Yusuf bags BusinessDay’s governor of the year in good governance

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, has emerged BusinessDay Governor of the Year 2025, earning national recognition for reforms aimed at improving governance, strengthening Kano’s economy, and positioning the State as a preferred investment destination.

The award was presented on Thursday at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, where the Kano governor was honoured under the States’ Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA).

Frank Aigbogun, Publisher of BusinessDay and Chairman of BDTV, said Governor Yusuf was selected in recognition of his administration’s commitment to good governance, economic transformation, and the creation of an enabling environment for investments.

Aigbogun noted that the award reflected the strides recorded by the Kano State Government in enhancing competitiveness, improving the business climate and implementing policies designed to attract local and foreign investments.

The event attracted senior Government officials both at the federal and state levels business leaders and key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, including Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Yemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, CEO, HBM Nigeria PLC; Karl Toriola, CEO MTN Nigeria PLC and other prominent personalities.

Murtala Sule Garo, Deputy Governor of Kano State, received the award on behalf of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, describing the honour as a recognition of the collective efforts of his administration in delivering people-centred governance and implementing reforms that had repositioned Kano State for sustainable economic growth.

He said the recognition by BusinessDay, one of Nigeria’s leading business and economic newspapers, validates the state’s investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, commerce, industrial development, and social welfare.

Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to consolidating Kano’s status as the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria through policies that encourage investment, strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises, modernise markets, expand agricultural value chains, and create employment opportunities for young people.

He dedicated the award to the people of Kano State, members of the State Executive Council, the Legislature, the Judiciary, traditional and religious institutions, civil servants, development partners, and the private sector for their contributions to the State’s development.

Governor Yusuf added that the recognition would further motivate his administration to deepen transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance while delivering more projects aimed at improving the livelihoods of residents across the State.