Makinde receives Silverbird 2022 man of the year award

The governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde was on Friday given Man of the Year Award by the Silverbird TV station, one of the leading broadcasting stations in Nigeria owned by Senator Ben Burray Bruce.

The station gave the award to the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Barrister Bayo Lawal, following his numerous achievements as well as for his massive development of infrastructure and the repositioning of the Oyo State education sector.

Chairman, Editorial Board and Chief Creative Officer, Silverbird Group, Jacob Akinyemi-Johnson, said that the governor garnered the highest number of votes sent in by members of the public ahead of four other shortlisted personalities.

The Silverbird Man of the Year Award was instituted in 2005 to recognise individuals and corporate organisations that have positively made impact on the lives of Nigerians. 

At the presentation ceremony held at the Convention Center, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Oyo deputy governor was warmly received by Senator Ben Bruce who made stunning remarks about Governor Makinde for coming top ahead of his contemporaries to bag the award.

While receiving the award, the deputy governor described Senator Ben Bruce as a notable Nigerian and somebody who has class, integrity and one of those Nigerians are looking up to in hospitality, business, as well as people with vision to expand the economy of Nigeria in a diverse way.

“This award is unique in many ways, hitherto, we haven’t gotten anything like award of this nature, governor of the year, and other categories of the award, with a keen eyes to observe individuals across the country in industry, trade, governance and enterprise.”

Lawal commended the organizer for having a keen eyes in sector of economy, emphasizing that the organization is very articulate in human endeavors.

According to him, it was a good pleasure that all Nigerians observed and chose the governor of Oyo state with a 75% vote to receive the man of the year award 2022.

While emphasizing the rationale behind the award going to His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, he made note of the governor’s adherence to the four cardinal points of economic expansion, worker welfare, the expansion of the agricultural sector, and the provision of health care.

He also said that those who chose the governor for the award took the criteria into consideration.

“Although, people have talked about Lagos state surrounded by water, lagoon and ocean with economic value, but Oyo state which is on land is cheaper to do business than a state built on water or surrounded by river.”

In order to attract company owners and investors, the deputy governor emphasized that Oyo state has 28,000 kilometers of land that can support numerous businesses on land.

He also cited Governor Seyi Makinde’s accomplishments in the area of health care, which in his opinion helped him win the award. Makinde’s administration, he said, was able to provide health care in 250 of the 351 electoral wards in Oyo State.

He noted that the remaining electoral wards would likewise be delivered on a healthcare facility in less than one or two months.

According to Lawal, the launch of the Southwest Security outfit code-named Amotekun, which has been successful in lowering crime rates or the issue of kidnapping and banditry in areas like Ibarapa zone since the death of daughter of Pa Fasoranti, is one of the measures being taken by the Oyo state government to address security challenges. This makes Oyo state relatively secure when compared to other states in Nigeria.

He praised the organizer and in particular the people who had chosen the governor as man of the year 2022, noting that there are signs that the governor will also win the upcoming governorship election with at least 75%, exactly as Ben Bruce had previously stated with the award.

The deputy governor added that the zeal, energy enthusiasm, courage and determination with which Governor Seyi Makinde is tackling the act of governance is unequal and unparalleled in Nigeria.

“I can tell you, Governor Makinde hardly sleeps 4hours a day and then I do not know how he manages his time. He’s a multitalented individual and that is why the result is showing, and that’s why Nigeria, even those who do not know him, have decided to elect him as the man of the year 2022.

“What that is telling us is that youth who have the energy and intellect must also back it up with courage and determination to succeed in life.

“Seyi Makinde has succeeded in his business career before he became the governor of Oyo state, and I think it’s because of this private sector driven idea that has impacted positively in Oyo state.

“I challenge all of us here that Oyo state is open to business and we are doing a major road infrastructure that has linked Oyo state and Lagos state together such that in 45 minutes you can be in Ikeja from Ibadan. I.e, you can live in Ibadan and work in Ikeja.

“I want all of us to take advantage of what is happening in Oyo state at the moment and particularly people like Ben Bruce shouldn’t sit back alone in Lagos but rather bring their efficient argument and money to Oyo state because the state is open for development.

“On this note, on behalf of His Excellency, the governor of Oyo state, I thank all of you that have come either as an awardees or as friends of Ben Bruce and I wish you success in your endeavors.