The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has assured Nigerians of more developments and civilisation in the country in 2025.

Wike added that the time for excuses has gone.

He stated this while speaking on Monday night after he emerged as the Minister of the Year at ThisDay Award 2025.

He thanked the convener of the award, who is also the Publisher of ThisDay Newspaper and Chairman of Arise Television, Nduka Obaigbena, for the opportunity.

“I want to assure all those who do their businesses in Nigeria that this year, 2025, we will see more developments and more infrastructure, and that is what is basic for us; we do not have time for excuses; the time for excuses has gone I thank all Nigerians,” he said.

The River State former governor said that the award has shown that Obaigbena is not biased.

“Let me use this opportunity to say thank you, you have shown that you are not biased. You did the right thing; otherwise, Nigerians would have said you did partiality. I am sure everyone here is happy that I am the minister of the year, it is for everyone,” he said.

Wike thanked President Bola Tinubu for allowing him to contribute to the development of Nigeria.

“I thank the president for giving us the opportunity, if the president didn’t give us the opportunity we may not be here to contribute the little we contribute,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zenith Bank PLC emerged as the winner in the Bank of the Year category, while Access Bank won the Global Bank of the Year.

The Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, Adaora Umoji while thanking ThisDay Newspaper for the recognition, dedicated the award to the customers and staff members of the bank.

Umoji also thanked the Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia for the opportunity to thrive.

The convener of the award, Obaigbena, said, “It is a privilege to honour the best of Nigerians because we believe if we honour the best our children will be better.”

Other recipients of the award included Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, which emerged as Company of the Year, and MTN, which emerged as Brand of the Year. Shell Nigeria PLC emerged as Investor of the Year.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Providous Bank, Walter Akpani, won the Banker of the Year, while Senator Adams Oshiomole and Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan both won Senators of the Year.

The Publisher of The Guardian Newspaper, Maiden Ibru, and the Chairman of Fidelity Bank PLC, Mustapha Chike-Obi, both received the Lifetime Achievers Award.

Source: The Punch