Soludo receives Vanguard Good Governance Award 2024, months after SUN recognition

 

Maduako Igbokwe I Saturday, April 12, 2025

 

AWKA, Anambra – The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has once again been honoured for his exceptional leadership, emerging as the recipient of the Vanguard Good Governance Award 2024, just months after clinching the SUN Newspaper’s Governor of the Year 2024 accolade.

According to a statement released by the Governor’s Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, the award ceremony took place on Friday, April 11, 2025, at the Convention Centre of the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. There, Governor Soludo added yet another well-deserved accolade to his expanding list of national recognitions.

The event, which attracted some of Nigeria’s most impactful leaders across various sectors, was not merely a celebration of achievements but a reaffirmation of Soludo’s transformational leadership over the past three years.

It stated that Soludo’s tenure in Anambra State has redefined governance as a pragmatic tool for inclusive growth, institutional reform, and sustainable development.

“It was truly a night of brilliance and depth,” the statement noted.

In his welcome remarks, Vanguard Editor Eze Anaba highlighted the significance of honouring those who have made tangible, data-backed impacts.

“The Vanguard Awards brought together Nigeria’s political, business, royal, and cultural elite,” Anaba said.

Editor Eze Anaba emphasized that the awards were not based on popularity or media hype but on verifiable impact, noting that for Soludo, these recognitions are proof that tangible results still matter in Nigerian politics.

Mr. Atedo Peterside, Chairman of the occasion, succinctly captured the mood: “This gathering is awesome—a convergence of those rewriting Nigeria’s story.” The evening celebrated legacies, not just laurels”.

While notable personalities such as billionaire investor and education advocate Dr. Adedeji Adeleke received the Personality of the Year Award, the spotlight also shone brightly on transformative governors like Soludo, whose policy innovations have turned sub national governance into a laboratory of progress.

“For Governor Soludo, this recognition by Vanguard—coming shortly after The SUN’s similar honour—cements his standing as one of Nigeria’s most results-driven public servants. A blend of technocratic precision and people-oriented governance has become the hallmark of his administration.

Since assuming office in March 2022, the former Central Bank Governor has championed what he calls a “People’s Agenda,” characterized by its relentless focus on delivering measurable outcomes. His administration’s priorities—spanning security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, urban regeneration, and economic diversification—have transcended slogans to become instruments of real transformation.

Remarkably, these milestones have often been achieved without reliance on external borrowing, showcasing Soludo’s belief that development must be driven by discipline, execution, and efficiency. “Development isn’t about grand declarations—it’s about detailed, day-to-day delivery,” the statement added.

It is therefore no surprise that both SUN and Vanguard, through rigorous verification of performance indicators and project outcomes, have endorsed the Soludo model—one that treats governance as a serious, user-centric, agile, and data-informed enterprise. In this vision, Anambra is the MVP, and it is scaling up fast.

Yet, as Governor Soludo often reminds observers, each award is not a celebration of completion but a renewed call to service. With his recent ratification as the APGA candidate for a second term, and the growing chorus of nonpartisan endorsements ahead of the November 2025 gubernatorial election, Soludo remains focused on consolidating Anambra’s transformation into a template for Nigeria’s sub national resurgence.

As the nation continues to grapple with complex governance challenges, Soludo’s journey—from academic economist to reform-minded politician—is fast becoming a compelling case study in effective leadership.

“For now, Anambra’s renaissance continues—one solution at a time,” the statement added.