Tinubu Congratulates Awardees as Gov Ododo honoured for Human Capital Development at Blueprint Impact Series
By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, was among the recipients honoured at the 2025 edition of the Blueprint Newspapers Impact Series/Awards held at the Abuja Continental Hotel on Tuesday, 22nd July 2025.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees and the Kogi State Government, the Governor was represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Hon. Ismail Isah, who expressed gratitude to the organizers for the recognition.
Hon. Isah, while delivering the Governor’s remarks, described the award as a “humbling but motivating” acknowledgment of the strides made by the Ododo administration in just over 15 months in office.
“This award for Best Governor in Human Capital Development is particularly meaningful,” he said. “It underscores the commitment of His Excellency to transformative investments in critical sectors such as education and healthcare.”
According to him, under Governor Ododo’s leadership, the state has committed billions of naira to infrastructure development across tertiary institutions and to ensuring the security of lives and property within campuses.
“In the last 15 months alone, the administration has spent over N1 billion to cover external examination fees for students in both primary and secondary schools,” Isah said. “This intervention has significantly contributed to reducing the number of out-of-school children in Kogi, which currently ranks lowest in Northern Nigeria in that category.”
He also highlighted efforts in the health sector, noting that the government is currently revitalizing more than 300 primary healthcare centres across the state’s 21 local government areas.
Hon. Isah assured attendees that Governor Ododo remains committed to driving human capital development in the state and will continue to intensify efforts in the remaining years of his tenure.
The Blueprint Impact Series Awards is an annual event organized by Blueprint Newspapers to celebrate individuals and institutions making significant contributions to national development.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has congratulated the awardees and commended the media’s role in nation-building at the Blueprint Awards.
Ably represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commendations to recipients of the 2025 Blueprint Newspapers Impact Series/Awards, describing the event as a celebration of excellence and national service.
Speaking on behalf of the President, Senator Akume praised the awardees for their contributions to national development, while also commending the role of the media in shaping public discourse and promoting accountability in governance.
“I extend the heartfelt congratulations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to all awardees and recipients. This annual event, organized by Blueprint Newspapers, serves as a vital platform for recognizing excellence and fostering nation-building,” he said.
According to the SGF, the continued relevance of the awards underscores the influence of credible media in Nigeria’s democratic journey. “In every democracy, the media serves as a safeguard against misgovernance. You are the voice of the people, the conscience of the nation, and a compass guiding national aspirations.”
He emphasized that the Tinubu administration remains committed to working with credible media organizations like Blueprint to advance unity, inclusive growth, and transparent governance.
Senator Akume also lauded the choice of keynote theme—“Exploring the Potentials of Livestock Exports in Nigeria”—which was delivered by renowned scholar and former INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, who now serves as Special Adviser to the President on Livestock Reforms.
“The theme aligns with the administration’s current focus on transforming the livestock sector, which holds vast potential for industrial expansion, foreign exchange earnings, and conflict resolution, especially in rural areas,” he noted.
He highlighted the recent establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as a major policy move aimed at unlocking the sector’s economic potential. Despite Nigeria’s large livestock population, Akume said, the country has barely tapped into the value chains of meat, dairy, leather, and processed exports.
“With strategic investments, infrastructure development, and value chain enhancement, livestock will soon become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation,” the SGF affirmed.
In conclusion, he applauded all the award recipients, describing them as patriots whose dedication and integrity continue to inspire hope and progress across sectors.
