By Hussaini Ibrahim
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has been honoured with the BusinessDay Governor of the Year 2026 Award in recognition of his administration’s achievements in governance, economic development and investment promotion.
The governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, saying the award was presented at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum held at the Eko Hotel in Lagos.
According to the statement, Yusuf was recognised under the States Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA) for what BusinessDay described as his administration’s commitment to good governance, economic transformation and creating an enabling environment for investment.
The award was received on the governor’s behalf by the Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo, in the presence of senior government officials, business leaders and other dignitaries, including the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In his acceptance speech, delivered by Garo, Yusuf described the recognition as a reflection of the collective efforts of his administration to deliver people-centred governance and implement reforms aimed at repositioning Kano for sustainable growth.
“This recognition reflects the collective efforts of the Kano State Government in delivering people-centred governance and implementing reforms that have repositioned our state for sustainable growth,” the governor said.
He added, “The award will inspire us to deepen transparency, accountability and inclusive governance while delivering more development projects that improve the lives and livelihoods of our people.”
Yusuf said the recognition by one of Nigeria’s leading business newspapers underscored the impact of his administration’s investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, commerce, industrial development and social welfare.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Kano’s position as Northern Nigeria’s commercial hub through policies that promote investment, support small and medium-sized enterprises, modernise markets, enhance agricultural value chains and create employment opportunities for young people.
The governor dedicated the award to the people of Kano State, members of the State Executive Council, the legislature, judiciary, traditional and religious leaders, civil servants, development partners and the private sector for their contributions to the state’s development.
