The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has been named the 2025 Blueprint Newspapers Person of the Year.
The award was announced by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Blueprint Newspapers, Salisu Umar, on Tuesday in Abuja at the newspaper’s Annual Public Lecture, Impact Series and Awards Ceremony held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.
Umar said; “Yilwatda was recognised for his contributions to the development of the country, particularly his leadership of the ruling party over the past year.”
According to him, Yilwatda’s leadership has been marked by an inclusive and result-oriented approach to party administration, including efforts to promote internal cohesion, strengthen party structures and ensure stability.
He said; “the recognition was reserved for eminent Nigerians who had made significant contributions to the country.”
Other recipients of the 2025 Blueprint Awards include Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah; Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas; Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi; and Cross River State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu.
Former Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar; former Zamfara State Governor, Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar; Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, James Faleke; and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, were also among the award recipients.
Umar urged the recipients to see the recognition as motivation to increase their contributions to national development.
He said; “the selection committee considered contributions to nation-building and socio-economic development in choosing the awardees from diverse backgrounds.”
“The recognition accorded you today will serve as an impetus to do more in your respective endeavours,” Umar said.
The event also featured a public lecture on “Security Challenges and Integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 Elections.”
Umar said the theme was selected to address national security concerns and stimulate discussion on threats that could undermine the electoral process.
He identified kidnapping, banditry, violent extremism, cyber threats, misinformation, political violence and attacks on electoral infrastructure and personnel among the threats to the integrity of the 2027 elections.
Umar said; “the annual event, which began in 2018, was established to provide a platform for discussing issues of national interest and recognising Nigerians who had demonstrated leadership and impact in the public and private sectors.”
He also announced the expansion of Blueprint Newspapers into radio broadcasting with the launch of Blueprint Radio on FM 105.3.
According to him, the station began operations in the second quarter of 2026 and currently broadcasts in Hausa.
, Nentawe Yilwatda, has been named the 2025 Blueprint Newspapers Person..){kind=link}