A delegation from the newspaper formally notified the Edo governor of his nomination during a visit to the Government House in Benin City.
By Wapcodehub9ja LIVE News Desk
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has been nominated for the LEADERSHIP Newspaper Governor of the Year 2026 Award following a formal visit by a delegation from the newspaper to the Edo State Government House in Benin City.
The governor disclosed the development after receiving the delegation on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The visit was to formally communicate his nomination and extend an invitation to the award ceremony scheduled for December 1, 2026, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
The delegation included LEADERSHIP Group Vice-Chairman Michael Okpere, Director of Conferences and Awards Abraham Nda-Isaiah, Director of Special Projects Paul Agbo, and the newspaper’s Benin correspondent, Patrick Ochoga. During the meeting, the representatives explained that the annual awards recognise individuals and institutions selected through the organisation’s assessment process across different fields.
According to reports on the visit, the newspaper’s representatives said the selection process considered the performance and activities of state governors during 2026. They identified areas including education, healthcare, security and infrastructure among the sectors considered in relation to Okpebholo’s nomination. These explanations reflect the award organisers’ stated reasons for selecting the governor.
The delegation also highlighted education-related funding, road projects and healthcare interventions as areas considered in its assessment. Among the examples cited were increased financial support for Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, funding for Edo State University in Uzairue, road construction and rehabilitation projects, and the state’s health insurance scheme. The claims and assessments were presented by the delegation during its explanation of the nomination.
Responding to the recognition, Okpebholo expressed appreciation to the newspaper’s representatives. He said he viewed the work of developing Edo State as part of his responsibility to the people and expressed his desire to continue working across the state. He also indicated that he intended to attend the award ceremony in Abuja.
The nomination places Okpebholo among the governors selected for consideration in the newspaper’s 2026 awards programme. However, the formal award presentation is scheduled for December 1, meaning the nomination announcement and the eventual ceremony are separate stages of the process.
The development adds a new public recognition to the Edo State Government’s record of engagements with media organisations and award bodies. The reasons for the nomination have been attributed to the organisers, while the long-term impact of the policies and projects cited remains a matter for assessment through their implementation and outcomes.
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