The Sun awards, endorsement of highest quality –Keyamo, Adeniyi

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Mr. Festus Keyamo (middle) displying letter nominating as The Sun Minister of the Year 2024. With him are Managing Dircetor/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh (3rd left) and others in Abuja.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN) and the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, have described their nominations for The Sun Awards as the greatest endorsement any public officer can get in Nigeria.

They said that the honour will stimulate them to do more in the service of fatherland.

Speaking separately in Abuja when the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, led a delegation to present nomination letters to them, the minister and the Comptroller General of Customs said that Nigeria is on the part of progress.

Keyamo and Adeniyi will receive the Minister of the Year and Public Service awards respectively along 34 others, who will be honoured by The Sun on March 1, 2025 in Lagos.

Expressing deep joy at the award, Keyamo promised do his best to cause a positive turn-around in the aviation sector.

Keyamo said: “Thank you, The Sun Publishing Limited, for this honour. This award is extremely encouraging, extremely exciting to me.

“The Sun is one of the major national newspapers in the country. Anywhere in the world where a news outlet of this level recognisess you, it is an endorsement of the highest quality.

“Without putting down other media houses, this is a highly policy-oriented media house that scrutinises government policies at an intellectual level. Looking at what has been said as reason for this award shows that The Sun has been following what we are doing.”

Keyamo said that The Sun award would encourage him to do more, whilw giving assurance that the aviation ministry would strive to solve problems besetting the sector.

According to the minister, “this is a very encouraging award. Even though we are not working with the aim to get accolades, when they come, we accept and celebrate them.

“We are not also working for the purpose of self-aggrandisement, but when the honour comes, we receive them with humility. We are working, because we are servants of the people and we recognise that enormous responsibility on our shoulders.

“Every minute, every second, someone is analysing what you do, not just the high-profile intellectual editors but even the not-so-literate who pass through our airports. They see everything and you’re just on top of a hill, they see you every minute. Ours is not a ministry that is hidden. Every minute, you are judged by what people see at the airports and the policies you make and the type of aircraft they board.”

On his part, the Customs Comptroller General said The Sun award is a priceless recognition that would spur him to do more for humanity and the country.

Adeniyi said the honour by The Sun is a testament to the reality that people are feeling the impact of the success story at the Nigeria Customs Service.

While commending the professional approach of The Sun Newspaper in the dissemination of information, and the selection of awardees, Adeniyi said: “I humbly accept this award as a demonstration that service to humanity is rewarding. It’s proof that beyond my very little corner, you have recognised what we have done.”

He said although his commitment to duty is not with the aim of receiving accolades, an award coming from such a reputable media organisation like The Sun is “credible, tempting and irresistible.”

On some of his achievements in office, the customs boss said apart from dismantling obstacles to trade and prioritizing efficiency in service delivery, the NCS has surpassed revenue generation targets by a huge margin.

Adeniyi said his administration has taken proactive measures against smuggling and other illicit activities and enhanced its personnel capacity to secure the nation’s borders, facilitate legitimate trade, and generate revenue.

Earlier, The Sun MD said that Keyamo was chosen for the award because of his track record as minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management.

Ukeh said: “In line with the vision of the Aviation Ministry ‘to be the best aviation industry in Africa and one of the best in the World’ and the mission ‘to build a safe, secured and efficient Aviation Industry focused on making Nigeria a hub that meets international standards and best practices for the African continent,’ you came with a five-point agenda focused on advancing safety, infrastructure, support for local operators, human capacity development, and revenue generation in the sector.

“Under your stewardship, Nigeria’s aviation sector has witnessed a remarkable transformation.

“A historic moment arrived recently with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) signing the updated Procedure for Recordation of Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA) document, which empowers aircraft lessors to swiftly reclaim their assets from defaulting Nigerian airlines.

“With its far-reaching implications, this agreement and the earlier ratification of the Cape Town Convention have positioned Nigeria as an attractive destination for aircraft lessors and financiers.”

