Okpebholo nominated for Leadership Governor of the Year 2026. Leadership Newspaper cites security, education, roads and healthcare gains.
Okpebholo nominated for Leadership Governor of the Year 2026. Edo State Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo has received a nomination for the Leadership Newspaper Governor of the Year 2026 award.
The award ceremony is scheduled for December 1, 2026, at the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
Okpebholo Nominated for Leadership Governor of the Year 2026
A delegation from Leadership Newspaper visited the governor at the Edo State Government House in Benin City to announce the nomination.
The team included Vice-Chairman Michael Okpere, Director of Conferences and Awards Abraham Nda-Isaiah, Director of Special Projects Paul Agbo, and Benin correspondent Patrick Ochoga.
Okpere explained that the newspaper’s annual awards cover 21 categories. These include Person of the Year, Governor of the Year, Civil Servant of the Year and Banker of the Year.
A panel of 54 people assessed public officials and their performances before selecting nominees. The panel reviewed the work of state governors for 2026. It settled on five nominees this year, compared with six in 2025.
“We’ve come to inform you of your nomination as Leadership Governor of the Year 2026,” Okpere said. “You are one of those we found worthy of the award.”
He invited the governor to attend the event and receive the award alongside four other governors.
Okpebholo Nominated for Leadership Governor of the Year 2026
Abraham Nda-Isaiah said the nomination rested on the administration’s reported interventions in security, education, healthcare and other sectors.
Security remains essential to effective governance. In addition, the governor’s work in education stood out. The team highlighted interventions at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, and Edo State University, Uzairue.
The subvention to Ambrose Alli University rose from N41 million to over N500 million. Edo State University received an allocation of N250 million.https://youtu.be/RJy0iMe2Igs
Isaiah also pointed to road construction projects across the state’s three senatorial districts, the flyover bridge at Ramat Park and healthcare interventions, including the state health insurance scheme.
“Over 500 roads are being constructed, completed and ongoing across the three senatorial districts in the state, alongside the flyover bridge at Ramat Park and healthcare interventions, especially the health insurance scheme,” he said.
These efforts, he added, are protecting the future of the state and giving it a better outlook.
Okpebholo nominated for Leadership Governor of the Year 2026 because of this broad performance across key sectors.
Governor’s Response
Responding, Governor Okpebholo expressed appreciation for the nomination. He said his administration’s work forms part of his commitment to public service.
“Welcome to Edo State. I am happy to see you, and thank you for bringing me good news. I see what I do as a way of life, and I am not doing something special,” the governor said.
“This is how I have been behaving before I contested. I am happy to continue to develop the state.
I am delighted with the award and so grateful, and pray for more strength to continue to work and do more for Edo people. I will be physically present on that day,” he added.
Okpebholo nominated for Leadership Governor of the Year 2026 and has confirmed he will attend the December 1 ceremony in Abuja. In the end, the recognition reflects the administration’s focus on security, education, infrastructure and healthcare for the people of Edo State.
