SDNON President Adeniyi Ifetayo Commends Okunbo on Vanguard Award Honour, highlighting entrepreneurship and national impact

President of the Society of Digital Newspaper Owners of Nigeria, Adeniyi Ifetayo, has congratulated Dr. Osahon Okunbo, Executive Director of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, on receiving the Okunbo Vanguard Award as Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2025.

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Dr. Okunbo was honoured on April 24, 2026, at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotels and Suites during the Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most respected platforms for recognising excellence across sectors.

The award, approved by the Board of Editors of Vanguard Newspapers, recognises Dr. Okunbo’s far-reaching investments and leadership spanning hospitality, oil and gas, agriculture, the arts, and the built environment.

These sectors are considered critical to Nigeria’s ongoing economic diversification.

In a statement issued on behalf of SDNON, Mr Ifetayo described the recognition as richly deserved, noting that Dr. Okunbo represents a powerful example of enterprise-driven patriotism at a pivotal moment for the country.

“Dr. Osahon Okunbo’s recognition by Vanguard Newspapers is a testament to what focused, values-driven entrepreneurship can achieve,” Mr Ifetayo said, adding that the honour reflects both resilience and vision.

The award was presented by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba at a ceremony attended by prominent figures from across Nigeria.

Speaking after receiving the award, Dr. Okunbo described the moment as deeply significant, calling it a “full circle” achievement in reference to his late father, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, who had previously been recognised by the same institution.

Dr. Okunbo credited his father’s influence for shaping his entrepreneurial outlook.

Also speaking at the event, Adesuwa Rhodes Okunbo, Chief Executive Officer of Aruwa Capital Management, said the honour reflects a strong legacy of enterprise within the family and praised Dr. Okunbo’s sustained commitment to building on that foundation.

Beyond business, Dr. Okunbo is the founder of the Osahon Okunbo Foundation, which supports African arts and creative expression.

He also serves on the board of the National Theatre Lagos, now known as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, contributing to efforts to revitalise Nigeria’s cultural infrastructure.

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Other honourees at the ceremony included governors from Zamfara, Taraba, Cross River, and Yobe states, alongside former Governor Jim Nwobodo, Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, Bishop Hassan Kukah, and businessman Sayyu Dantata, among other distinguished Nigerians.