Veteran Nollywood Actor , Saidi Balogun Bags Best Actor Award At The Independent Newspapers Awards.

The Independent Newspapers Limited, publishers of the Daily INDEPENDENT, Saturday INDEPENDENT and Sunday INDEPENDENT has honoured Veteran Nollywood Actor Saidi Balogun, INDEPENDENT Best Actor of the Year.

The INDEPENDENT Newspapers Limited awards which took place on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.


Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, Executive Governor of Delta State also won the INDEPENDENT 2017 Man of the Year.

For his sterling role in weathering the storm of the killer herdsmen in his state recently, Samuel Ortom of Benue was decorated as The Governor of the Year on Security, while David Umahi of Ebonyi State emerged Governor of the Year in Agriculture. 

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State was equally bagged the 2017 Grassroots Governor of the Year, while the Outstanding Deputy Governor of the Year goes to Otunba Titilayo Tomori of Osun State.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State were given Governor and Political Icon of the year respectively.

The flagship newspaper also awarded Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Vice President, and Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly as the Outstanding Legislator of the Year (National) and Outstanding Legislator of the Year (State) respectively.

Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, former factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was named the Party Leader of the Year.

Similarly, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife was honored as the Bridge Builder In Leadership in 2017.

Foremost industrialist, Alhaji Rasak Okoya was not left out, as he embraced Life Achievement Award, while Wale Babalakin, Chairman Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, clinched the Most Outstanding Aviation Terminal Operator of the Year.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) emerged the Federal Agency of the Year and Most Outstanding State Agency of the Year respectively

Most Outstanding Telecommunications Company of the Year goes to Globacom Limited.

The highlight of this year’s awards is the fact that entertainers and those who dazzle on the silver screen and dominate the airwaves are not left out.

For the artiste of the year, Alterplate CEO, Harry Song won the award as the Musician of the Year.

These outstanding entertainers and personalities have all expressed their joy at the recognition from INDEPENDENT Newspapers