Investment Surge, CSRs & Leadership: Why Akume, Sule & Lawal Lead 2025 MMS Hall of Fame Awards
Nasarawa’s industrial leap, Zamfara’s economic renewal, and SGF Akume’s institutional track record set the stage for the 2025 Hall of Fame honours.
When the 2025 MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame convenes on 20 November at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, three honourees stand out not just for accolade-making, but for measurable business impact: Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); Engr. Abdullahi Sule, Governor of Nasarawa State; and Dauda Lawal, Governor of Zamfara State.
Their recognition signals a shift where governors are being judged on investment traction and social value creation, and the distinguished SGF for his leadership depth.
George Akume’s journey from civil service officer to Governor of Benue (1999-2007), then Senator (2007-2019) and now Secretary to the Government of the Federation (since June 2023) shows institutional mastery.
Profiles credit him with creating platforms for younger leaders and stabilising his party’s footprint in the North-Central region. His role now involves coordinating federal-state policy and monitoring implementation across ministries and agencies.
For the business community, Akume’s recognition signals that leadership at the top levels is seeing the macro-economic and institutional link: ensuring policy coherence, improving governance frameworks and providing the oversight that underpins investment confidence.
One of Akume’s glowing mentees and stalwart, is the high-performing Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Akutah Pius, MON.
In Nasarawa, Governor Sule has engineered a transformation in Nasarawa’s revenue and investment profile. Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) jumped from N7.7 billion in 2019 to over N20 billion annually.
On the foreign direct investment (FDI) front, Nasarawa clinched a US$200 million Chinese investment for a lithium-processing factory. Two additional lithium plants were announced in November 2025.
Sule’s administration is also targeting debt-free governance: by March 2025 he announced the settlement of over N57 billion in inherited liabilities and pledged no new borrowings.
His exploits also include; industrialisation via mineral value-chain development, higher self-reliance via IGR growth, and prudent fiscal management – all these align with the Hall of Fame theme of “Sustainability, Women and Leadership with Technologies.”
In Zamfara, Governor Lawal’s benchmark for intervention-led growth is already visible. A World Bank-backed programme, SABER, is deploying over N1 billion in grants to nano, small and medium enterprises in Zamfara.
Earlier in April 2025, the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce honoured Lawal for “supporting commerce in agriculture, prioritising healthcare, education and empowerment initiatives” in a state emerging from multi-year insecurity.
Additionally, CSR partnerships are piling up: in November 2024, the state government disclosed that an international bank was renovating schools under CSR while noting that Lawal’s first 17 months “surpass over 20 years of previous administrations”.
For investors, this signals a pivot from risk-ridden perception to actionable policy and business enablement — exactly the kind of leadership the MMS Hall of Fame looks to spotlight.
Why these awards matter
In an environment where investment decisions hinge on governance signals as much as on raw opportunity, the MMS Hall of Fame honours send a clear message:
States that deliver measurable fiscal and investment outcomes (Nasarawa) get recognised.
States that drive inclusive growth, CSR and business enabling reforms (Zamfara) get recognised.
Officials that show leadership across tenure, build institutions and mentor successors (Akume) get recognised.
For corporations, investors and development partners, these recognitions elevate the profile of emerging competitive states and officials and put a spotlight on where business-friendly governance is evolving.
While Governor Sule’s name will be attached to Nigeria’s next-gen mining and clean-energy hub development, strong IGR growth and debt-conscious governance; Governor Lawal’s name will be tied to a fresh narrative for Zamfara: from insecurity-shadow to business-enabler, driven by SME capital injection, CSR partnerships and service delivery.
SGF Akume’s name will be linked to the deep-tables of governance: institutional stewardship, mentorship of political-economic actors, and policy operationalisation.
Together, this triumvirate reflects what modern leadership in Nigeria needs: investment-readiness + social inclusion + institutional integrity. The MMS Hall of Fame is recognising the shift.
Other honorees include Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, First Lady of Bauchi State; Hajia Zainab Nasare Nasir Idris, First Lady of Kebbi State; and Dr. Dili Ezughah, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council;Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka, CEO, Project E; Dr. Faisal Shua’ib, former Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care; Hon. Tijani Aliyu Ahmed,CEO,National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons(NCFRMI); and Hajia Aisha Atiku-Bagudu, who will be crowned MMS Hall of Fame Face of Northern Women.
The event also marks 13 years of the MMS Hall of Fame legacy, known for spotlighting leadership excellence and inspiring impact-driven governance in both public and private sectors.
2025 MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame inductees also include;Chief Mrs. Faustina Ngozi Egbunike, Founder, Faustina Egbunike Foundation; Amb. Mrs. Jane Ogo Egbo, Founder, Paradise Mission for Widows and Teenage Girls; and Dr. Ngozi Azodoh, Senior Special Adviser on Health to the Abia State Governor; Hajiya Sa’adatu Husssaini Agade,former Permanent Secretary; Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq, Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy; High Chief Dr. Rosevivian Chigekwu, CEO, Happiest Soaring Eagle Entrepreneur Academy; Hajia Maryam Ciroma, former Minister of Women Affairs, and Dr. Stella Iwuagwu,CEO, Centre for the Right to Health.
Others include,.Mrs. Aloysius Faithhope, Maritime Marketing/Logistics Specialist; Prof.Elizabeth Ugo, Faculty of Education, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State; Engr. Mrs. Adedolapo Helen,CEO, Magnificent Works; Amb. Aisha Mahmoud, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigeria-Russia Trade and Investment Advisory Council.
The programme will feature a morning summit with two thought-provoking panel sessions and an induction ceremony, followed by an evening segment dedicated to the Leadership-Impact and SDGs Awards Night.
According to the organising chairperson, Amb. Nana Aisha Mahmoud, this year’s edition is designed to “intentionally promote sustainability in gender diversity across critical sectors of the economy,and the inclusion of technology in alternative and informal education, while encouraging stronger participation of northern Nigerian women in socio-economic and political development.”
She noted that addressing the challenges limiting women’s access to education and empowerment is central to the 2025 focus, aligning with the broader UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Among the corporate Awardees are, Skelas Group; LTT Coastal and Marine Services Limited; Nigerian Shippers’ Council(NSC); Tyse Group.
His Royal Highness(HRH) Hon. Justice (Dr.) Sidi Bage Muhammed 1 CFR(JSC Rtd), Life Bencher, Emir of Nasarawa State, Father of the Day.
Speakers and guests of honours include; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola;Dr. Ifenyinwa Ogbonna-Nwaogu, Faculty of Social Sciences, NOUN, Abuja, Keynote Speaker; Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs; Sen.Ireti Kingibe,Senate Committee Chair on Women Affairs; Mr.Obed Levite, CEO, Hashtag Digital Limited;Dr. Mohammed Sani Idris, Executive Secretary/CEO, National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of -School Children’s Education(NCAOOSCE); Charles Odii, Director General/ CEO, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN).
Other speakers are, Dr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah, Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council(NSC); Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA); Chief Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa, Chief Host;Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, Founder/CEO, MMS WoFHoF Initiative, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, DG/CEO, NIMASA,among others.
