By Adeola Ogunlade
The Governor of Kogi State, Governor Yaya Bello has been overwhelmingly voted as the Outstanding Governor in Response and Management of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 in Nigeria.
Founder/Executive Director, African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention, Ambassador Chris lbe, said this in a statement made available to Sunrise News on Tuesday, after AYICRIP’s 11th Annual Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting of which held on Saturday at Ibis Hotel, Airport Road, Lagos,
While addressing newsmen in Lagos, Ibe said the award is an appreciation and recognition of Governor Yahaya Bello’s commitment and outstanding contributions in the global fight against COVID-19 pandemic and insecurity in Nigeria.
He noted that AYICRIP which is an organisation with the United Nations ECOSOC Status Accreditation and with focus on youth development and crime prevention in the African continent arrived at this decision after analyzing the response and management approach adopted by different governors of the federation during the national lockdown.
He stressed that it was realised that through his approach in responding to the pandemic, Kogi State was adjudged the less traumatised state during the lockdown with few number of COVID 19 cases in Nigeria.
“Governor Yahaya Bello defeated three other finalists amongst the nominees (Governor Nasiru El-rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers) to emerge winner after rigorous selection process”, he said.