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Chairman of Jezco Oil, Chief Joseph Ezeokafor and Founder, Zeof Excluzioni, Chief Jideofor Ezeokafor, have lavished encomiums on The Sun Publishing Limited for promoting hard work and excellence in industry and creativity.
Speaking separately in Ekwulobia, Anambra State and Enugu, when the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Onuoha Ukeh, led delegations of the company’s management to present award nomination letters to them, the Jezco boss and his Zeof Excluzion counterpart said that the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Creative Personality of the Year Award respectively were great honours from an unbiased media organisation.
Sir Ezeokafor and the acclaimed designer, Ezeokafor, are among 36 Nigerians, who will be honoured at The Sun Awards celebration holding this Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Lagos.
They both expressed gratitude to The Sun saying the awards would spur them to greater responsibility in their different endeavours.
Ezeokafor, the oil magnet confessed that he would have rejected the award if he was approached in any manner to pay some money for the honour. He described The Sun as the flagship of newspapering in Nigeria noting that it has remained his favourite newspaper. He also pledged to continue to support the organisation.
“I didn’t know you people are this organised that you have been mirroring my activities. I am very happy and grateful that you even seem to know everything we have done.
“We will continue to support your good work as a newspaper and mouthpiece of the people.
“Keep up your good work, don’t change, don’t allow anything influence you,” the Jezco Group Chairman, said.
On his part, the promoter of Zeof Excluzioni, Jideofor Ezeokafor said that his life was synonymous with creative designs.
The former jurist recalled that he abandoned his job as a magistrate to pursue his passion.
He said: “I don’t know what to say, but my creative persona has always been with me as a child. I started designing clothes when I was very, very, small. Almost the latter part of my primary education, and into the university. You know, as a designer, there are times when a person gets to such a saturation point. But I think God has given me the passion to do design every day. I can imagine a design by looking at a tree, and see how the wind caresses the leaves. It comes as a design to me. And most times there is a pen wherever I am, so I’ll sketch it. Because if I say, let me get to the other place and do it, I won’t remember it. Even in church, my wife keeps telling me you are in church, why are you doing this? I said God gave me the passion to do this, and He understands.
“So, I thank God for being appreciated. I’ve been under the radar for a very long time. And my craft, my love for making, creating beauty in everything I touch, from this award has paid. I thank you very much for remembering me, and believing that I fit the status of being given this award. I’m humbled.
“And I promise that day I will be there live, with my wife, my family, my friends, and the Sun Group would know that we came. Thank you very much.”
Earlier with Sir Ezeokafor, The Sun MD informed him that he is being honoured because of his contributions to the socio-economic development of Nigeria particularly his impacts in job and wealth creation, industry and giving succour to people in need.
“The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to that Nigerian who is 70 years and above and has made indelible mark in his chosen profession. He’s a statesman who is not ordinarily influenced with happenings around. He tells the truth at all times and above all, has made a verifiable impact in the society,” Ukeh said.
Elsewhere, Ukeh told the Zeof boss that he is reputed for designing for the high and mighty in society.
He told the acclaimed designer that his creativity has put Nigeria in the global map of fashion, adding that his designs had saved Nigeria foreign exchange.
Others who will receive The Sun Awards are female oil mogul and Chairman, Brittania-U Nigeria Limited as well as Amazon of Nigeria’s real estate business 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), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) and Mohammed Bago (Niger State) are winners of Governor of the Year award, while Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo is Political Personality of The Year; wife of Ebonyi State governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, is First Lady of the Year, with Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management as winner of Minister of the Year.
For the Lifetime Achievement Award, Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, former Governor, Sokoto State; Mrs. Annkio Briggs, environmentalist and civil rights advocate and Prof Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), are winners.
Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, MD, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Prof Dantani Wushishi, Registrar, National Examination Council (NECO) and Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, are winners of the Public Service Award, with Mr. Walter Akpani, MD, Providus Bank, as Banker of the Year.
In the business categories, Chief Polycarp Obiukwu, Chairman, Bolton White Group; Dr. Aisha Achimugu, President, Felak Group, and Dr. Kennedy Okonkwo, Group MD, 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, Kontec Group, while Mr. Seyi Adekunle, Founder, Vodi Group, is winner of the Creative Personality of the Year Award.
The Humanitarian Service Personality Award goes to Dr. Darlington Nwabunike, President, De Imperial Philanthropic Family; Chief Habeeb Okuola, CEO, TILT Group, and Chief Michael Onuoha, CEO, AILES 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, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume and legal icon, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, are winners of the Courage in Leadership Award, with President of Actors Guild of Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Rollas Ejezie and actress and film producer, Regina Daniel-Nwoko, as Nollywood Personality of the Year award winners.
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