Date: October 20, 2026
By Abraham Ovuoba
The Sun Newspaper has nominated Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, as its Governor of the Year 2026 in recognition of his administration’s achievements in education, healthcare, infrastructure, human capital development and workers’ welfare.
The newspaper’s Managing Director, Mr Onuoha Ukie, disclosed this while presenting the nomination letter to the governor at Government House, Abakaliki, on Tuesday, on behalf of the organisation’s Board of Editors.
Ukie said the nomination followed an extensive assessment based on merit, particularly the governor’s people-oriented governance philosophy as encapsulated in the People’s Charter of Needs.
He highlighted the recruitment of 2,000 teachers, 100 judicial officers and 1,700 civil servants, alongside the employment of medical personnel and promotion of eligible workers.
Other achievements cited included the establishment of the University of ICT and the Aeronautical and Aerospace University, overseas scholarship programmes for Ebonyi indigenes and the construction of 280 three-bedroom bungalows for victims of communal conflicts.
The newspaper also commended the administration’s efforts to clear outstanding gratuities and pensions owed to retired state and local government workers.
Responding, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru expressed gratitude to the newspaper for the recognition, describing it as both encouragement and a call to greater responsibility.
“I am particularly happy that what we have done as a government is enough to attract this prestigious recognition, and we will not take it for granted,” he said.
The governor pledged to sustain his administration’s development efforts, empower citizens and strengthen existing relationships to accelerate progress across the state.
He also acknowledged the contributions of previous administrations to Ebonyi’s development, noting that successive governments had left notable legacies.
Nwifuru also commended the newspaper’s management for what he described as a fair and credible assessment, expressing confidence in its judgement.
It is expected that the formal presentation of the award to the governor is to be held on November 13, 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
