Ben Kalu Receives Daily Times “Lawmaker Of The Year” Award, Vows To Do More (Photos)

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CFR, has received the Daily Times Nigeria @100 Times Heroes Lawmaker of the Year Award (House of Representatives), describing the recognition as both an honour and a renewed call to public service.

Kalu received the award on Thursday at the Daily Times Nigeria @100 Centenary Celebration and Times Heroes Awards held at the THISDAY Dome, Abuja, alongside prominent Nigerians and institutions recognised for their contributions to national development.

The recognition followed an extensive nomination and public voting process in which Kalu emerged with the highest number of votes in the House of Representatives category. The Times Heroes Award Council subsequently confirmed his selection, citing his leadership, public service and contributions to national development.

Reacting to the honour, Kalu expressed appreciation to the management and staff of Daily Times, saying the award would inspire him to intensify his efforts for the people of Bende Federal Constituency, whom he represents, and Nigerians at large.

He said the recognition was not an endpoint, but an encouragement to continue advancing legislation capable of producing tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.

Kalu’s emergence comes against the backdrop of an increasingly active legislative record in the 10th House. According to reports surrounding the award, he has sponsored 134 bills, with five already enacted as Acts of the National Assembly. His legislative interventions span constitutional reform, justice-sector reform, security, education, economic management, business-environment reform, science and technology, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure and regional development.

As Deputy Speaker, Kalu has also occupied a strategic position in shaping the legislative direction of the House, with his approach increasingly associated with legislative productivity, institutional reform and the use of parliamentary action to address national challenges.

For Kalu, however, the recognition comes with a responsibility to raise the bar.

“Some moments mark achievement; others remind us that the work of service is yet unfinished,” he said in reflecting on the award.

He also commended Daily Times for reaching its historic 100th anniversary, describing the newspaper as a witness, chronicler and participant in Nigeria’s journey since 1926.

Kalu stressed the importance of the media to democratic governance, noting that the legislature would continue to support measures that strengthen press freedom and address laws and practices capable of constraining effective journalism.

The Daily Times centenary celebration brought together an array of Nigeria’s political, business, traditional, professional and public-service elite.

Among those honoured were President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, former African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, business magnate Aliko Dangote, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Zenith Bank Group Managing Director Adaora Umeoji and MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola, among others.

The breadth of the honours reflected Daily Times’ stated objective of celebrating individuals and institutions whose leadership, innovation, courage, enterprise and public service have contributed significantly to Nigeria’s development.

For Kalu, the award therefore represents more than a ceremonial distinction. It places renewed attention on a legislative career that has increasingly sought to connect parliamentary responsibility with measurable outcomes.

And as the Deputy Speaker accepts the recognition, his message remains one of continuity: the award may celebrate what has been achieved, but the real test lies in what comes next.