19 govs nominated as BusinessDay holds awards for top investment-ready states

BusinessDay Media Limited has officially opened nominations for the 2026 edition of the States Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA), unveiling a list of 19 State governors whose administrations have been put forward in the race to be recognised among Nigeria’s most investment-ready subnational economies.

The announcement marks the commencement of a nationwide evaluation process designed to identify States that are translating policy reforms into measurable economic outcomes, with a strong emphasis on data, transparency, and investor relevance.

According to the organisers, SCIRA is a data-driven, evidence-based platform developed to assess how effectively States are positioning themselves as viable destinations for capital, partnerships, and sustainable growth.

The awards are open to all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with nominations drawn from Government institutions, private sector operators, development partners, and the general public.

Among the governors nominated are Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State and Babagana Zulum of Borno State.

Others include Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

Also on the list are Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Douye Diri of Bayelsa State.

BusinessDay states that the nomination process is open and inclusive, allowing multiple submissions for each State, provided they are supported by verifiable data. All entries will undergo a rigorous validation process conducted by its Research and Intelligence Unit to ensure credibility and comparability.

States will be assessed across nine core pillars of competitiveness, including internally-generated revenue growth, foreign direct investment attraction, ease of doing business, infrastructure quality, healthcare systems, education and human capital development, agriculture and agro-industrial performance, tourism and creative economy, as well as fiscal transparency.

The organisers emphasised that SCIRA goes beyond ceremonial recognition, positioning itself as a strategic platform that converts governance performance into credible investment signals. By aligning policy outcomes with investor expectations, the initiative aims to guide capital flows towards States demonstrating fiscal discipline, institutional capacity, and economic resilience.

The evaluation framework combines quantitative performance data, policy execution indicators, and real economic impact metrics such as job creation, productivity gains, and inclusion. Shortlisted States will be contacted for further documentation and validation before final selections are made.

The nomination window, which opened on February 2, 2026 is followed by a validation and review phase, followed with the awards ceremony set to hold on April 16, 2026.

BusinessDay notes that in an increasingly competitive economic environment, subnational reputation has become a critical factor in attracting investment, adding that SCIRA is designed to provide a trusted benchmark for investors, development partners, and policymakers seeking credible insights into Nigeria’s evolving economic landscape.