Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has been named Governor of the Year at the 5th Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards, a prestigious event organised by Pacesetter Frontier Magazine to celebrate excellence in governance and national development.

The 2025 edition of the awards ceremony, held in Abuja, was chaired by the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, with the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, serving as co-chair.

Announcing Dr. Mbah as winner, the organisers said the honour was in recognition of his groundbreaking achievements within just two years in office—particularly his bold reforms aimed at repositioning Enugu’s economy and transforming the state into a leading investment destination in Nigeria.

Founder of Pacesetter Frontier Magazine, Onochie Igwesi, applauded Governor Mbah for “redefining the socioeconomic landscape of the Coal City” through visionary policies, aggressive infrastructure renewal, and a deliberate commitment to sustainable growth. He described Mbah as “one of the most impactful governors in Nigeria today” and “a maverick doubly certified to be ahead of his time.”

Igwesi noted that upon assumption of office, Mbah set an ambitious target of expanding Enugu’s GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion. According to him, early indicators show that the governor’s vision is already materialising, citing a recent BudgIT report which ranked Enugu as the most fiscally viable subnational government in Nigeria, with the strongest ability to operate independently of federal allocations.

Governor Mbah also received commendation for his decisive action in ending the Monday sit-at-home order enforced by non-state actors—an intervention widely credited with restoring normalcy, boosting economic activity, and reaffirming the authority of the state.

“Governor Mbah has revived and rehabilitated moribund state-owned assets,” the organisers stated, noting further that Enugu became the first state in Nigeria to fully assume control of its electricity market following the 2023 Electricity Act—another milestone attributed to Mbah’s proactive leadership.

Reflecting on the administration’s mantra, ‘Tomorrow is Here’, Igwesi said Mbah’s governance philosophy is anchored on transparency, traceability, and accountability. “In just two years, Enugu has caught a full glimpse of tomorrow—today,” he added.

Represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Liaison Office, Abuja, Barr. Chuks Ugwu, Governor Mbah expressed gratitude to Pacesetter Frontier Magazine for what he described as a demonstration of trust in his administration’s vision. He praised the magazine for its consistent role in promoting democracy and good governance.

The governor assured that the honour would further strengthen his resolve—and that of his team—to work even harder in sustaining the goodwill and confidence reposed in him by the people of Enugu State and Nigerians at large.