Kefas Bags Double National Honours as 2026 Top Governor
Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has secured two major national recognitions, further placing his administration in the spotlight as attention turns to the performance of state governments across Nigeria.
Kefas was named Outstanding Governor, North East by Daily Times Nigeria and also emerged as Governor of the Year 2026 in the LEADERSHIP Newspapers awards.
The double recognition comes at a significant period for the administration, with political activities gradually gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Daily Times Honours Kefas
Daily Times selected Kefas for its Outstanding Governor, North East Award as part of activities marking the newspaper’s 100th anniversary.
The award places him among six governors selected to represent outstanding leadership across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
Other governors selected include Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom for the South-South, Peter Mbah of Enugu for the South-East, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara for the North-West, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos for the South-West and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa for the North-Central.
The centenary celebration is also expected to recognise several prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and businessman Aliko Dangote.
Former African Development Bank President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, is also expected to receive a Global Impact Award.
LEADERSHIP Names Kefas Governor of the Year
Kefas’ recognition did not stop with Daily Times.
LEADERSHIP Newspapers also named him Governor of the Year 2026, citing interventions across education, infrastructure, agriculture, youth empowerment, healthcare, institutional reforms, environmental sustainability and peacebuilding.
Education remains one of the administration’s most visible policy areas.
The government introduced free education at primary and secondary school levels and reduced tuition and other fees in state-owned tertiary institutions by 50 per cent.
It also approved more than ₦1.6 billion for NECO examination fees covering 44,133 candidates, alongside an estimated ₦1.39 billion for WAEC fees for 39,536 students.
Teacher development, digital learning initiatives and interventions at Taraba State University have also featured in the administration’s education agenda.
Roads, Agriculture Take Centre Stage
Infrastructure development was another area highlighted in the assessment of the Kefas administration.
Among the road projects receiving attention are the Mararaba-Baissa, Takum-Lissam and Ibi-Nwonyo roads.
The projects are expected to improve movement between communities, strengthen access to markets and stimulate economic activities across different parts of Taraba.
Agriculture has also received attention through initiatives including Taraba Seed Production Limited, participation in the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project and the state’s artificial insemination programme.
Other areas highlighted include healthcare, disaster preparedness, land administration, climate action, security and inclusive governance.
Youth Empowerment Gets Attention
Young people have also featured prominently in the administration’s programmes.
More than 200 youths were reported to have received ₦500,000 each, while the government has developed a Youth Development Roadmap 2026–2031 focusing on entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and employment opportunities.
The initiative comes at a time when unemployment and limited economic opportunities remain major concerns for young Nigerians.
Creating sustainable pathways from empowerment programmes to actual businesses and jobs will therefore remain an important test of the administration’s youth policies.
Three National Recognitions Within Weeks
The latest honours add to another national recognition recently received by Kefas.
Only weeks earlier, the governor received Blueprint Newspaper’s Inclusive Development and Social Integration Award in Abuja.
That recognition was linked to initiatives in education, public participation and social cohesion.
With the Daily Times and LEADERSHIP honours added, Kefas has now received three notable national media recognitions within a relatively short period.
The awards have increased national attention on Taraba and provided the administration with an opportunity to showcase its programmes beyond the state.
But recognition also comes with expectations.
For residents, the ultimate measure of government performance will remain the impact they experience in their communities — from accessible education and healthcare to better roads, security, employment and economic opportunities.
As Nigeria moves closer to another election cycle, attention will increasingly shift from promises to measurable results.
For Kefas, the latest honours may be significant endorsements, but sustaining the momentum and translating policies into visible improvements across Taraba will determine the lasting value of the recognition.
