The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has been voted as Governor of the Year 2019 by the prestigious Vanguard Newspapers.
Presenting the award letter to Governor Ikpeazu at the Abia State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, the Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba, who led a delegation from the newspaper company, said that Governor Ikpeazu was voted for the award for his outstanding efforts aimed at making life better for the people of Abia state.
The award letter reads: “The Board of Editors of Vanguard Media Limited writes to notify you that you have been voted as Vanguard’s Governor of the Year 2019 for your outstanding efforts aimed at making life better for the good people of Abia State in particular, and Nigerians in general. Your strides in infrastructural development, particularly roads, and your dogged commitment and determination to make ‘Made in Aba’ a global brand is further attestation of your desire to get the best for Abia people.
“The Abia Poultry Cluster initiative, and numerous erosion control projects, like that of Umuda Isingwu, Umuogele Umuakwu Nsulu, are worthy of mention. It is for these, and more that we cannot recount in this letter, that we confer on you this well-deserved award, with great honor.”
The letter also listed road infrastructure projects completed by the Governor which have lasted for more than four years.
In his response, Governor Ikpeazu thanked the Board of Editors of Vanguard Newspapers for the recognition which he described as his best gift of the year, and promised not to relent in making sure that his administration continues to deliver projects that will keep repositioning Abia for the better.
According to him, “Abia is a work in progress and we are proud of our modest achievements. We owe that to God and the people of Abia State who have steadfastly supported us. Today, as a result of our modest efforts, Abia is acclaimed as the number one state in MSME development and education, with our school children taking first position in WASSCE, back to back, for four years.
“While we recognize that there are much more roads requiring attention in our state, we have completed 82 road projects, built more than 340 new classroom blocks, launched an aggressive industrialization campaign with the first-ever automated shoe factory ready to be commissioned in Aba. Contrary to what my opponents say, today Golden Guinea Breweries in Umuahia is back to production and we have gone ahead to launch the first-ever SME bank to be owned by a state government in Nigeria.
“We are currently looking to support our industrialization efforts with a University of Science & Technology that will supply the necessary manpower to power the coming industrial revolution in our state. Abia is on the upward trajectory and I am happy that regardless of the noise by our opponents you were watching, verified and have voluntarily decided to give us this award without any lobbying from us.”
Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Mr Enyinnaya Appolos, joined the Governor in receiving the Vanguard delegation.
