Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has promised investors in the state better deals that would make their businesses grow exponentially. He spoke at a forum for investors held in Lagos. Such incentives would include ease of land acquisition, tax holiday and sundry gestures that would advance their investments.

These incentives, he said, represent the new spirit in Delta State which promotes alternative source of income outside of oil and gas. Couched in the theme ‘Delta Beyond Oil’, the governor assured investors of security and a preponderance of qualified human capital which he said Delta has in good measure. On the issue of power, the governor told the investing public that Delta State has keyed into the power deregulation agenda of the federal government by investing in the Discos and Gencos responsible for distribution and generation of electricity in the country.

The governor doused the fears of the investors in the area of security of investment. “On the issue of security, we have done very well. This is reflected in the stability and tranquility in the state as against what was the norm before when youths easily took to criminality to express their grievances.

Meanwhile at a colourful ceremony in a colourful night at the weekend in Lagos, the Governor stepped out unto the platform with his wife, Roli, to receive The Sun Newspaper Man of the Year Award 2013. He was joint winner with the Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

A happy Uduaghan dedicated the award to the people of Delta State. “Yes, it is true that we have oil in Delta State. It is true that we have solid minerals but what we have in abundance which is our asset are people. It is instructive that out of the 16 persons honoured tonight by Sun in 10 categories of awards, six people are from Delta State. The Sun newspaper is not owned by a Deltan, there is no Delta State person on its top management staff yet seven Deltans were honoured by the newspaper in one night.

“This is a testimony of the fact that Delta State has people as asset and this defines what we are doing in the state. We are investing in the people through quality healthcare, quality education and other human capital development initiatives”, an elated Uduaghan told the audience.

Delta State had a strong representation at the 11th Sun Awards described by the Managing Director of the newspaper, Mr Femi Adesina, as unique and a cut above the rest. This sentiment was also echoed by the publisher of the newspaper and former governor of Abia State, His Excellency Orji Uzor Kalu, who said all the awardees of the night were men and women of excellence.

Uduaghan said his administration places more emphasis on service delivery than publicity, noting that it was important for him to meet with the needs of the people.

“This award poses more of a challenge to improve further, the reduction of infant mortality rate in the state,” the Governor said, adding that the Delta Beyond Oil initiative of his administration to a large extent, is positioning Deltans to look at different sources of revenue other than oil. The initiative is already being copied by the Nigerian government and other state governments within the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Adesina said the award was given to the governor because he has ensured that Delta is the first state in the country to have met with the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals five which is, the reduction of infant mortality rate.

“The Sun Board of Editors voted your Excellency in recognition of the remarkable transformation your administration has brought to bear on education, health, aviation, public infrastructure and utility sectors in Delta State,” Adesina noted.

“Most notably among your avalanche of achievements, were when Delta came to the limelight on the African continent as the first state to attain goal number five of the Millennium Development Goals by reducing high mortality rate to as low as 224 deaths per 100, 000 births as at 2012 and your paradigm shift programme designed to reposition the state from the age-long total dependence on oil to a beehive of integrated multi-economic activities.

“It is uncommon but silent effort of your government to improve the quality of living among your people that the Sun had deemed it appropriate to celebrate Your Excellency,” Adesina said.

Other awardees of the night were Akwa Ibom First Lady, Her Excellency Unoma Ekaette Akpabio (Most Supportive First Lady), Tony Elemelu (Investor of the Year), Reginald Ihejiahi (Banker of the Year), Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, Sam Amuka, Chief Michael Ade Ojo (Lifetime Achievement Awards), Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata (Business Person of the Year Awards), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde , Dr. Joseph Odumodu (Public Service Awards), Stephen Keshi (Sports Person of the Year), Mrs Koko Kalango (Creative Person of the Year) and brave heart Michael Anthony who got a posthumous Nigerian Hero Award.

Anthony died in an inferno when he risked his own life to save the life of a baby.