The Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel has been honoured with the African Political Figure of the Year 2026, at the prestigious 15th Voice Global Achievers Awards, in her Global Honours Ceremony held on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hilton London Kensington, United Kingdom.
The award, organized by the Netherlands-based “The Voice News Magazine”. A the leading Pan-African news platform dedicated to celebrating African leadership excellence in the diaspora and at home. This year’s theme was “Empowering the Continent for Strategic Global Growth.
According to the renowned African Global news media, Rt. Hon. Daniel was selected among Speakers of State Legislatures across Nigeria in recognition of his bold reforms and institutional capacity building for members and Staff of the Plateau State House of Assembly, and for his numerous contributions to development in Mikang Constituency, with special emphasis on Education.
He was honoured alongside other African icons including Amb. Aminu Dalhatu, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK; Dr. Fatou Bom Bensouda, Gambian High Commissioner to the UK, Sabah Zita Benson, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK; Chief James Chijioke Ume and Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, MD Rokel Commercial Bank, among others
Speaking after receiving the award, Rt. Hon. Daniel described the honour as a validation of the work being done by sub-national legislatures in Nigeria. “This recognition is not about me as an individual.
It is about Plateau State and about Nigeria. When the world recognizes the reforms happening in our State Houses of Assembly, it tells a new story about African democracy, that governance is being strengthened from the grassroots, he said.
He also noted that such international recognition has a multiplying effect in three critical areas:
1. For Nigeria: It projects our democracy positively on the global stage. It shows that beyond the National Assembly, State Legislatures are driving reforms, transparency and people-centered laws. This builds confidence among investors and development partners.
2. *For Plateau State: It places Plateau on the map of good governance in Africa. It opens doors for legislative exchange programmes, capacity support, and partnerships that will further strengthen our House and improve service delivery to our people.
3. For Mikang Constituency: It is an inspiration to our youths that leadership with integrity and commitment to education is celebrated globally. The investments we have made in schools, scholarships, SSCE and JAMB support in Mikang will receive greater encouragement andGod visibility.
The Voice Achievers Award disclosed at the event that Rt. Hon. Daniel was honour for the following outstanding feats, 1, Legislative Reforms: Leading the first comprehensive retreat, training and legislative drafting workshops for Members and Staff of the Plateau State House of Assembly in over a decade, resulting in improved bill processing, oversight, and public engagement.
2, Constituency Development: Spearheading interventions in Education across Mikang Constituency, including construction of classrooms, provision of scholarships and learning materials, and support for skills acquisition for youths.
Education remains the greatest equalizer. If we must build Plateau and Nigeria of tomorrow, we must invest in the child in Mikang today, the Speaker stated.
Rt. Hon. Daniel dedicated the award to the Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, his Colleagues, the Clerk and Staff of the House, Traditional and Religious Leaders, and the good people of Mikang and Plateau State.
I accept this award with humility. To whom much is given, much is expected. _ This honour is a call to do more for Plateau, for Nigeria, and for Africa, he concluded.
The 15th Voice Achievers Award, sponsored by Zenith Bank Plc and Rokel Commercial Bank, brought together royalty, diplomats, industrialists and political leaders under one roof to champion continental unity and strategic diaspora investment
