All is set for the 2025 edition of the First Daily Public Lecture and Excellence Awards, scheduled to hold in November at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
The event’s organizer and publisher of First Daily, Dr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. He said the annual gathering will attract top government officials, business leaders, civil society advocates, and media professionals to celebrate excellence, innovation, and transformational leadership across Nigeria.
According to Iworiso-Markson, the ceremony will be preceded by a public lecture titled “How Can We Make Our Votes Count?” aimed at sparking national reflection on electoral credibility and citizens’ roles in strengthening governance and democracy.
He revealed that this year’s edition will honour several eminent Nigerians whose leadership footprints have significantly contributed to national development.
Among the major honourees are Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, who will receive the Governor of the Year (Infrastructure Development) award for his administration’s massive investments in road networks, urban renewal, and rural connectivity.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, will also be honoured as Governor of the Year (Civil Service Welfare and Development) in recognition of his government’s efforts in improving the welfare and productivity of civil servants in the state.
Dr. Iworiso-Markson added that the lecture and awards ceremony will continue to serve as a platform for promoting good governance, responsible leadership, and civic participation in Nigeria’s democratic journey.