The Sun Awards ceremony will take place today at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, from 7 pm. A total of 45 Nigerians from diverse fields, including politics, governance, public service, business, security, entertainment, sports, and philanthropy, will receive various categories of awards. The event will be telecast live on Arise News TV and Channels TV.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State will receive the Man of the Year award, while Governors Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, Uba Sani of Kaduna State, and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State will be honoured with the Governor of the Year award. The First Lady of Zamfara State, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, will receive the First Lady of the Year award.
The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, will be honoured with the Courage in Leadership Award. In the legislature, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, is the Senator of the Year, while former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, will receive the Political Icon of the Year award. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, will be honoured as Most Innovative Legislator of the Year.
In the entertainment industry, celebrated music star, Chinedu Izuchukwu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour, will receive the Creative Icon of the Year award. The Minister of the Year award will go to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, and the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be conferred on former Ogun State Governor and serving senator, Gbenga Daniel, among others.
Recipients of the Public Service Personality Award include Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The Real Estate Icon Award will go to Mr. Samuel Ajose, Chief Executive Officer of Levitikal Group, and Dr. Mrs. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac, Chief Executive Officer of Homadil Realty.
Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Oliver Alawuba, will receive the Banker of the Year award, while Access Bank Plc will be named Bank of the Year. The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), under the leadership of Chief Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, will receive the Parastatal of the Year award.
The awardees, who are branded “Nation Builders,” have been selected in recognition of their exceptional leadership, innovation, enterprise, and service to the nation. The 2026 edition of The Sun Awards has the theme, “Nation Builders,” with Sir Okeowo, Chief Executive Officer of Gibraltar Construction Nigeria Limited, as Chairman, and Seun Oyedeji and Niyi Ojemakinde as hosts.
Key points
- The Sun Awards 2026 will honour 45 Nigerians from various sectors.
- The event will take place at the Expo Convention Centre in Lagos.
- The awardees are recognised as “Nation Builders” for their contributions to Nigeria’s development.
