The crème de la crème of Lagos politics and governance stepped into the spotlight at the star-studded Eko Mi Awards, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led pack of high-flying recipients being celebrated for transforming Nigeria’s commercial capital.
The prestigious red-carpet affair at Eko Hotels saw the state’s power players swap their usual official attire for designer agbadas and flowing gowns as they collected accolades for outstanding public service.
Sanwo-Olu walked away with the night’s top honor – the Infrastructure Titan award – for his administration’s sweeping road construction spree and ambitious transportation overhaul including the Blue Line rail project.
Not to be outdone, federal lawmaker James Faleke had the crowd cheering when he scooped the Grassroots Hero prize for his much-talked-about empowerment programs in Ikeja constituency. The awards committee saved special recognition for two of the governor’s star appointees – Home Affairs Commissioner AbdulHakeem Wahab, hailed as the bridge-builder between Lagos’ diverse faiths, and housing czarina Toke Benson-Awoyinka, whose affordable home initiatives are changing lives.
As Fuji legend K1 Ultimate pumped up the VIP crowd with his classic hits, observers noted how the glitzy ceremony doubled as a show of strength for the Sanwo-Olu administration’s key players ahead of the next election cycle. Each awardee used their acceptance speech to recount their achievements while dropping hints about bigger plans in the pipeline for Lagosians.
The governor struck a statesmanlike note in his remarks, dedicating his trophy to “the hardworking people of Lagos who make our progress possible.” But the real buzz came afterward when recipients posed for photos with Nollywood A-listers and business moguls who turned the afterparty into a who’s-who of Lagos high society.