Awka – The immediate past President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Transcorps Plc, Valentine Ozigbo has revealed that he resigned from his leading role in the company to dedicate his life to public service.
Ozigbo, who is a leading governorship aspirant in the forthcoming Anambra State elections, was speaking after he bagged the Outstanding Achievement in Transformational Leadership Award at the 2020 edition of the People of the Year Awards.
The Award is an annual event organized by Business Hallmark Group, publishers of Hallmark Newspapers, where awards are given to individuals who have exhibited uncommon enterprise, leadership, and excellence.
The 2020 edition was held at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The top honours of the event, the ‘Man of the Year’ Award, was given to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who was represented at the event by the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Ipalibo Banigo.
Other award recipients were the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu, the Director-General of NCDC, Dr Chike Ihekwe, the Group Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo and the Managing Director of Britania-U Nigeria Limited, Barr Mrs Uju Ifejika, who were awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award in Grassroot Leadership and Public Service, Banker of the Year, and Entrepreneur of the Year, respectively.
Chairman on the occasion, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who was a former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, while presenting the award to Ozigbo, showered him with glowing encomiums, affirming his confidence in his transformational leadership abilities.
“This is the kind of man that is needed to fill the leadership void in the country,” Anyim said.
In his acceptance speech, Ozigbo revealed that being so honoured gave him a sense of validation, especially as it is coming from the Business Hallmark.
According to him, the reputation of the brand and the scrutiny that award recipients usually go through, make the awards worth it.
Ozigbo who spoke briefly about his recent decision to quit his role at Transcorp Plc, made it clear that he resigned from the top of the corporate ladder to dedicate the next chapter of his life to public service.
According to the philanthropist and founder of the Valentine Chineto Ozigbo Foundation, he is presenting himself to the people of Anambra state so they could achieve the greatness they have always yearned for.
“I am stepping out into an arena which many regard as ‘the murky waters’ and many people close to me are perplexed why I would leave a plush job for politics. My answer is that I am pulled by the belief that Nigeria is a great country and we need to close the leadership gap to actualize our dreams urgently.
”I believe I have the leadership content needed to bring a positive transformation to my people, and that is why I am running for the office of Governor of Anambra State in 2021. This award encourages me and tells me I am on the right path. So I am grateful,” Ozigbo added.
