing services tailored to client precision in freight forwarding, shipping agency, bonded terminal operations and international trade support services.
“Other companies in the group are Sky Sail Nigeria Limited, which is equipped for service delivery in both the maritime and aviation departments of shipping and transportation; Best Ultimate Industries Limited, renowned for development of consumer goods, local and international manufacturers’ representation and local distribution; Sea Map Properties Limited, which handles all real estate components and businesses of the group; POP Industries Limited, a manufacturing company in soaps, detergents and sundry cosmetics.”
For Ndubuisi, Ukeh said he has left his imprimatur in the construction, hospitality and ICT sectors.
He told Ndubuisi: “You are a renowned businessman, investor and philanthropist, whose career in business spans about two decades. As the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pinnatech Group, your investments are spread across sectors like ICT, real estate, civil engineering and hospitality.
“Beyond your enviable achievements in business, you are well known for your integrity, humility and generosity. You use your influence and resources to better the lives of those around you.
“A restless man of action as many call you, your burning passion for community development has lit up many towns and villages outside your native Umuawulu community.
“Wherever you go, you build infrastructure like civic halls, health centres, roads, classrooms, boreholes, etc. You also offer educational scholarships, support SMEs with financial aid, build houses for widows and the downtrodden.
“It is for your vision, creative investments in human capital and empowerment that the Board of Editors of The Sun Publishing Limited has chosen you as winner of The Sun Investor of the Year Award for 2023.”
Other people receiving The Sun Awards along Ndubuisi and Obih are: Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group; Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings; and Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman, Innoson Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Limited (Man of the Year); Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State (Governor of the Year); Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Prof. Awa Kalu, and Rev. Uma Ukpai (Lifetime Achievement Award); HRM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife and HRM Ogiame Atuwatse III, Olu of Warri, (Most Impactful Royal Father).
Others are Amb. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, wife of the Kwara State governor and Founder, Ajike People Support Centre (First Lady of the Year); Mr. Peter Obi (Political Icon of the Year); Chief Kenneth Ifekudu, Chairman of DiamondLeedsLtd and Dr. Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, Chairman of Richland Property and HomesLimited (Businessman of the Year); Dr. Jayne Onwumere, President, Property World Africa Network (PWAN) and Dr. Oludare Akande, Chairman, Bellagio Airlines Limited (Investor of the Year); Chief Celestine Ebubeogu, Chairman, Tiger Foods, Dr. Uche Ogah, founder/president, Masters Energy Group and Chief James Uzuh, Chairman, J_Jumac Industries Ltd (Industrialist of the Year); Chief Ikenna Okafor, Chairman, Keves Global Leasing Ltd; Lady Adaora Umeoji, DMD, Zenith Bank Plc and Archbishop Dr. Emeka Agwu, President, Voice of Evangelism International Houston, Texas, USA (Humanitarian Service Icon); and Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Chairman, Tantita Security Services (Courage in Leadership Award).
Other award winners are, Mr. Robert Azibaola, Founder; Zeetin Engineering Limited; Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, CEO, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and Mr. Charles Odii, DG, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) (Public Service Award); Mr. Moruf Oseni, MD/CEO, Wema Bank and Mr. Femi Bakre, Managing Director, Parallex Bank (Banker of the Year); Mr. Bukola Olopade, MD/CEO, Nilayo Sports Management Ltd. (Sport Personality of the Year); Lady Ngozi Ezeonu and Tobi Bakre (Nollywood Icon of the Year).