The Managing Custodian of the HOG Awards yesterday, during his briefing in Abuja, spoke on the reasons the Award Custodians nominated the Executive governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, the President-elect of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, former governor ok Kano State, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso. Others to be honored includes Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Ituah Ighodalo, Omolewa Ahmed, Sola Adekoya, Dayo Israel, Steve Onu (YAW), and the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Iheoma Nnadi. Special Guests of Honor include the Exdcutive Governor of Lagos, Akiwunmi Ambode , the Chairman of Unity Bank, Mr. Thomas Etuh, the Chairman of LIRS, Mr Babatunde Fowler and other distinguished Nigerians.

In his words: "We discover that the stories about our leaders are not so palatable and we pause and ponder and ask: ' is it that their is absolutely nothing good about the nation's leadership? But we found out that the major issue we have is corruption which has taken the shine off governance and also the persistent drop in the price of crude oil and our over dependence on the oil for sustenance, but if you look at the former President Jonathan's administration, regardless of any criticism against him, you would know that there was a significant development in Agriculture sector. With the policies put in place by Dr. Adesina, you find out that the sector has attracted investments that run to billions of Naira. That has also improved on our exports in the sector and even enhanced our local production of products such as rice."

On Governor Idris Wada, Ojenuwa said that one of the challenges some governors have is that they have not received commensurate publicity on many developmental strides they have ensured. "It is a fact that no single governor can solve all the problems of a state as the work of government is unending. What is unique about Governor Wada is that he deviated from the usual practice of our politicians which is erasing all that their predecessors in office have done and start theirs afresh. He simply continued to build on what his predecessor in office has done and he is improving greatly on them. I think this is just the way governance should be run."

Wada, according to him, also initiated new projects on infrastructural developments across the length and breadth of Kogi State. He has also encouraged agriculture in the state by giving incentives to local farmers in form of grants and others. Governor Wada is also empowering the youths of his state massively and securing their future. He has developed the health and tourism sector also. The governor has also been in the fore front of advocating government's attention on the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Mill and that took a special attention in the CONFAB. "Such a man deserves the HOG's Governor of the Year award," said Ojenuwa.

Former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso is receiving a very special award because of his uncommon developmental strides when he was governor of Kano State. As Ojenuwa put it: "He has many of his achievements littered all over the state and you could hardly award him on a particular area alone because he has touched on all area of development in the state. The ex-governor has more than an hundred commissioned projects in Kano State. This is besides his favourable policies that have also promoted laudable developments in the state. Kwankwaso is an example of a 21st century political leader that anyone aspiring to be a governor should emulate. He had utilised the available resources of his state judiciously."

On Sam Nda-Isaiah, Ojenuwa told journalists that the Leadership deserves a commendation for his uncommon emergence as a successful media guru from a humble background. "He has made this possible through sheer determination, hardwork and resilience. His desire for excellence in all he does has taken him this far and so he is an inspiration to many."

Ojenuwa continued: "Otunba Gbenga Daniel did all he could to ensure that there is industrialisation in the Ogun State when he was governor. He also made possible some infrastructural developments in the state. He attracted investments that improved on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the state."

On the wife of the Kwara State governor: "With her NGO, LEAH foundation, First Lady Omolewa Ahmed of Kwara State, has continued to bring hope to the hopeless in Kwara State. Many indigent students who have not been able to go to school have been helped by her foundation to start schooling. She has done this by sourcing for grants for them. She has also ensured that free cancer diagnosis and treatment get to people of Kwara State through her partnership with health bodies. She has also been empowering Kwara women economically and making them resourceful at home and we think that with all these she deserves a commendation."

Ojenuwa revealed further: "One unique thing about the choice of Ituah Igodalo is the fact that he's given to humanity. This has made him succeed greatly as a cleric and administrator. Today, he has more than 13 NGOs that take care of several human needs. We have Mr. Thomas Etuh, Chairman of Unity Bank, a financial institution devoted to developing Agriculture, gracing the occasion as Special Adviser and a point to note about Mr.Etuh is that he is also a commercial farmer."