Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has been selected as one of the recipients of the 2026 Silverbird Governors of the Year Award in recognition of his leadership, achievements and contributions to societal development.
The governor formally accepted the recognition on Tuesday when he received a delegation from the Silverbird Group at the Government House in Benin City.
The delegation, led by the Business Manager of Silverbird Communications, Mr Andy Bello, presented an official invitation letter on behalf of the group’s Executive Management and Editorial Board.
Speaking during the visit, Bello said Okpebholo was selected because of his administration’s performance, particularly in tackling insecurity and restoring public confidence in the safety of lives and property across Edo State.
He explained that the Silverbird Awards were designed to recognise individuals whose leadership and service had made significant contributions to their areas of responsibility, stressing that the honour was based on excellence and measurable achievements rather than political positions or titles.
Bello particularly commended the governor’s approach to tackling cult-related killings, kidnapping and other criminal activities, noting that Edo State had witnessed significant improvements in security under his administration.
According to him, the governor’s efforts in securing lives and property, alongside infrastructure development and the payment of workers’ salaries, distinguished his administration.
He described Okpebholo’s security strategy as a model worthy of academic study and said it could serve as a reference point for other states.
Bello further disclosed that the 2026 edition of the Silverbird Man of the Year Awards would mark the 20th anniversary of the prestigious ceremony, describing the milestone as a reflection of the organisation’s consistency, resilience and growth.
He also acknowledged the contributions of Silverbird Group founder, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, whose vision, he said, had established a platform for celebrating outstanding Nigerians across the public and private sectors.
In his response, Governor Okpebholo expressed delight over the recognition, describing it as an indication that the efforts of his administration, particularly in security and development, were receiving attention and appreciation.
“I am highly delighted to receive you, not just because you have come to present an award, but because I am happy that the little efforts we are making are yielding results,” the governor said.
Okpebholo also recalled his longstanding admiration for the Silverbird Group and its founder, Murray-Bruce, describing the recognition as a special honour.
Although he admitted that he was not particularly enthusiastic about awards, the governor said the recognition meant a lot to him and confirmed that his administration’s activities and achievements were being closely monitored.
“Although I am not someone who believes much in awards, this particular recognition is an honour to me, and I wholeheartedly accept it,” he stated.
The governor assured the visiting delegation that he would personally attend the award ceremony scheduled to hold in Lagos on November 16.
He subsequently thanked the Silverbird Group for considering him worthy of the recognition.
