Senator David Umahi, Nigeria’s Minister of Works, has been honored by De Pinnacle Club International in recognition of his stewardship in modernizing federal road infrastructure and reforming public works, particularly throughout the Southeastern region.
The accolade, titled the Award of Excellence in Public Service and Infrastructural Transformation, was conferred during the socio-cultural organization’s decennial celebration on Sunday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
Organizers commended the minister for adopting rigid concrete pavement methods, improving execution timelines, and instilling accountability into highway initiatives under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
In his response, Umahi appealed to citizens—particularly those in the Southeast—to put aside partisan differences and acknowledge the tangible projects being carried out in the area. He observed that expressing gratitude toward the federal leadership does not prevent communities from advocating for additional public amenities, emphasizing that denying observable advancements serves no purpose.
The minister highlighted multiple key undertakings, including reconstruction works along the Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt expressways, the Eke-Obinagu Flyover, the New Artisan Bridge, and the road linking Enugu to Abakaliki.
Umahi placed special emphasis on the access corridors for the Second Niger Bridge, explaining that these bypass routes are critical to unlocking the economic capacity of the crossing. He provided an operational update, noting that the Anambra segment has reached approximately 40 percent completion, while the Asaba approaches stand at about 35 percent.
Beyond regional corridors, Umahi pointed to the extensive Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway as evidence of a balanced national development plan. He dedicated the recognition to President Tinubu and to the civil engineers, technical crews, and contractors working nationwide.
He also applauded De Pinnacle Club International for its civic and philanthropic footprint, pointing out that sustainable nation-building requires mutual commitment from both public authorities and private groups. He commended the group’s youth empowerment schemes, medical missions, and local investments across the Southeast.
Organized under the leadership of Chief Sir David Nwosu with the theme “A Decade of Excellence, Legacy and Impact,” the gala drew several high-profile attendees from industry, politics, and civic life. Guests included Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Ojukwu, entrepreneur Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana), Chief Sir Kenneth Ifekudu, Ambassador Elijah Onyeagba, and Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Okorie.