New Telegraph Names Lawal Governor of the Year as Zamfara Records Wave of Landmark Projects

Barely 24 hours after clinching a similar honour in Abuja, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has again been recognised on the national stage, emerging as the New Telegraph Governor of the Year for Projects in acknowledgment of his administration’s far-reaching development initiatives.

The award was conferred at a high-profile ceremony held on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the Oriental Hotel, drawing political leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from across the country. The honour came just a day after Governor Lawal received the Governor of the Year Award from Leadership Newspaper, further reinforcing the growing recognition of his governance style and reform agenda.

Presenting the New Telegraph award were Olusegun Osoba, a former governor of Ogun State and elder statesman of the All Progressives Congress, and Orji Uzor Kalu, publisher of New Telegraph and former Abia State governor. The duo commended Lawal’s heavy investments in education, road infrastructure, agriculture, security, and human capacity development, describing the projects as critical to repositioning Zamfara for long-term growth.

According to the organisers, Governor Lawal was selected based on the scale, spread, and impact of projects executed across the state, as well as his emphasis on transparency, fiscal discipline, and strong budget performance, which they said have introduced a new governance benchmark in Zamfara.

In his remarks at the award dinner, Lawal recalled the central promises of his election campaign, which focused on pulling Zamfara out of years of infrastructural decay and administrative inefficiency. He noted that the state is now witnessing visible changes, with ongoing reforms aimed at building a more organised, responsive, and development-driven system.

The governor highlighted the ongoing overhaul of the civil service to boost efficiency and professionalism, alongside the deployment of technology to strengthen service delivery and accountability in government operations. He assured stakeholders that all ongoing projects would be completed in line with approved standards and timelines.

Reaffirming his resolve, Lawal said his administration remains committed to lifting Zamfara from its past challenges and steering it toward sustainable development anchored on the welfare and aspirations of its people.

He dedicated the award to the people of Zamfara, thanking them for their resilience, trust, and continued support, which he described as the driving force behind his determination to deliver a more prosperous and secure future for the state.