Nights of Tributes and awards as THISDAY marks silver jubliee

After a painstaking exercise, THISDAY Board of Editors yesterday announced the winners of the newspaper’s awards for the decade in commemoration of its 25th anniversary holding on Monday in Lagos.

There are 24 winners in all, two per each of the 12 categories. The board noted that whereas the editor’s choices were based on the strength of industry knowledge and professional advice, the people’s choices were based on readers’ votes and perception. The 25th winner will be named Monday.

As the evening progressed, the awards section kicked off with former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, receiving the Governor of the Decade (People’s Choice) Award.
Although not present, in his pre-recorded video, Fashola dedicated the award to the people of Lagos, the civil servants, and all security agencies.

On the other hand, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, received the Editor’s Choice award for Governor of the Decade and in his speech, he urged public officers to use public funds for the purpose it was meant for.

While the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, won the Banker of the Decade (People’s Choice) Award; the Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, won that of the Editor’s Choice category.

Emefiele’s award was received by Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, CBN, Aisha Ahmad, who reiterated the pledge of the CBN governor to ensure that the financial system continues to support economic growth.

Dangote won the Entrepreneur of the Decade Award (People’s Choice) while Adenuga won that of the Editor’s Choice category.
Dangote’s company also won the Company of the Decade (People’s Choice) Award while Nigeria LNG Limited clinched the Editor’s Choice category.
In his speech, Dangote attributed his success to the collective efforts of the staff of his conglomeration and pledged to continue to invest in Nigeria and Africa.

The Philanthropist of the Decade (People’s Choice) Award was won by Femi Otedola, who said he had to re-evaluate his life when he noticed he had clocked 57 years, prompting him to commit himself to the charitable cause.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation won the Editor’s Choice category of the Philanthropist of the Decade Award.

During an interlude, international music star, John Legend, thrilled the audience with hits upon hits.

The presentation of the awards resumed after the interlude with Amaechi receiving the Minister of the Decade (Editor’s Choice) Award while that of People’s Choice went to former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonji-Iweala.

The Bank of the Decade Award was won by Zenith Bank (People’s Choice) and Access Bank (Editor’s Choice).
Also, the Brand of the Decade Award went to Glo (People’s Choice) and GTB (Editor’s Choice) while the Woman of the Decade (People’s Choice) was won by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina Mohammed, and author, Chimamanda Adichie, won the Editor’s Choice category.

The CEO of the Decade Award, (People’s Choice) was won by Dangote, while that of Editor’s Choice was won by GTBank Managing Director, Mr. Segun Agbaje.

The Institution of the Decade Award went to the CBN (People’s Choice) and the EFFC won that of the Editor’s Choice category. Finally, the Person of the Decade (People’s Choice) was won by President Muhammadu Buhari and by his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, picked the Editor’s Choice category.