Aisha Achimugu Wins The SUN Entrepreneur of the Year Award

AISHA ABUBAKAR

On the night of Saturday March 1, the ballroom of the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, was abuzz as family, friends and well-wishers gathered to share in the joy of Dr. Aisha Achimugu who was honoured with the 2024 The Sun Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Achimugu, 51, an Abuja-based businesswoman and Chief Executive Officer of Felak Concept Group –a firm of civil, structural and transportation engineering– was honoured for her outstanding contributions to business, leadership and social impact.

Acknowledging the honour from the newspaper, the elated businesswoman posted on her social media thus: “The Sun Publishing Limited has proudly recognised me, as the Entrepreneur of the Year, celebrating my outstanding contributions to business, leadership and social impact. It is such an honor to be recognized as The Sun Entrepreneur of the Year 2024.

“As a visionary leader and the President of Felak Group of Companies, I have consistently demonstrated excellence across multiple industries, including engineering, maritime, oil and gas, ICT, and development. My ability to drive innovation while maintaining integrity and business acumen has set me apart as a trailblazer in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape.

“My recognition is not only a testament to my business expertise, but also to my commitment to national development. From my early academic pursuit as a pioneer in Nigeria’s maritime sector, I have made history as the first female transaction advisor for the Ibaka Seaport project. Additionally, my philanthropic efforts have impacted countless lives, reinforcing my dedication to uplifting communities through The Aisha Achimugu Foundation.

“The Board of Editors of The Sun Publishing Limited acknowledged my relentless drive, economic contributions, and unwavering commitment to excellence, hence The Entrepreneur of the Year Award bestowed upon me. The award was formally presented to me at The Sun Awards 2024 in Eko Hotel, Lagos on March 1, 2025, in the presence of industry leaders, dignitaries, and well-wishers. Congratulations to myself and all recipients.”

Undoubtedly, Achimugu, a serial entrepreneur that deals in exploration, production and distribution of petroleum products, has made and continues to make huge contributions to the nation’s economy.

She has proved to be someone that matches street smartness with book wisdom. Brick by brick, she has built a vast layout of opportunities for young Nigerians and has demonstrated that greatness can be earned through diligence and hard work, making her great impact in various sectors.

At different times, Achimugu, the Founder and President of SAM Empowerment Foundation, has also been duly recognized for her industry and philanthropy within and outside the country.

During the ceremony, many of the distinguished guests intoned that Achimugu, who holds a degree in Accounting from the University of Jos and a Master’s in Business Management from the University of Belize, naturally should have also won an award for the Philanthropist of the Year, if there was such a category.

Indeed, Achimugu is not lagging behind in philanthropy, considering that her well documented humanitarian gestures had impacted millions of people and communities in Nigeria over the years.

In her younger days, the business magnate was the envy of some of her friends simply because she easily proved to have known her right from her left when some of them were still tied to their mothers’ apron strings.

Much later, when she floated her business, it took her little or no time to prove that she’s indeed set out to pursue her dream on the global stage.

Though, it was considered an impossible task by some naysayers, she was determined to pursue her ambition of ruling the world with her unwavering doggedness.

Today, she rubs shoulders with other world-class and renowned business moguls, as she has gradually built her career to the international level.