Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, has won The Sun newspaper’s 2026 Governor of the Year award.
Alia received the award on Friday at the 24th edition of The Sun Awards, held at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Tersoo Kula, chief press secretary to the governor, said Alia was among six governors recognised at the ceremony.
Kula said the award reflected national recognition of the administration’s achievements in Benue, particularly in education, infrastructure and industrial development.
According to him, the award citation highlighted the recruitment of 9,700 primary school teachers, the establishment of the Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology in Vandeikya, and the revival of moribund companies.
He added that the citation also recognised the establishment of new factories through the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC).
Kula said the award was significant given the challenges the administration inherited when it assumed office, including salary arrears, dilapidated schools, abandoned projects and a large population of internally displaced persons.
He said the recognition showed how Benue had moved from attracting national attention for negative reasons to being acknowledged for governance reforms and development.
While receiving the award, Alia expressed appreciation for the recognition, describing it as an incentive to become more conscious of his responsibilities and do more for the state.
The governor dedicated the award to the people of Benue, including farmers, teachers, health workers, traders, youths and displaced persons, whom he said had continued to support his administration’s policies and believe in the state’s recovery.
