…Journey from transaction to transformation on new gear
Some awards are still very credible due to the selection process and the caliber of winners.
BusinessDay is regarded as one of the most credible institutions in the media industry in Nigeria. This seems to have made its awards the most respected in the land. Now, the award bestowed on Samuel Ogbuku, the managing director/chief executive officer (MD/CEO) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) along with few other worthy executives in the public sector, seems to raise the bar in rating of executives.
It is now being said that like an oyster, delivering precious pearls, the MD is transiting the intervention agency from “transaction to transformation” and reshaping the Niger Delta region.
Many say for his remarkable vision and strides, Ogbuku now wears the badge of a transformational leader, ensuring effective service delivery to underdeveloped communities in Nigeria’s oil-rich region.
This positive trajectory is said to have attracted recognition and accolades from many quarters, with awards tumbling in from the highest level of government and reputable private organisations.
As expected, Ogbuku’s outstanding performance has seen him take centre stage and share the podium with other eminent Nigerians to receive awards for excellence, industry, and enterprise.
On December 7, 2025, President Bola Tinubu conferred the Distinguished Award for Excellence in Infrastructure Delivery and Sustainable Regional Growth on Ogbuku, during the third edition of the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service, NEAPS, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
President Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said the excellence award initiative would challenge officials to raise standards because “they know the people are monitoring them.”
The President argued that public service is a trust that must be exercised with “responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency,” adding that officers are expected to think creatively to solve citizens’ problems.
He observed that the excellence award organised by ‘The Best Strategic Media’ in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation relied on performance indices, not politics, to select honourees.
Read also: Samuel Ogbuku and the changing tides at NDDC
The President said: “These awards are born out of empirical evidence of performance and not politics,” he said, commending 50 recipients drawn from federal and state institutions, including some governors and ministers.
Speaking on the award, the NDDC MD/CEO remarked that it showed that Nigerians still appreciate the work the NDDC was doing in the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku noted: “This award serves as a motivation to continue driving the sustainable development of our region. We will continue to serve the needs of the people and enhance the quality of life for them.
“This honour calls for more hard work, and we will not rest on our oars until we satisfy the yearnings of the people of the Niger Delta region and take development to the nooks and crannies of the region as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.”
Ogbuku stated: “It is a recognition of our hard work all through the year. We thank God for the opportunity of service, and we thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving us the platform to showcase our ingenuity. He put together a team that has transformed the administration and development of the Niger Delta region.
“We also thank the Minister of Regional Development, Engr Abubakar Momoh, who has provided us with technical and administrative support. This honour calls on us to do more and reminds us that next year we must redouble our efforts and do better.
“We will not rest on our oars until we satisfy the yearnings of the people of the Niger Delta region and take development to the nooks and crannies of the region as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.”
In a congratulatory message, Chiedu Ebie, the Chairman of the NDDC Board, described the award conferred on Ogbuku as a testament to the innovations and progress he brought into the management of the Commission.
He stated that Ogbuku was rightly chosen for the prestigious award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to nation-building, dedication to fostering progress and unrelenting pursuit of excellence.
Read also: Samuel Ogbuku’s footprints stand out for national celebration alongside other top Nigerians
Mary Odili, chairman of the NEAPS Advisory Committee and a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, observed that service excellence must never be taken for granted, stating: “Excellence in public service is a value we must continue to uphold.”
A few days before the honour at the State House, on December 3, the Awards Committee for the BusinessDay Public Lecture Series honoured Ogbuku as an outstanding public service provider who has shown exceptional dedication and commitment to excellence.
The NDDC boss stood tall as he received an award for outstanding public service executive. Within a short time, he has demonstrated that he is on a mission to transform the socio-economic landscape of the Niger Delta. It was a night of celebration, pomp, and ceremony.
Presenting the award to Ogbuku, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, said the event was designed to celebrate Nigeria’s finest. He commended Ogbuku’s leadership qualities and urged him to do more for the region, as his goodwill always speaks for him.
