Aburime Receives National Excellence Award in Strategic Communication, Public Service

The Chief Press Secretary to Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Christian Aburime, has received the National Excellence Award in Strategic Communication and Public Service at the 10th National Leadership Integrity and Development Summit and Awards 2026.

The award was presented at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, during the high-profile event organised by the Centre for Ethical Conduct Orientation and Empowerment (CECOE) in partnership with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.

The summit, which commemorated Nigeria’s 66th anniversary, was held under the theme, “Making Nigeria Work, Through Trusted Leadership, Working Institutions, Economic Growth, Sustainable Development and National Security.”

Aburime, who was unable to attend the ceremony personally, was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media Productions, Mr. Ejike Abana.

While receiving the award on his behalf, Abana said Aburime dedicated the recognition to Governor Soludo and the people of Anambra State.

The award is in recognition of Aburime’s contribution to strategic communication and public service, particularly in his role as the principal media aide to the Anambra State governor.

The summit brought together public officials, policymakers, business leaders, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to examine the challenges confronting Nigeria and the measures required to strengthen national development.

Opening the discussions, the Executive Director of CECOE, Dr. Owah David, challenged Nigerians to confront the fundamental question of what must be done to make the country work.

He noted that the aspiration for a prosperous and functional Nigeria was embedded in the vision behind the country’s independence, stressing that national progress could not be achieved through wishes alone but required deliberate and sustained action.

According to him, the task of building a better Nigeria demands responsible leadership, effective institutions and citizens who are prepared to contribute meaningfully to national development.

The Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, similarly emphasised the importance of building strong institutions capable of sustaining national development beyond individual leaders.

Olowo argued that while capable leadership remained important, lasting development could only be achieved when leadership was supported by institutions that function effectively and transparently.

He further stressed that sustainable development must be measured by tangible improvements in the quality of life of citizens, rather than by policies and programmes that produce little measurable impact.

He called for transparency and accountability to become part of the country's everyday governance culture rather than practices that receive attention only during public events or when controversies arise.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide, who co-chaired the event, also spoke on the theme, “Making Nigeria Work: Leadership, Institutions and Citizens; Our Collective Responsibility.”

Abejide maintained that making Nigeria work required not only reforms in government but also a fundamental change in the attitude and disposition of citizens towards national development.

He commended some of the reforms undertaken by the President Bola Tinubu administration, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and the redirection of resources towards productive sectors of the economy.

According to him, the reforms are gradually positioning Nigeria for greater manufacturing activity and increased foreign direct investment.

The lawmaker stressed that the responsibility for national transformation could not be placed entirely on government, arguing that citizens, institutions, businesses and political leaders all had roles to play in building a more productive and prosperous country.

The summit therefore provided a platform for discussions on leadership, institutional effectiveness, economic growth, national security and sustainable development, with participants stressing the need for collective action to address the country's longstanding challenges.

For Aburime, the national recognition adds to his profile as a government spokesman responsible for communicating the policies, programmes and activities of the Anambra State administration under Governor Soludo.

His position requires him to translate government policies into messages that can be understood by citizens while also managing the relationship between the state government and the media.

The recognition of the Anambra governor's chief press secretary at a national platform also underscores the growing importance of strategic communication in public administration, particularly at a time when governments increasingly depend on effective communication to explain policies, counter misinformation and maintain public engagement.

The organisers said the National Leadership Integrity and Development Summit and Awards was designed to promote conversations around ethical leadership, institutional development and national progress while recognising individuals whose contributions align with the objectives of responsible public service and national development.