Top personalities such as Group Managing Director and CEO of Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti, Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke, Nigeria Railway Corporation chairman and PDP stalwart, Bamanga Tukur were among others who received the 2013 Zik Prize in the Professional Leadership category at an award ceremony organized by the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC) recently.
Responding on his award, Dr. Otti said, “The shoes of the late Dr. Azikiwe cannot be filled, so we are only trying our best to follow in his footsteps. Like Chief Anyaoku noted, the current situation whereby we spend about 80% of our national revenue on recurrent expenditure leaving very little for capital investment is unsustainable. This is why we continue to face problems of youth restiveness, among others.
Other awardees include Ibrahim Dankwambo, Governor of Gombe State; and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Governor of Edo State. Aare Afe Babalola, Founder, Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD); Dr ABC Orjiako, CEO, SEPCOL; Dr. Ernest Obiejesi, GMD of NestoilPlc and Ms. Evelyn Oputu, former MD/CEO, Bank of Industry.