VP Shettima, Customs Boss Adeniyi, Dangote, Others Honored at Economic Confidential Awards
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s economic development.
VP Shettima was awarded the Economic Advisory Leadership accolade, while CG Adewale was named CEO of the Year in the public sector. Dangote, on the other hand, was awarded the CEO of the Year in the private sector.
The awards were presented during the second edition of the Economic Confidential lecture and book launch event, titled “Impactful Public Relations in Customs Management: The CG Wale Adeniyi Example”.
Dr. Sule Ya’u Sule, Chairman of the Board of Image Merchants Promotion (IMPR), the publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, lauded VP Shettima’s pivotal role in driving Nigeria’s economic growth and development under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“Through his leadership, the National Economic Council (NEC) has fostered collaboration, shaped policies to stimulate investment, and addressed key economic challenges, including revenue generation, unemployment, and diversification, providing strategic guidance to transform Nigeria’s economy,” Dr. Sule said.
Regarding CG Adewale, the Chairman highlighted his exceptional leadership in running the Nigerian Customs Service, leveraging strategic communication to drive revenue growth and enhance national security.
“His innovative strategies have boosted revenue, improved cargo clearance, and reduced smuggling, earning the Service numerous accolades and cementing its reputation as a model for effective communication and revenue generation,” Dr. Sule added.
Dangote, described as Africa’s leading entrepreneur and philanthropist, was recognized for his role in driving Nigeria’s economic growth through diversified investments under the Dangote Group.
“His investments in cement, sugar, flour, and oil refining have created jobs, enhanced industrial capacity, and transformed the construction and energy sectors. Dangote’s commitment to infrastructure and social responsibility has profoundly impacted Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape, earning him numerous accolades as a key driver of the nation’s economic development,” the Chairman stated.
Other award recipients included the Central Bank of Nigeria for Outstanding Interagency Collaboration, the FCT Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike for Outstanding Infrastructural Development, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State as Governor of the Year for Outstanding Infrastructural Development, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for Outstanding Revenue Generation, and Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, for Outstanding Strategic Communication.
In his remarks, VP Shettima, who was represented by Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr. Tope Fasua, commended the Image Merchants Promotion team for their consistency in research and investigative journalism. He emphasized the importance of effective communication in governance, particularly in the Information Age, and highlighted the Tinubu administration’s efforts to ensure a redistribution of income in favor of the most vulnerable.
The highlight of the occasion was the public lecture and book presentation by Kabir Abdulsalam and Maryam Na’Allah of PRNigeria, which was endorsed by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC).
