THISDAY awards: Obaseki nominated for ‘Governor of the year’

• The international journalist said it would take an extraordinary human being like Obaseki to best his own records, adding that the extraordinary person has yet to arrive the scene.

Godwin Obaseki, former Edo State governor, has been nominated for the THISDAY ‘Governor of the Year’ award, recognizing exceptional leaders.

The annual award ceremony, organized by the THISDAY/Arise Group Board of Editors, honors outstanding individuals, with the 2025 event themed “When the Going Gets Tough… the Tough Get Rewarded!”.

According to the organizers, the ‘Governor of the Year’ award goes to “that governor who combines vision, passion, dedication, and courage to make the lives of the people of his state better”.

Ogbeide Ifaluyi-isibor, ex-commissioner in Edo, praised Obaseki’s achievements in education, healthcare, and other sectors, calling them highly commendable.

Ifaluyi-isibor described Obaseki as a visionary leader with a passion for excellence and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of Edo State residents.

“In his eight years of leadership of Edo, Obaseki’s milestone achievements in education, healthcare, innovation, tourism, agriculture, pension, city planning, security, science, civil service, and corporate governance are laudable footprints that will stand the test of time,” he said.

“His landmark achievements in creating the Edo State Tier-3 Data Centre, deploying Health Information Management Systems, Electronic Health Records, and Telemedicine Services, streamlined healthcare delivery, improved patient management, and extended healthcare access to rural communities.”

The former commissioner noted that Obaseki’s eight-year leadership in Edo was outstanding, earning him a fitting spot as a ‘Governor of the Year’ award candidate.

Mayozi John, an international journalist in the UK, praised Obaseki as Edo State’s best governor since 1999, excelling in all sectors and leaving a lasting impact globally.

John commended Obaseki’s exceptional leadership, including pension management digitization and innovative education initiatives, setting a high standard for others to follow.

The THISDAY award features various categories, including ‘Titans of the Year’, ‘Man of the Year’, ‘Bank of the Year’, ‘Banker of the Year’, ‘Global Bank of the Year’, ‘Brand of the Year’, ‘Company of the Year’, and ‘Product of the Year’.

Additional categories include ‘Senator of the Year’, ‘Representative of the Year’, ‘Government Agency of the Year’, ‘Investor of the Year’, and ‘Young Global Leaders’.