Giving his impressions on the award to the NDDC Managing Director, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, said that the honour would energise the Commission to do more.
He said the award has validated the contributions of the NDDC in driving sustainable development in the Niger Delta. “This recognition and acknowledgement will encourage us to continue contributing to the development of our region and the nation.”
Also speaking, Ifedayo Abegunde, the NDDC Executive Director, Corporate Services, described the award as a significant recognition for the NDDC. He thanked the BusinessDay newspaper and noted that the NDDC would continue to give back to the communities in the Niger Delta region.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher of Business Day, said that the BusinessDay awards were meant to honour functionaries in strategic government positions who demonstrate exceptional performance and leadership.
He noted: “The BusinessDay Public Lecture and Award Series is a veritable platform for thought leaders, policymakers, and business experts to discuss the most pressing issues facing Nigeria’s economy and proffer implementable solutions.”
Aigbogun, represented by Lolade Akinmurele, the Editor of BusinessDay, said that public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. “It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation.”
The recognition aligns with President Tinubu’s earlier commendation of the NDDC leadership during the Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit in Port Harcourt on July 12, 2024, where he commended the Commission’s Board and Management for working cohesively to accelerate development in the oil-rich region.
Those close to him say firmly seated behind the wheels, Ogbuku has fast-tracked progress in road and bridge construction, building of schools and hospitals, and the provision of essential social amenities across Niger Delta communities. These efforts have strengthened regional infrastructure and promoted inclusive growth.
Ogbuku’s impact on the Niger Delta is profound and far-reaching. With his inspiring dynamism, the region looks forward to sustained development and a brighter future for its people. The transforming taking place in the region is a testament to what dedicated and visionary leadership can achieve.
The impressive infrastructural developments that have come with the Ogbuku era continues to be appreciated at the local, national and international levels. On October 21, 2025, the NDDC Managing Director was honoured by the London Political Summit and Awards (LPSA) as the Nigeria Regional Government Development Champion of the Year 2025.
The award ceremony, held at the UK House of Commons in London, was presented to Ogbuku for his outstanding contributions to regional development, innovation, and governance in the Niger Delta.
Earlier this month, all roads led to Marrakesh, Morocco, where the Niger Delta icon received the African Public Service Award from Heritage Times in recognition of his transformative leadership and service to the Niger Delta region.
The academic community recognised the star from the South-South region and endorsed it. Thus, the Governing Council and the Senate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, on July 26, 2025, awarded the Degree of Doctor of Public Administration, DPA (Honoris Causa), at the 54th convocation ceremony of the university.
On June 30, 2025, the Nigerian Army saluted the efforts of the NDDC under Ogbuku’s leadership, decorating him with the Nigerian Army Outstanding Service Commendation Medal.
The army declared: “We honour Ogbuku for his immense contributions to the development of the Nigerian Army Infrastructure, human capital Development, as well as enhancement of the Nigerian Army’s operation, efficiency and accomplishment of the Chief of Army Staff’s command philosophy.
Emulating the army, the Nigeria Police Force gave its own thumbs-up, conferring the Police Support Recognition Award on the NDDC leadership. The award was presented at the inaugural Nigeria Police Award and Commendation Ceremony in recognition of continued support for the Police Force and their partnership in building the Country’s security architecture.
Before the BusinessDay award, other media houses had seen the gem in Ogbuku. The Sun newspapers had, in April, conferred the Sun Public Service Award on Ogbuku for his contributions in the repositioning of the interventionist agency and implementing policies and projects that have improved the well-being of the people of the Niger Delta region.
Similarly, the Daily Independent newspapers bestowed an honour on the NDDC as the “Interventionist Agency of the Year 2024.” The newspaper recognised the NDDC’s achievements and transformative impact on the Niger Delta region.
These awards recognise Ogbuku’s commitment to transforming the Niger Delta region through infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and community empowerment initiatives.
