Governor of the Year 2025: Tgnews Praises Lawal’s The Sun Award for Good Governance

By Emmanuel Kwada 

Zamfara State Governor, His Excellency Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare, has been awarded the prestigious ‘Best Governor of the Year 2025′ by The Sun Newspaper, a leading Nigerian media outlet.

The accolade recognises his administration’s remarkable strides in good governance, service delivery, and sectoral reforms despite significant security and economic challenges inherited upon assuming office.

The award was presented to Governor Lawal on Saturday, January 31, 2026, during the Sun Awards ceremony held at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, in Lagos.

The event, organised by The Sun Publishing Limited, celebrates excellence and honours individuals and leaders who have made outstanding contributions to national development and their respective domains.

According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the recognition highlights Governor Lawal’s leadership style and the tangible achievements of his administration since inauguration on May 29, 2023.

The statement emphasised that the governor has remained steadfast in fulfilling his “Rescue Agenda” to rebuild Zamfara State, even after inheriting a depleted treasury.

Key highlights of the administration’s performance cited in the statement include security as a top priority, with billions of Naira invested over the past two years to enhance safety and stability in the state, notable progress in health, education, infrastructure, economy, and workers’ welfare and empowerment.

The statement further noted that these accomplishments have positioned the administration on the right track, with the award serving as a morale booster to intensify efforts toward sustainable good governance.

Adding to the commendations, TGNEWS, a prominent media platform, hailed the governor for the well-deserved honour. In a statement, TGNEWS Publisher, Mr Tom Garba described the award as fitting, given Governor Lawal’s impressive achievements in a short period despite persistent security hurdles.

He specifically praised the governor’s deliveries in infrastructure, education, health, and human development sectors.

The recognition comes on the heels of other positive indicators for Zamfara’s governance, including the state’s emergence as the top-performing state in the North West zone in the Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge in December 2025.

Governor Lawal’s award underscores growing acknowledgment of his administration’s focused interventions in turning around one of Nigeria’s most challenged states, reinforcing a narrative of resilience, prudent management, and people-centered leadership.

This latest honour is expected to further motivate the Zamfara State government as it continues its rescue and rebuilding mission for the benefit of residents.