Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been named the Integrity Governor of the Year by the Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ), in recognition of his administration’s strides in transparency, inclusive governance, and infrastructural renewal.

The award was presented on Tuesday in Ilorin by the President of the Association, Dr Charles Okhai, who said the honour followed a careful evaluation of state performances across key development sectors. AbdulRazaq, according to Okhai, emerged top among five governors considered for the recognition.

Dr Okhai explained that the selection process focused on measurable achievements in education, road infrastructure, healthcare delivery, youth empowerment, and administrative transparency. He praised the Kwara leader for prioritising the welfare of civil servants and teachers through regular promotions and prompt salary payments.

He also cited the state’s transparent recruitment of more than 8,600 qualified teachers to bridge manpower gaps in public schools as one of the key indicators that influenced the final decision.

Okhai noted that the Association, made up of Christian journalists from across Nigeria, is committed to promoting integrity and national development through credible reporting and objective recognition of good governance.
“When we nominated you, we did not view it through any religious lens but purely on account of your sterling performance,” he told the governor during the presentation ceremony, which he attended alongside Mr Nasir Lawal.

In his response, Governor AbdulRazaq expressed gratitude to the Association for what he described as an encouragement to continue delivering on his administration’s development agenda. He dedicated the award to the people of Kwara State, acknowledging their continuous support and trust in his leadership.

“We take this award as an acknowledgement of our modest efforts to improve the conditions of our people and deliver political goods to the largest majority,” the governor said. “Our state has consistently ranked well in peer-review assessments for transparency and good governance, including those conducted by the World Bank and other international bodies.”
AbdulRazaq highlighted progress made across multiple sectors, particularly in road connectivity, education, healthcare, sports, and technology infrastructure. He said his administration had delivered more projects in these areas since 1999 than any previous government in the state’s democratic history.

While reaffirming his commitment to sustain the momentum of development, the governor also appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support to Kwara over the years.
The award, observers say, reinforces AbdulRazaq’s growing reputation as a governor focused on integrity-driven leadership and inclusive growth.