By Jabiru Hassan.
The Honourable Minister of Works, H.E. Engr. (Sen.) David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, has expressed his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the opportunity to serve the nation.
He made this statement while receiving the award for Minister of the Year at the annual Silverbird Awards Night, which honours individuals, who have made significant contributions to society.
This year’s event marked the 20th edition and was held with remarkable elegance on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at the Eko Hotels and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.
In his acceptance speech, Engr. Umahi commended President Tinubu for his mentorship, commitment, and prioritisation of Nigeria in all aspects of governance. He noted that some roads had remained unbuilt for up to 50 years, but under the President’s leadership, new regulations for road construction have significantly advanced various abandoned and legacy projects.
He informed the gathering that “apart from undertaking numerous inherited projects nationwide, the current administration is embarking on four Legacy Road Projects cutting across all six geopolitical zones of the country: i. Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway – 700 kilometers; ii. Sokoto (Ilelah) – Badagry (Lagos) – 1,068 kilometers; iii. Abakaliki (Ebonyi State) – Abuja (FCT) with a spur to Calabar (Cross River State) – 474 kilometers and iv. Akwanga (Nasarawa State) – Jos (Plateau State) – Bauchi – Gombe – 420 kilometers.
He added that projects I and ii are already ongoing, while project iii has been awarded, and project iv is currently undergoing procurement process and will soon be awarded. Engr. Umahi’s leadership style is characterized by a commitment to legacy-building, reliability, and patriotism in service to the Nigerian people.
This positions him as a compassionate and decisive figure in the ongoing development of the nation’s infrastructure. He has successfully aligned the Ministry’s mandates with those of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which, among others, aiming s to enhance infrastructure and transportation as drivers of growth.
He dedicated the award to his family, the Minister of State for Works, the management and staff of the Ministry for their unalloyed support, and all Nigerians, who voted for him for this prestigious award.
Other award recipients included Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, who received the Governor of the Year. He praised President Tinubu and Engr. Umahi for their continued strides in the infrastructural development of Lagos and other states.
He emphasised that with the right leadership, Lagos State will continue to make its mark, globally. Co-recipient of the award, Enugu State Governor, H.E. Peter Mbah, also expressed his gratitude to the Silverbird Group for recognising him.
The Ekiti State Governor, H.E. Biodun Oyebanji, received the Man of the Year award for promoting development and inclusivity, while earning favourable ratings from the financial institutions.
The Caucus highlighted Governor Oyebanji’s governance style, which focuses on consensus-building, inclusivity, and strategic stakeholder engagement, driving sustainable progress in Ekiti State.
Sen. Ben Murray-Bruce, CEO of the Silverbird Group, described the annual event as a great pleasure, bringing together outstanding Nigerians, who have excelled in their fields and made significant contributions to improving humanity.
He shared his experiences as a politician, as well as recounted his interactions with the late world-acclaimed boxer, Muhammad Ali, whom he considered a mentor, along with his collaboration with Rev. Jesse Jackson during the apartheid era in South Africa.
He encouraged Nigerians to refrain from criticising their leaders and instead actively contribute to national development.
Sen. Murray-Bruce congratulated the awardees for their accomplishments and their unmatched commitment to the Nigerian project. He also praised Nigerians for participating in the selection process, stating, “The selection was conducted online by Nigerians from all over the world, with no interference from the organisers to ensure transparency and credibility.”
The programme was attended by many dignitaries, including former governors, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Olufunsho Adebiyi, members of the National Assembly, the Umahi family, representatives from Ebonyi and Uburu communities in Lagos State, Managing Directors/CEOs of construction companies, traditional rulers, media practitioners, and entertainment industry leaders, among others.