The Sun MD said that Keyamo’s decisive action in halting the controversial national carrier project, Nigeria Air, and addressing the long-standing land disputes surrounding the Abuja second runway have instilled confidence in the future of the aviation sector.

According to him, “by mobilising resources and taking decisive actions, you restored critical aviation infrastructure. A typical example is the reopening of Runway 18R of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after about 11 months of closure.

“As Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, you have demonstrated strong leadership and the upholding of national pride by always standing by Nigerian carriers in relation to their treatment outside the country. You have always sent strong messages that the maltreatment or otherwise of Nigerian airlines in other countries would attract reciprocal reactions.”

He said that in line with Operation AirClean, the minister approved the dismantling of multiple physical checks by various security agencies at international airports aimed at curbing the menace of harassment of travelers by various agencies of government.

Ukeh said: “This is in reaction to complaints about delays, extortion, and blot on passengers’ experience in Nigeria’s airports. Such checks will now be handled using technology and cameras.”

For Adeniyi, Ukeh highlighted some of his remarkable achievements in office to include the unprecedented milestone of generating a total revenue of N6.1 trillion in 2024, which stands as the highest ever recorded by the Customs, surpassing its 2024 target of N5.08 trillion.

He noted that under Adeniyi’s stewardship, “Nigeria Customs Service has witnessed a remarkable transformation. A historic moment arrived recently with the seizure of contraband items worth N28m in two months and the seizure of 900 arms and 113, 473 rounds of ammonium and the interception of narcotics and other illicit drugs.”

Apart from Keyamo and Adeniyi, others who will receive The Sun Awards include oil mogul and Chairman, Brittania-U Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Catherine Uju Ifejika as well as amazon of Nigeria’s real estate and Group Chief Executive Officer, PWAN Group, Dr. Jayne Onwumere, who are winners of the Man of the Year award.

Governors Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto (Sokoto State), Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra State), Mohammed Bago (Niger State) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau State) are Governor of the Year award winners, while Gov Ahmed Usman Ododo is Political Personality of the Year.

The wife of Ebonyi State governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, is First Lady of the Year.

For the Lifetime Achievement Award, Chief George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, former Governor, Sokoto State; Annkio Briggs, environmentalist and civil rights advocate; Prof Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Chief Joseph Ezeokafor, Chairman of Jezco Oil, are winners.

Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, MD, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); and Prof Dantani Wushishi, Registrar, National Examination Council (NECO) are winners of the Public Service Award, with Mr. Walter Akpani, MD, Providus Bank, as Banker of the Year.

In the business categories, Chief Michael Onuoga, CEO, AILES Group; Chief Polycarp Obiukwu, Chairman, Bolton White Group; Dr. Aisha Achimugu, President, Felak Concept Group, and Dr. Kennedy Okonkwo, GMD, Nedcomoaks Limited, are winners of Entrepreneur of the Year, with Ichie Ken Chimezie Nwankwo, Chairman, Bigly Group and Amb Emmanuel Udechukwu, Chairman of Roxbury Leisure Homes Limited, clinching Investor of the Year award.

The Industrialist of the Year award goes to Chief Cyril Okoye, CEO, Grape Tree International Limited, and Chief Chika Emenike, Chairman of Kotec Group, while Mr. Seyi Adekunle, Founder, Vodi Group, and Mr. Jideofor Ezeofor, Founder, Zeof Excluzioni, are winners of the Creative Personality of the Year Award.

The Humanitarian Service Award goes to Dr. Darlington Nwabunike, President, De Imperial Philanthropic Family and Chief Habeeb Okuola, CEO, TILT Group, with Mr. Pascal Okechukwu (Cubana Chief Priest) and Dr. Dotun Sanusi, Founder/Chairman, Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, emerging as winners of the Hospitality Personality of the Year award.

Former Senate Chief Whip of the Senate, Alhaji Mohammed Ali Ndume and legal icon, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, are winners of the Courage in Leadership Award, with President of Actors Guild of Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Rollas Ejezie and delectable actress and film producer, Regina Daniels-Nwoko, emerging as Nollywood Personality of the Year award winners.