The Sun Newspapers has nominated Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, for its 2026 governor of the year award.
Onuoha Ukeh, managing director and editor-in-chief of The Sun Newspapers, presented the nomination letter to Alia on Thursday at the government house in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
Ukeh said the nomination was based on merit, citing Alia’s programmes and projects aimed at accelerating development in the state.
He highlighted the transformation of Makurdi, interventions in the health sector and the development of primary healthcare centres across the state.
Ukeh also cited the transformation of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital into a medical tourism centre, as well as the establishment of Food Basket Breweries and Bensono Fruit Juice Factory.
He described the projects as legacy initiatives that would outlive Alia’s tenure as governor.
“Only someone with a clear vision on how he wants to leave a state after his tenure will indulge in very useful ventures such as the revival of ailing industries like Taraku Mills, and Fr. Alia has done this,” he said.
Ukeh said the newspaper had tracked developments in Benue and found Alia’s nomination justifiable, particularly with respect to road infrastructure, workers’ welfare and care for senior citizens.
“Our choice of you is justifiable. We have tracked development in your state, and we know what you are doing, especially with road infrastructure and the welfare of the state’s workforce and care for the senior citizens who were hitherto neglected and allowed to degenerate to destitute,” he said.
Responding, Alia said he was pleased that his “siren” had been heard beyond Benue, resulting in recognition from what he described as one of Nigeria’s credible media organisations.
The governor said he had deliberately refused to use sirens on his convoy since assuming office because he wanted his projects and interventions to speak for him.
“Let interventions in creating jobs be my siren; let the roads I am building serve as my siren; let the companies I am building be my siren and other achievements I have recorded within this time,” he said.
The award ceremony is scheduled to hold on November 13, 2026, at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
