Nigeria’s multiple-award-winning singer, David Adeleke, also known as Davido, Nollywood actress, Ruth Kadiri, Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote and his conglomerate, Dangote Group, West Africa’s flagship airline, Air Peace and the first Nigerian female oil prospecting company founder and CEO, Uju Catherine Ifejika are among personalities nominated for the 2024 edition of Nigeria’s Pride Awards scheduled for November in Abuja.

A few federal agencies and other corporate institutions in the private sector are also on the list of nominees for the awards, being organized by African Leadership Scorecard Magazine and The Beauties of Nigeria TV.

They include, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and the Executive Secretary/CEO of the agency, Dr. Mrs. Chioma Ejikeme; Jaiz Bank; National Communications Commission, NCC; National Human Rights Commission NHRC; Rural Electrification Agency, REA; Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, MD/CEO of Zenith Bank; TETFund; Universal Basic Education Commission-UBEC and the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund- NSITF.

Also to be honoured at the event are some Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their service to the country and to humanity such as the Chief of Defence Staff-CDS, General Christopher Musa; Governors Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra; Dauda Lawal of Zamfara; Ademola Adeleke of Osun; Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River and Babagana Zulum of Borno as well as two serving ministers- Nyesom Wike of FCT and Tijani Bosun of Communications, Digital Economy and Innovations.

Senators Ned Nwoko and Aliyu Wamakko; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu; Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; MD/CEO of Zenith Bank, Barrister Dame Adaora Umeoji; Jaiz Bank; Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara; Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, Hon. Ali Isa, JP; Human Rights Lawyer, Dr. Mike Ozekhome, SAN; immediate past Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, award-winning singer Davido; Nollywood actress, Ruth Kadiri; Kano Airport cleaner, Auwal Dankode and hotel worker, Ngozi Kekwaru.

In a statement Friday, signed on behalf of the Organising Committee, Facilitator of the awards, Bonaventure Phillips Melah, who is also the Publisher/CEO of African Leadership Scorecard Magazine/Founder of the Beauties of Nigeria TV, said although Nigeria is a country in need of quality leadership, the few among us, who are doing well need to be celebrated as a way of encouraging them to do more while motivating others to wake up.

He said the successful takeoff of the Dangote Refinery, recoginsed as the largest single-train refinery in the world with the capacity of 650,000 barrels per day which also produces diesel, aviation fuel and other products, is a landmark achievement unprecedented in history; and therefore, should be celebrated by every Nigerian, and in deed, all Africans, irrespective of their country of origin, ethnic, political and religious leanings.

Bonaventure Melah said that NAHCO and Hotel workers were nominated to be honoured for finding $10,000 and $70,000, respectively, at their work places and returned the money to the owners, describing them as true representatives of Nigeria.

The statement praised multiple award-winning singer David Adeleke, also known as Davido, for uplifting hundreds of upcoming musicians and other artists, the same with Ruth Kadiri.

Apart from Bonaventure Melah, other members of the Nigeria’s Pride Awards Organising Committee are Mr. Ahaziah Suleiman (Former Executive Director, Voice of Nigeria), Chairman; Hajia Medina Dauda-Nadabo, (Bureau Coordinator/Prpgrammes Officer, Voice of America, VOA), Secretary; Victorson Agbenson (Deputy Director News, FRCN), Omotola Oleyede, Chudi Brass a Media Expert and Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed (Ex-Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Kaduna/Katsina/Kano Zone).

See Full List of Nominees and Categories

1. Alhaji Aliko Dangote/Dangote Group- Africa’s Brightest Shining Star of the Century.’

2. Dangote Group- ‘Chief Cornerstone of Businesses in Africa.”

3. Prof. Chukwuma Soludo- Best Governor on Empowerment

4. Dr. Dauda Lawal- Best Governor on Urban Renewal

5. Prof. Babagana Zulum- Most People-Oriented Governor

6. Senator Bala Mohammed- Best Governor on Urban Transformation

7. Sen. Bassey Edet Otu- Best Governor on Agric/Food Security

8. Sen. Ademola Adeleke- Best Governor Infrastructure

9. FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike- Overall Best Nigerian Minister.

10. Communications Minister, Bosun Tijani- Outstanding Minister of the Year

11. Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa- Shield of the Nation

12. Sen. Ned Munir Nwoko- Protector of the Environment.

13. Senator Aliyu Wamakko- Champion of Poverty Eradication.

14. Ooni of Ife- Exemplary Custodian of African Values

15. Retired Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar- Mother of Justice in Nigeria

16. Justice Mary Odili- Pillar of Truth and Justice

17. Mrs. Uju Catherine Ifejika- Most Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year

18. Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN- Most Fearless Advocate

19. Amb. John Metchie- Prince of Peace and Reconciliation

20. Mrs. Adaora Umeoji-Light of the Girl-Child

21. Hon. Benjamin Kalu- Champion of Equity

22. Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara

23. Hon. Ali Isa JP- Grassroots Empowerment Lawmaker

24. Dr. Chioma Ejikeme- Pensioners’ Angel

25. Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai- Exemplary Youth Politician of the Year

26. Chief Nduka Obiagbena- Nigeria’s Media Pathfinder

27. Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN- Champion of Human Rights

28. Dr. Yemi Esan- Excellent Service to the Nation

29. Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC- Most Innovative Agency

30. Jaiz Bank- Most People-Oriented Bank

31. Social Insurance Trust Funds, NSITF- Employee Protector-In-Chief

32. Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund- Most Impressive Institutional Funding Agency of the Year

33. Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC- Most Compliant Agency on International Best Practices

34. Rural Electrification Agency, REA- Most Improved Service Delivery Agency

35. PTAD- Best Reforms/ICT Compliant Agency

36. NHRC- Most Committed Agency of the Year.

37. David Adeleke (Davido)- Outstanding Humanity Entertainment Artist of the Year.

38. Ruth Kadiri- Inspirational Actress of the Year

39. Auwal Dankode- Hope of

the Future Award- Male

40. Ngozi Kekwara- Hope of the Future Award (Female).