The member representing the South-East on the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission,(NEDC ) and former National Assembly member who sponsored Climate Change Act 2021, Rt. Hon. Sir Sam Onuigbo has bagged the African Impact Excellence Award 2025 from The Voice News Magazine, Netherlands.
The Voice Achievers Awards is an annual event by The Voice News Magazine, Netherlands. This year’s event which will hold at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, is the 14th edition, and the first to be hosted in Nigeria.
According to The Voice Achievers Award Committee, Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo earned the African Impact Excellence Award 2025 for sponsoring the Climate Change Act 2021 and also ensuring it got the President’s assent against all odds. The Committee explains further that Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo has continued to amplify the issues of Climate Change in Nigeria, Africa and across the globe.
Some distinguished personalities who have bagged The Voice Achievers Awards in the past include: first President of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda (Icon of Africa Award 2012), former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ambassador Mrs. Fatou Bensouda (African Woman of the Year Award 2012), former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma (Icon of Democracy Award 2013), former First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique, Mrs. Isaura Nyusi (African Heroine Award 2019), late Prime Minister of Kenya, Rt. Hon. Ralia Amolo Odinga (Icon of Democracy Award 2019), Commentator/Activist, Prof. PLO Lumumba (African Leadership Award 2019), Arch-Bishop Margret Benson Idahosa (African Woman Leadership Award 2014), Ambassador Bianca Olivia Odumegwu-Ojukwu (African Ambassador Award 2014), former member of the European Parliament, Jan Pronk (Distinguished Career Award 2017), Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi of UAE (Government Relations Award 2021) among others
The House of Representatives Press Corp in recognition of this landmark achievement bestowed him with the Award of the Dean of Bills/Most Dedicated Lawmaker 2021
It would be recalled that Onuigbo was inducted into the first ever National Assembly Most Valuable Parliamentarian Hall of Fame in May 2023. He was part of five Senators/Members out of the 469 members of the 9th National Assembly to be so honoured. He was the only National Assembly member from Southern part of Nigeria to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
He was chosen in recognition of his contributions to the 9th National Assembly on the basis of qualitative impact, and value especially for his sponsorship of the Climate Change Act 2021 which is inter-generational, globally impactful, and has the capability of laying the foundation for a sustainably developed Nigeria.
Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo was recognised as one of the 30 Top Global Leaders on Climate Action by the New York-based Business Insider on 27 November, 2023. He was also recognised by the 10th House of Representatives as a Worthy Ambassador of the House on 28 November, 2023. Besides, the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka also honoured him with Leadership Awards on Climate Change.
He is a recipient of several Meritorious Honour Awards from the U.S. Department of State
Rt. Hon. Sir Sam Onuigbo was one of Nigeria’s delegates to the just concluded COP30 United Nations Climate Change Conference which held from 10-21 November, 2025, in Belem, Brazil.
