Leadership Rating: Makinde, Eno Top Lists as Most Loved, Most Inspiring Governors

•Oyo gov promises to partner US on investments, education, others

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Pastor Umo Eno, have topped the chart as Nigeria’s “most loved” and “most inspiring” governors, according to the 2024 leadership survey report released by the Nigeria Social Media Week Group (NSG) yesterday.

NSG Team lead for 2025, Dr. Mark Audu, in a statement at the end of Q1, 2025 roundtable meeting held in Abuja, 2025, said the survey “focused on public perception rating of the 36 state governors in the country independently polled online from respondents drawn mainly from among youth enquiry clusters across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.”

The 2024 leadership perception report showed that Makinde retained his 2023 NSG rating as the “Most Loved’ and “Most Admired” Governor in the country, holding the voting lead as “the friendliest, most accessible and most nationally recognised governor among Nigerians” according to the cross-country rating index.

Respondent voted Makinde as the most resourceful governor in Nigeria with most points scored on the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub and key infrastructure projects boosting local and international attention and investments with corresponding leap in business, job opportunities and economic growth in Oyo State.

According to the report, most respondents voted Akwa Ibom State, Eno as the “Most Inspiring” Governor in 2024 as he topped the table on “leadership stability, resilience, encouragement and inspiring of hope especially in the face of very trying situations.”

The report showed that Eno scored the highest points on youth mentorship, coaching, networking, entrepreneurship, education support even beyond his state in addition to development projects delivery under his ARISE Agenda.

Respondents acknowledged Eno’s display of courage and resilience in his duties as governor even while mourning the devastating death of his dearly beloved wife, Pastor Patience Umo Eno.  

Meanwhile, Makinde, has expressed his administration’s readiness to partner the United States of America to explore opportunities in solid minerals development, agribusiness, education and other investment opportunities that will benefit both parties.

The governor stated this on Wednesday, when a delegation from the United States Consul-General, led by the Deputy Chief, Political and Economic Section, Kenise Hill, paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.

Makinde, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, said his administration had put in place policies that will aid engagement on solid minerals development, environment, agribusiness and energy supply, among others.

“I want to welcome you warmly to Oyo State. I want to assure you that we have huge potentials in Oyo State that can really be leveraged into partnership that will be beneficial to both parties.

“The Solid Mineral Development Agency is a new creation put in place following the challenges of solid mineral exploitation in Oyo State. Close to half of the entire landmass of the state has various solid mineral deposits that can be tapped and developed in partnership with the US government.

“The state government does not mind if you are relating with the private sector or directly with  us; you will get the facts and figures when you get to the Agency. On environment, you can explore environmental activities that could positively impact Oyo State.”

Earlier in her remarks, the Team Lead, Ms Hill, acknowledged the potentials of Oyo State which could be unlocked in the areas of trade and investment opportunities that are beneficial to Nigeria and the United States as well.

She noted that the United States was ready to expand its trade and investment opportunities and also explore new opportunities in critical areas in the state, such as solid minerals development.

“Our goal is to connect US industries to Nigerian players, private or public sector. We also are trying to support the development of infrastructure.

“We understand that infrastructure projects require significant resources in terms of financing and manpower as well. So, we provide grants, which typically ranges from $2m to support infrastructure in the state and for Nigeria as a whole.

“So, we look forward to exploring how we can work with more entities as well and looking out for potential opportunities in the solid minerals sector.”