BREAKING NEWS!! Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah Honored with "Governor of the Year in IGR Award" 2025

In a resounding recognition of his transformative economic policies and bold fiscal reforms, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State has been conferred with the prestigious Governor of the Year in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Award 2025. The award, announced during the nationwide roadshow for the 6th Nigerian States IGR Awards, celebrates Governor Mbah’s unprecedented success in driving Enugu State’s IGR to record-breaking heights.

According to official data presented by REVENUE Magazine and Tractors for Africa, promoters of the annual awards, Enugu State achieved an extraordinary 433.11% increase in its internally generated revenue, rising from ₦33.86 billion in 2023 to a historic ₦180.50 billion in 2024. This remarkable leap is the highest growth rate ever recorded among Nigeria’s 37 subnational governments since the inception of the Nigerian States IGR Awards in 2020. The phenomenal performance positioned Enugu as the fifth largest IGR-generating state in Nigeria, trailing only Lagos (₦1,261.56 billion), Rivers (₦317.30 billion), the Federal Capital Territory (₦282.36 billion), and Ogun (₦194.93 billion).

The organizers highlighted that this superlative growth also places Enugu at the forefront of fiscal independence and economic innovation in Southern Nigeria. Within the South East Zone, the achievement is even more striking, as Enugu’s IGR of ₦180.50 billion surpassed the combined revenue of Anambra, Abia, Imo, and Ebonyi States, which collectively generated ₦123.15 billion in 2024. Enugu alone accounted for 59.84% of the entire South East’s ₦301.65 billion IGR, firmly establishing the state as the region’s economic powerhouse.

Presenting the award, the Nigerian States IGR Awards Committee praised Governor Mbah for his “visionary leadership, cutting-edge revenue strategies, and relentless commitment to economic transformation,” noting that his administration’s policies have set a new benchmark for subnational fiscal management. The award roadshow, which kicked off in Jigawa State on August 14, 2025, will continue across 16 other winning states until November 27, 2025, with Enugu recognized as one of the top performers.

Governor Mbah’s administration has implemented forward-thinking reforms aimed at diversifying the state’s revenue base, boosting tax compliance, and leveraging technology to block leakages. These reforms have not only improved the state’s financial standing but also strengthened its capacity to fund critical infrastructure, social welfare, and development projects without overreliance on federal allocations.

In addition to the Governor of the Year in IGR Award 2025, Enugu State also clinched a spot among the top 10 recipients of the Excellence in IGR Award 2025, alongside Bayelsa, Jigawa, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Abia, Rivers, Taraba, and Niger States. Furthermore, Enugu was recognized in the Achievement in IGR Award 2025 category for ranking among the top 10 most financially independent states, with a revenue independence score of 61.33%—a feat surpassed only by Lagos, Ogun, and the FCT.

The Nigerian States IGR Awards were established to foster healthy competition among the 36 states and the FCT, encouraging them to adopt innovative revenue-generation strategies and reduce dependency on federal allocations. The 2025 edition once again underscored the urgency of fiscal self-reliance, with Enugu’s record-breaking growth standing as a shining example of what visionary governance can achieve.

Governor Mbah, in his response to the honor, dedicated the award to the people of Enugu State, affirming that the recognition is both a testament to their resilience and a challenge to sustain the momentum. “This award is not just a recognition of our achievement but a call to do more for our people,” he stated. “Enugu is on a path of economic renaissance, and together we will continue to build a future of shared prosperity.”

With this landmark achievement, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has not only etched Enugu State into Nigeria’s economic history books but also raised the bar for revenue innovation across the federation, signaling a new era of sustainable development and fiscal independence for the state.