Three northern governors, including Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State, Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR of Kano State, are among the distinguished Nigerians selected to be honoured by an award of African Independents Zonal Publishers Leadership Award this year.

Organizers of the African Independents Zonal Publishers Leadership Award said the recognition and honour acknowledge and celebrate exemplary leadership that has a significant and positive impact on the nation's economy and thereby advances people's livelihoods.

Mr Julius Peter, the Zonal Coordinator, African Independents Zonal Publishers Leadership Award, in a statement, listed other beneficiaries of the award to include Dr Dikko Radda, the erstwhile Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Prof. Dickson Akor, the National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria, and Engr. Prof. M.S. Haruna, the Executive Vice and Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

Others are Engr. Nuruddeen Abdurrahman Rafindadi, the Managing Director, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Dr Hamid Bobboyi, Universal Basic Education (UBEC), Akinwumi Somefun, the Director-General, National Board for Technology Incubation, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, (NUC), Dr Inuwa Kashifu, the Director-General, National Information Technology Agency (NITDA), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Barrister Abubakar Aliyu Madaki, the Sole Administrator, Nasarawa State Waste Management Bureau, AIG Zone 5 Lawan Tanko Jimeta, comptroller of Customs Kaduna Area Command Mr Abubakar Hamisu, DG National Task Force of Nigeria, DG Abuja Chambers of commerce, DG Energy Commission of Nigeria, DG Legal Aid Council, Executive Chairman, Kuje Area Council, Executive Chairman Kwali Area Council and MD NSPC -NNPC.

Giving insights into the award, the Zonal Coordinator said the 2022 award was meant to spur the awardees to do more and encourage them always to do the right thing.

The statement, which was signed by Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, the Zonal Secretary of the organization, said the award would be presented to the awardees in their respective offices on the slated date.

Mrs Joy Kalu, the Country Director, said the award recognizes Nigeria's exceptional leaders and visionaries who are making an outstanding contribution in different fields of endeavours.

According to her, the award is given to those who have demonstrated high transparency and accountability in their field of endeavours.

Also, in the statement, Nduka Ugwu, the Head of the Organizing Committee for the programme, stated that the selected leaders had shown uncommon qualities in their various spheres of influence.

"They were particularly selected because they have demonstrated charisma as leaders with special grace to inspire people. We focus on highlighting special charisma that has stood out these beneficiaries for others to emulate."