FROM: LarryBravo Nwaiwu, Enugu

… _Says award imposes obligation to do more_

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has been  bestowed with the Sun Governor of the Year Award for an impressive start to his tenure, especially for breaking an over two-decade jinx of acute water scarcity in the state capital.

The Sun also listed the administration’s war against insecurity, massive infrastructural projects in the state, including over 81 roads, the ongoing construction of 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centers as well as the education sector where it said the government had committed an unprecedented 33 per cent of the state’s 2024 budget and is equally building 260 smart schools across the electoral wards.

The award was presented to Mbah at the weekend by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, supported by the management of the Sun Publishing Limited, led by the Managing Director, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, at a colourful event in Lagos.

Responding, the governor said the award coming early in his administration was particularly significant and indicated that his government’s interventions in critical areas were gaining attention beyond Enugu State.

“Let me, on behalf of the government and people of Enugu State, express our profound gratitude to the Board, Management, and Staff of The Sun for finding us worthy of the Governor of the Year Award.

“For us, it simply means that we are greatly inspired and it is also a way of imposing obligations on us because it means that we have to do more.

“We are very happy and it is significant to us that the modest effort we are making is gaining attention outside Enugu State – the work we have done in providing water for our people within 180 days of assumption of office; the massive infrastructure projects; the disruptive innovation deployed in our education sector; and then, of course, Enugu, as you may already know, has been referred to today as a construction site.

“Therefore, we are indeed happy. I also want to take this opportunity to dedicate the award to my tireless and committed team and also the great members of the security agencies, who have helped us in our war against insecurity. The peace and security we are presently enjoying is on account of their efforts and sacrifices, day and night, to secure our state.”

Meanwhile, Mbah, who was the only first term governor to be honoured with The Sun  2023 award, was also bestowed with Governor of the Year, Courage in Leadership Award, by the New Telegraph a fortnight ago for what the organisation described as his resolute war against insecurity and for ending illegal Monday sit-at-home in Enugu State.