KATSINA, Nigeria, Feb. 11, 2026
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has been nominated in two categories for the 2025 Independent Newspapers Awards, according to a statement issued by the Government House in Katsina on Tuesday.
Independent Newspapers Limited, publishers of Daily Independent, Saturday Independent, and Sunday Independent, announced the nominations on Sunday following what it described as a rigorous internal review by its Board of Editors.
Radda was nominated in the Outstanding Governor of the Year category, defined by the organisers as a governor “who combines vision, passion, dedication, and courage to make the lives of the people of their state better.”
Other nominees in that category include Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State.
The Katsina governor was also nominated for the Education Reformer Governor award, which recognises a governor credited with transforming the education sector through policy reforms, infrastructure investment and innovative learning initiatives.
He will compete in that category with Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, Professor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, and Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State.
According to the Board of Editors, some governors performed strongly across key sectors and were nominated in more than one category.
The organisers said the nominations followed weeks of submissions from Nigerians who put forward individuals and corporate organisations from the public and private sectors across 25 categories for their performance in 2025.
Public voting is scheduled to begin on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, starting with the Business Leader of the Year category.
The awards ceremony is set for Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, where the winner of the Man of the Year award will also be announced. The award recognises the individual adjudged to have excelled across multiple fields and made significant impact during the period under review.
The statement was signed by Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Katsina State.
