Group Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of Champion Newspapers Limited, Dr. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa, has bemoaned the state of Nigeria’s economy.
She decried that people on the streets are growing under high cost of living and that inflation numbers are nowhere within the desired band.
She also lamented that the manufacturing sector is very uncomfortable with the numbers in terms of costs of production against the dwindling purchasing power of consumers.
She also noted that unemployment and under employment are on the increase, and that issues relating to insecurity are making it difficult for the urban and rural communities in the country to make projections.
According to her, uncertainty is the only common denominator.
Iheakanwa, who is a daughter of the late President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, spoke on Saturday while delivering her address at the 2024 edition of Champion Newspapers’ annual awards and recognitions.
She urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to pay attention to on entrenching short, medium and long term growth strategies, programmes and policies with the view to inspiring greater hope both in the individual and corporate organizations.
Iheakanwa said: “Our joy is in the realization of the fact that our dear country is not running in circles but on the party of growth and development even when we would have desired s faster and more calculated efforts at achieving set objectives.
“Our economy is not where we would want it but there are certainly some flashes of hope.
“Since the whole essence of government and governance is guaranteeing the welfare of citizens, we would urge the administration to pay attention to on entrenching short, medium and long term growth strategies, programmes and policies with the view to inspiring greater hope both in the individual and corporate organizations.
“We should as a nation be quick at discarding the prevailing culture of palliatives and handouts. For us, the first step towards conquering stress is to accept that it is created not by external events, but by how we deal with those events.”
She added: “We will encourage governments both at the state and federal levels to emphasize on agriculture as a growth end. A nation which can not fed her citizens will be exposing people to the vagaries and dictates of foreign policies hence we strongly recommend more dedicated attention to both mechanized and peasant farming.
“It is consequent upon this that we applaud government’s policy on Nigeria first, a strategy targeted at encouraging the consumption of made in Nigeria goods and services, a policy which government and state actors must lead by example.”
Champion Newspapers Limited honoured award winners such as governors and other dignitaries.
Specifically, governors who made the awards list in various categories at the event are: Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State, Man of the Year on Good Governance; Mohammed Nasir Idris, Kebbi State, Best Governor in Education/Outstanding Defender of Democracy; Dauda Lawal, Zamfara State, Distinguished Service and Courage in Leadership Award; Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa State, Best Governor Award in Leadership and Infrastructural Transformation as well as Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Most Outstanding Deputy of the Year.
Other award recipients also include: President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON, who was honoured as the Man of the Year/Global Business Icon; Zenith Bank Plc, Bank of the Year while Mr. Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director/CEO of United Bank for Africa Plc is the Banker of the Year.
Other eminent Nigerians honoured also included: Mr. Ikenna Egbukole, Executive Chairman, Mitsun Group as 2024 Champion Newspapers’ Most Innovative Brand Chief Executive of the Year, Mr. Dele Ayanleke, President General Miners Association of Nigeria as 2024 Champion Newspapers’ Lifetime Achievement Award; Dr. Ibrahim Mani Ahmad Ph.D, FNIM, (Madaki of Gulu), Chairman, BOT African Democratic Congress (ADC) as Most Outstanding Educationist of the Year, BUA FOODS Plc as 2024 Champion Newspapers’ Most Successful Food and Fast Moving Consumer Goods of the Year and Dr. Dan Okehi, Managing Director/CEO, Brickred Insurance Brokers as Insurance Personality of the Year.
Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc won Most Resilient Insurance Company of the Year; Chief Obinna Tochukwu Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana) Chairman, Cubana Group as Celebrity Investor of the Year; Mr. Michael Oglegba. Hon. Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning, Benue State as Best Commissioner of Finance of the Year and Mrs. Ogechi Patience Iwunze-Anthony, Chief Executive Officer, Noble Merry Empowerment Foundation, who got Heart of Gold Award. Mr. Joel Terhemen Mtsor (Shima Tex) Managing Director, Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation, Markudi as Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Keystone Bank Limited as Most Friendly SME Bank of the Year, Prof. Jerry Gana, OON, former Minister of Information and National Orientation bagged Lifetime Achievement Award. Others are, Senator Prince Chinedu Munir Ned Nwoko, Senator Representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate as Senator of the Year; Seplat Energy Plc as Energy Company of the Year; Otunba Soji Odedina, Group Managing Director/CEO, First Katalyst Marketing Limited as 2024 Marketing Communicator of the Year, Chief Royal Ifechukwu Asianya, Ogbuefi Ugochinyelu Onowu Ndigbo na Isolo, Chairman/CEO, Royal C. Investment Company Limited as Entrepreneur of the Year. Dr. Chukwuemeka C Agbasi. Managing Director/CEO, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) as Public Servant of the Year; High Chief Emeka Agbanari (MFR) Ike Idemili. Chairman Seaman Group as Most Outstanding Industrialist of the Year; High Chief (Dr) Sir Darlington Nwabunike. (Eze Nwakaibeya Ogbabalu Aku n’ Anwu Ojoto) Managing Director/CEO Saint Buniks Group as Excellence in Leadership Award, De Imperial Philanthropic Family (DIPF) as Most Outstanding Philanthropic Organisation in Nigeria and Dr. Pascal Okechukwu (Cubana Chief Priest), Chairman, De Angels Group as Brand Ambassador of the Year.
Dr. Adaeze Moghalu, Adadioranma as Distinguished Service Award Winner in the field of Philanthropy, Service to Community and Nigeria; SAM Empowerment Foundation (SEF) as Most Outstanding NGO of the Year, Mr. Oliver Alawuba. Group Managing Director/CEO of United Bank for Africa Plc as Banker of the Year, Rite Foods Limited as Most Outstanding Energy Drink of the Year on Fearless Energy Drink; Evang. Prof. CJ Osim, Chief Executive Officer, AFF Landport Global Estates Limited as Most Transformative Estate Development Manager of the Year; Hon. Emeka Mbachu Christian (a.k.a Isimmili na Mbaukwu), Chief Executive Officer, Blessed Isimmilibugatti Multilink as Most Courageous Philanthropist of the Year and Hon. Chief Humphrey Anuna (a.k.a Ajilija, Onwa Ora Eri), Solution PG, Ogwu ndi Ahia. President General (ASMATA) as Best Market Leadership of the Year.
Dr. Kenneth Ebong. President, Kenneth Ebong Foundation and MD/CEO Potent World Global Ltd receive Philanthropist of the Year Award.
The rest are, Rt. Rev. Prof. Obeka Samuel (JP), Vice-Chancellor Wesley University, Ondo State as Most Impactful and Innovative Academic Leader of the Year, Engr. Abdullahi Sesan Olowa. Chairman Ibeju-Lekki Local Government as Outstanding Grassroots Leadership Award, Boff and Company Insurance Brokers as Insurance Broker of the Year, Comrade Buhari Umar. Director of Budget, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Sokoto State as Most Outstanding Public Administrator of the Year, Abdullahi Sule and Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd as Media Manager of the Year.
among others.
Echezona Okafor.
