The Board of Editors of THISDAY Group, last night, unveiled the Publisher of Sun Newspaper, Barr. Neya Uzor Kalu among the winners in the “Young Global Leaders” category of the Group’s Commemoration Awards.
Applications for this category were legion, attesting to the nation’s growing youth strength, especially those doing well for themselves in different fields of human endeavour. But the THISDAY Board of Editors pruned the number down to a lucky few.
Born 17th November, 1991, Neya Uzor-Kalu is the Chairman and Publisher of The Sun Nigeria, a reputable Nigerian news outlet. She is also the founder and CEO of Basecoat Nigeria, a nail salon chain changing the face of the nail industry in Nigeria.
Neya has a degree in Law and an MSc. in Finance from the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom. She has over 14 years experience crafting and implementing business initiatives across industries.
She had previously worked in the banking sector as Human Resource Manager before her appointment as Chairman/Publisher of the Sun Nigeria. She leads the Board on strategic matters, establishing high corporate governance system, and oversees the company’s business.
In addition, Neya is the Chairman of Sun Heavens Hotels and Resorts. She has a strong interest in social issues and a desire to empower women, working closely with the OUK Foundation to contribute to the achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The winners, who cut across different walks of life – from tech to music, finance, art and politics, among others – are established to have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields and, by their choices, put the country on the world map, particularly, in positive contexts.
The other winners in the category include the Queen of Warri Kingdom, Olori Ivie Atunwase III; the CEO of Niger Delta Power Company, Jennifer Adighije; and co-founder and CEO of Paystack, Shola Akinlade.
Also making the list are CEO of Konga Group, Nnamdi Ekeh; Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Halilu; CEO of AA&R Investment, Abdullahi Bashir Haske; and CEO of Flutterwave, Olugbenga Agboola.
Other winners in the category are Co-founder of Flutterwave, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji; singer and songwriter, Temilade Openiyi, professionally known as Tems, and her colleague, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, with the stage name, Ayra Starr, Folake Akindele, founder of Tiffany Amber.
A renowned chess player, Tunde-Onakoya; Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong from Cross Rivers State; and a member of the House of Representatives, Ibrahim Bello Mohammed, also made the list of the lucky winners.
