Uzodimma Named 2026 Sun Newspaper Man of the Year
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Grace Chidimma Ibe
OWERRI, IMO STATE — Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has been named The Sun Newspaper Man of the Year for 2026, following a formal notification by the management of The Sun Publishing Limited.
Uzodimma disclosed the recognition in a statement, saying he was formally notified by a delegation from The Sun Newspaper led by its Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh.
The governor described the recognition as an acknowledgment of the developmental efforts of his administration and said it would further motivate him to intensify efforts towards the development of Imo State.
According to Uzodimma, the award reflects the collective efforts of the people of the state and the progress recorded under his administration's Shared Prosperity Agenda.
“Our efforts in the transformation of our dear State have continued to receive the admiration of lovers of good works, and this has been deeply motivating as I strive to deliver even more on our collective journey of developing Imo State,” the governor said.
He added that the recognition was “a reflection of the collective efforts of our people and the progress we have continued to make under our Shared Prosperity Agenda.”
The 2026 Sun Awards are scheduled to be held in November, earlier than the newspaper’s traditional January timing because of the 2027 general elections. The Sun Publishing Limited announced the 2026 awardees on September 21, identifying Uzodimma as the recipient of the Man of the Year award.
The recognition adds to a series of awards and honours previously received by the governor from media organisations, professional bodies and other institutions.
In April 2025, Vanguard Newspapers honoured Uzodimma with the 2024 Vanguard Governor of the Year Award in the area of good governance and infrastructure.
Vanguard reported that the award was presented at the 2024 Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards in Lagos.
Uzodimma had also previously been named The Sun Governor of the Year for 2021. The Sun reported that the award recognised his administration after about two years in office.
In August 2024, the governor received the Michael Okpara Leadership Prize, Premier’s Grand Prize, Gold Plaque Category, for good governance. The award organisers cited his vision and programmes for governance and development in Imo State.
Other documented recognitions include the 2024 Digital Governor of the Year Award presented at the National Information Technology Merit Awards organised by the Nigeria Computer Society. Independent Newspapers reported that Uzodimma was recognised for his administration’s digital development initiatives.
In July 2023, The Guardian also reported that Uzodimma won the Most Innovative Digital Governor of the Year at the 19th Titans of Tech Africa Awards, while Imo State was recognised as the Most Innovative Digital State of the Year.
The governor was also conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by the Federal Government in May 2023. Vanguard reported that the honour was approved by then-President Muhammadu Buhari.
With the 2026 Sun Newspaper Man of the Year recognition, Uzodimma joins a new list of individuals and organisations selected by The Sun for their reported contributions across governance, public service, business, security, entertainment, sports and philanthropy.
The 2026 Sun Awards are expected to bring together government officials, business leaders, professionals and other stakeholders when the ceremony takes place later this year.
