The Sun Newspaper has nominated Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for its Governor of the Year 2026 award in recognition of his administration’s achievements in human capital development, education, healthcare, infrastructure and workers’ welfare.
The newspaper’s Managing Director, Mr Onuoha Ukie, disclosed this when he presented the nomination letter to the governor at the Government House, Abakaliki, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, on behalf of the newspaper’s Board of Editors.
Ukie said the nomination followed an extensive assessment of the governor’s performance, based on merit and his administration’s people-oriented governance philosophy encapsulated in the People’s Charter of Needs.
He highlighted the recruitment of 2,000 teachers, 100 judicial officers and 1,700 civil servants, alongside the employment of medical personnel and the promotion of eligible workers, as some of the notable achievements of the administration.
The Sun Newspaper’s Managing Director also commended the establishment of the University of ICT and the Aeronautical and Aerospace University, as well as overseas scholarship programmes designed to expand educational opportunities for Ebonyi indigenes.
Other achievements cited included the construction of 280 three-bedroom bungalows for victims of communal conflicts and efforts to clear outstanding gratuities and pension arrears owed to retired state and local government workers.
According to Ukie, the governor’s administration has demonstrated a commitment to strengthening public institutions, developing human capital and improving the welfare of citizens.
Responding, Governor Nwifuru expressed gratitude to the management of The Sun Newspaper for the recognition, describing the nomination as both an encouragement and a call to greater responsibility.
He said the recognition would motivate his administration to intensify its efforts towards sustainable development and the empowerment of citizens across the state.
“I am particularly happy that what we have done as a government is enough to attract this prestigious recognition, and we will not take it for granted. It is also a challenge for us to continue to do more in developing our state and empowering our citizens,” the governor said.
Nwifuru noted that the nomination was encouraging because it reflected the impact of his administration’s policies and programmes, while acknowledging the contributions of previous administrations to the development of Ebonyi State.
He said successive governments had made important contributions to the state’s growth, adding that his administration would build on existing achievements, strengthen relationships and accelerate development across critical sectors.
The governor also commended the newspaper’s management for what he described as a fair and credible assessment of his administration’s performance.
“We are not doubting your assessment because it is well known to everybody that Sun is a credible organization,” he said.
Nwifuru assured the newspaper and the people of Ebonyi State that his administration would consolidate its achievements and work harder to justify the confidence reflected in the nomination.
The formal presentation of the Governor of the Year 2026 award is scheduled to take place on November 13, 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
