Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Publishing Limited, Femi Adesina made this remark yesterday in his welcome address at the maiden edition of The Sun Outstanding Performance Exit Award held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
Adesina, who is also the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, noted that Nigerians have for a long time been known as a criticizing people and added that Nigerians should rather become a people and nation that rec­ognizes outstanding performance.
“For too long, we have been a criticizing people, a critical nation. At The Sun, we believe we should become a recognizing people and nation, a land that recognizes, re­wards and applauds outstanding per­formance,” he said.
While commending Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, who emerged as the first recipient of the award, for his exceptional performance as the governor of the state in the last eight years, Adesina said Nigerians need to utilize the strengths and experiences of past leaders as steppingstones to a great future.
“The Sun Outstanding Perfor­mance Exit Award reflects the com­mitment to our slogan- ‘Voice of the Nation’, an advocacy for good gov­ernance as a means of eradicating poverty and hunger, as well as pro­viding the ever needed infrastructure for sustainable development.
“Every four years, this special award will draw attention to per­formance evaluation of respective states and celebrate the outstand­ing governor who actually rendered quality service to people,” Adesina said.
He congratulated Shema who, he said, had positively impacted on the lives of the people of Katsina State. “ Barrister Ibrahim Shehu Shema’s administration has indeed positively impacted on the lives of the people of Katsina, particularly in the area of infrastructure and provi­sion of other dividends of democ­racy. He has left his footprints on the sands of time, and posterity will be kind to him,” he said.