Port Harcourt and the South-South region were alive with excitement over the weekend as the Distinguished Merit & Outstanding Modern Achievers (DMOMA) Awards once again took centre stage, celebrating excellence in leadership, service delivery and societal impact across various sectors.
Renowned as one of West Africa’s leading platforms for recognising leadership and excellence, the DMOMA Awards drew dignitaries, professionals and achievers from different walks of life, all united by a shared commitment to excellence. The atmosphere was one of pride and inspiration as outstanding individuals were honoured for their contributions to national and community development.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the DMOMA Awards, Dr Ezebunwo Nyeche, described the awards as a deliberate effort to spotlight excellence and inspire others to do more.
According to him, the organisation is committed to identifying talents and individuals who are excelling in society as a way of motivating others. He explained that recognising excellence helps set standards and reinforces the value of hard work and integrity.
“We are bent on identifying excellent performances, recognising them and celebrating them,” he said. “Today, we are celebrating excellence in leadership, humanitarian service and youth impact—things that are truly worthy of celebration.”
Dr Nyeche further explained that the selection process for awardees is transparent and inclusive. Nominations are opened to the general public, who submit profiles detailing the achievements of nominees. The Board of Trustees then carefully reviews all entries and selects individuals who best fit each category.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the recognition of the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, who emerged winner of the ‘Most Impactful Health Policy Advocate’ Award at the DMOMA Awards 2025 (Heritage Edition).
Speaking shortly after receiving her award, Dr Oreh described the recognition as deeply meaningful, noting that it amplifies the ongoing efforts of the Rivers State Ministry of Health to drive the healthcare vision of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
She dedicated the award to the people of Rivers State, stressing that meaningful transformation in healthcare delivery is only possible through constant engagement and feedback from citizens.
“Health is everyone’s business,” she said.
“The people of Rivers State are major stakeholders in what we do. Their feedback, constructive criticism and ideas help us do more to transform healthcare delivery in our dear state.”
Dr Oreh added that the award would serve as renewed motivation for the ministry to achieve even greater results for the people.
Former Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Ibim Semenitari, also praised the DMOMA Awards, describing the initiative as rare and refreshing. She commended the organisation for identifying and rewarding genuine hard work in a society where awards are often commercialised.
“DMOMA is really something special,” she said. “They reward hard work, and that is not common. Recipients of the DMOMA Awards should be proud of themselves for what they have truly earned.”
Several other prominent personalities were honoured at the event, including the Minister of Works, David Umahi; Ann Godwin, Chief Bureau of The GuardianSouth-South; Hon. Allwell Ihundah, Mayor of Port Harcourt; and Senator Ipalibo Harry, among others.
Attendees were full of praise for the organisers, whom they described as transparent and principled, applauding their commitment to recognising genuine achievements and encouraging recipients to do even more in service to society.
As the night drew to a close, the DMOMA Awards once again reinforced a powerful message: excellence deserves recognition, and celebrating it remains a vital tool for inspiring progress and positive change.
