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Jideani Agabaidu, ACCI DG wins Nigeria’s Pride Award as Most Gender-Inclusive CEO
Photo caption: Sir Jideani Agabaidu, DG ACCI, being congratulated by the Chairman of the occasion, Gen. Paul Boroh, rtd, after receiving Nigeria’s Pride Awards September 30th
Sir Agabaidu Chukwuemeka Jideani, the Director General of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), was on Tuesday, September 30th, honoured as The Most Gender-Inclusive Chief Executive Officer of the Year at the 2025 Nigeria’s Pride Awards which took place at Barcelona Hotel, Abuja.
He was honoured alongside other individuals, companies and organisations including Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, Dangote Group and its Group Head of Corporate Communications, Anthony Chiejina, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Senator Ireti Kingibe, veteran Nollywood personalities Tonto Dikeh, Empress Njamah, Rekiya Ibrahim Attah, Emeka Rollas, Gloria Okafor and Sandra Okunzuwa, among others.
Founder/CEO, Nigeria’s Pride Awards, Bonaventure Phillips Melah, presenting awards plaque to Sir Jideani at ACCI headquarters Abuja.
The Nigeria’s Pride Awards was organized by First Green White Resources (FGWR), publishers of African Leadership Scorecard Magazine and Nationwide Reports; and was chaired by Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd), former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta/Coordinator of Amnesty Programme while the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris was Guest Speaker with Dr. Sarah Jibrin, former Presidential Adviser on Ethics and Moral Values served as Mother of the Day.
In an opening remark, the Founder/CEO of FGWR, Bonaventure Phillips Melah, said Nigeria’s Pride Awards was founded to identify, recognize, appreciate and celebrate citizens, other nationals and corporate citizens that distinguish themselves through selfless service, patriotism, exemplary and inspiring leadership and therefore contribute positively to the development, prosperity, peace, unity and security of Nigeria as well as overall wellbeing of humanity.
He said although Nigeria is a country in search of quality leadership, many of its citizens at home and in the Diaspora are doing well in diverse fields of human endeavour and should be celebrated as according to him, a society that does not reward good people does not deserve good people in the first place.
Speaking after receiving Certificate of Award at the event, Sir Agabaidu thanked the organisers for the recognition and reiterated his commitment to ensuring that women, young people, physically challenged persons and others are duly recognized and given leadership roles to enable them contribute to nation-building and societal development.
A citation read at the evet said, even before his appointment as DG ACCI, Jideani, an experienced human rights lawyer, has been a strong voice for gender equity, and has been supporting the creative industry, facilitating business growth, and fostering international partnerships. “For example, he championed the adoption of a clear definition of Women-Owned Businesses (WOBs), thereby aligning with international standards, to ensure better data collection and targeted policies for women entrepreneurs. He also actively advocates for the implementation of gender policies within both the private and public sectors, pushing for the reservation of leadership roles for women to ensure representation.
“The above he has practically demonstrated in action by applying same principles in policy formulation as ACCI while also collaborating with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to promote gender equity and support women-owned businesses. Of course,” it said.
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru won in two categories as Best Governor on Road Infrastructure and Best Governor on Community Empowerment, Dangote Group emerged as ‘Chief Cornerstone of Business in Africa,’ Anthony Chiejina was recognized as ‘The Most Impactful Corporate Marketing Officer of the Decade;’ Chief CDS Musa was honoured as Shield of the Nation, Senator Ireti Kingibe as Most Grassroots-Oriented Politician of the Year and Aviation Minister, Keyamo as Most Impactful Minister of the Year.
Others awardees are Directors- General of NTA, and Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Hon. Rinsola Abiola- Exemplary Young Corporate CEO of the Year; respectively as well as President of Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas-Most Impactful Entertainment Personality of the Year, Gloria Okafor-Best Movie Producer of the Year, Queen Blessing Ebigieson- Most OutstandingMovie Producer of the Decade, Sandra Okunzuwa- Best Actress of the Year, among others.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday, deliver judgments in two cases involving the leadership crises rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to information on the official website of the court, the matters, listed under “Political Appeals”, have been added to the cause list for Thursday, April 30, 2026.
While judgment in the ADC matter, marked SC/CV/180/2026, has been fixed for 2 pm, there is no time yet for that if the PDP.
President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of fifteen nominees to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The letter was read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The letter seeks the reconstitution of the commission’s board in line with statutory provisions with the list comprising nominees from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.
Among the nominees are the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba; and Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, who has been proposed as chairman of the board.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) is to retain his position as the Chief Executive Officer.
Other nominees include Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Mr. Edmund Chinonye, Mr. Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, and Otunba Francis Meshioye as members.
Also nominated are Patience Patrick and Hawwa Ibrahim, listed as members.
The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board subject to Senate confirmation.
He explained that the reconstitution of the board was necessary to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate to promote and protect human rights across the country.
If confirmed, the new board is expected to play a critical role in reinforcing the NHRC’s oversight functions, particularly at a time of heightened concerns over rights protection and accountability in Nigeria.
Following the presentation of the request, the Senate referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and report within two weeks.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has revealed that it investigated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering before clearing him.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Commission, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja.
According to him, the probe was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions after the commission observed large inflows of foreign currencies into the cleric’s domiciliary account.
“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo.
“I said who is this man? Yes, I’ve been hearing about his name, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he was a pastor.
“So they said this one pastor of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books,” Olukoyede stated.
The EFCC boss said he subsequently invited Eze for questioning after preliminary findings were compiled by investigators.
He added that upon meeting the cleric and reviewing the findings of the investigation, the commission found no wrongdoing.
“So he came to my office. He told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.
“I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he stated.
The remark drew applause from the audience, as Eze, who was present at the event, acknowledged the commendation.
He noted that the commission has a responsibility not only to investigate financial crimes but also to recognise individuals found to have acted with integrity.
The EFCC chairman, however, stated that the agency would continue to monitor financial activities where necessary, stressing that its preventive mandate remains critical in tackling corruption.
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