Vice President, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo, at the weekend in Lagos commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State for striving to create jobs and attract investment to the state through the development of infrastructures.

The Vice President who made the commendation at the Vanguard Newspapers Personality of the Year 2013 Award ceremony, said that the Federal Government had followed with keen interest the developmental efforts of Governor Uduaghan.

Sambo who was represented by the Minister of National Planning, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, noted with satisfaction that Uduaghan was replicating the Federal Government’s transformation agenda in Delta State.

He said it was no surprise therefore that Dr. Uduaghan emerged Vanguard Newspapers Personality of the Year 2013 and urged the people of the State to continue to rally round and support the Governor in the bid to take the State to greater heights.

Speaking after he was formally presented with the Vanguard Newspapers Personality of the Year 2013 award, the Governor thanked Vanguard Newspapers Limited for the gesture particularly for recognizing his administration’s job creation efforts the Delta Beyond Oil policy.

“I am particularly delighted that our humble efforts to create jobs for the people through empowerment programmes, infrastructural development and other enabling environments as encapsulated in the Delta Beyond Oil policy, were being noticed and appreciated”, he stated.

Besides, Governor Uduaghan disclosed that such efforts were already yielding results as it has ensured better security of lives and property as well as attracting local and foreign investors to the state.

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the transformation agenda and unity of the country stressing that it has provided the platform for the nation’s economy to grow.

Also, he commended his fellow awardees, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who emerged Vanguard African Personality of the Year and Chief Innocent Chukwuma, chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company who was voted the Vanguard Most Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year, for their contributions to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

Veteran journalist and former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba who chaired the event, thanked Vanguard Newspapers Limited for appreciating people that has contributed to the growth of the nation.

He lauded Governor Uduaghan for laying a solid foundation for the over growth of the state’s economy especially with the uncertain nature of revenue accruing from oil.

The general manager and editor-in-chief of Vanguard Newspapers Limited, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye said that the Award draws attention to the importance of service to the people and the country adding that Vanguard would not relent in celebrating Nigerians who had made remarkable achievements.

He explained that Uduaghan’s feat of good governance manifested in the successes achieved in the political and economic fields informed the Governor’s choice as Vanguard Newspapers Personality of the Year 2013.

Vanguard Newspapers Personality of the Year 2013 bestowed on Governor Uduaghan is coming in the heels of recent similar awards by Sun Newspapers and the Metro Eire-an Newspapers an Ireland-based multi-cultural newspaper noted for its strict monitoring of development issues in developing countries.