Ahead of the 2026 edition of the Megastar Man of the Decade Awards, the organising team has stepped up engagements with prominent Nigerians, visiting Senator Ned Nwoko and Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UTM Offshore Limited and UTM FLNG, Dr. Julius D. Rone, to present invitations to the prestigious event.

The engagements form part of preparations for the awards ceremony scheduled to hold on October 16, 2026, at The Wells Carlton Hotel & Apartments, Abuja, with the theme: “The Road to 2027: Citizens, Stakeholders, and the Democracy We Choose.”

The visits provided an opportunity for the Megastar team to connect with distinguished Nigerians whose contributions to public service, business, leadership and national development continue to shape conversations about the country’s future.

During the visit to Senator Ned Nwoko, the team presented him with an invitation to the awards and engaged with him on issues surrounding Nigeria’s democratic development and the road to the 2027 general elections.

Nwoko has consistently advocated fundamental reforms to Nigeria’s electoral system, particularly transparent party primaries, credible nominations, voter choice and accountability after elections.

Speaking on the 2027 elections, the senator warned that Nigeria’s democratic process would remain weak if political candidates continued to emerge through imposed nominations, financial inducements and manipulated party primaries.

“We’re not practising democracy, I can tell you that,” Nwoko said, stressing that members of political parties should be allowed to freely choose candidates they believe can deliver.

He also argued that voters must look beyond immediate inducements such as money and food items when making electoral choices.

“The people must decide who they want,” he said.

According to him, elected officials who fail to deliver on their manifestos should be voted out, while allegations of corruption should be investigated and prosecuted fairly, irrespective of political affiliation.

The Megastar team also visited Dr. Julius D. Rone, a leading figure in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, where an invitation to the 2026 Megastar Man of the Decade Awards was presented to him.

Rone, who heads UTM Offshore Limited and UTM FLNG, has been associated with the development of Nigeria’s pioneering floating liquefied natural gas project, positioning him as an important voice in conversations around investment, energy development, industrialisation and Nigeria’s economic future.

His engagement with the Megastar initiative comes against the backdrop of the event’s broader objective of recognising Nigerians whose leadership, innovation and contributions are helping to shape the country’s development trajectory.

For more than a decade, the Megastar Man of the Decade Awards has celebrated individuals distinguished by their vision, courage, leadership and outstanding contributions to society.

The 2026 edition is expected to combine the celebration of excellence with meaningful conversations about Nigeria’s future, particularly as the country approaches another critical electoral cycle.

The theme, “The Road to 2027: Citizens, Stakeholders, and the Democracy We Choose,” is designed to stimulate discussion on the role of citizens, political leaders, business leaders, professionals and other stakeholders in strengthening democratic institutions and building a better Nigeria.

The organisers said the road to 2027 has already begun and that the conversations surrounding the country’s political and socioeconomic future must involve a broad spectrum of Nigerians.

The visits to Nwoko and Rone are part of the ongoing stakeholder engagement ahead of the awards, as the organisers continue to bring together remarkable voices and achievers for the October gathering.

The event will hold on October 16, 2026, at The Wells Carlton Hotel & Apartments, Abuja.

Theme: “The Road to 2027: Citizens, Stakeholders, and the Democracy We Choose.”