The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, has been honored with three major national media awards for his outstanding legislative contributions and service to national development.

The recognitions were conferred on him by three prominent Nigerian newspapers: The Sun, Daily Times of Nigeria, and New Telegraph.

?Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State and serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, was named the winner of The Sun Legislative Icon Award 2026.

According to a letter signed by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, the Board of Editors selected the Deputy Speaker following a rigorous selection process.

The award will be formally presented on Friday, November 13, 2026, in Lagos.

?In a similar development, Folio Media Group, publishers of the Daily Times of Nigeria, selected Kalu as the DTN@100 Lawmaker of the Year (House of Representatives).

The Chairman of the group, Mr. Fidelis Anosike, noted in a formal notification that Kalu secured the highest number of votes following an extensive public nomination and voting process.

His selection was subsequently ratified by the Times Heroes Award Council. As part of the honor, the Deputy Speaker will be featured in the 700-page Nigerian Grand Book, with the official presentation ceremony scheduled for September 3, 2026, in Abuja.

?Additionally, the Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited nominated Kalu for its maiden Special Recognition, Outstanding Legislative Work award.

The Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph, Ayodele Aminu, stated that the award—a quadrennial event distinct from the paper's annual award night—recognizes Kalu’s leadership and effective representation since his election in 2019.

?The publication highlighted his previous role as House Spokesman in the 9th Assembly, his leadership of the Constitution Review Committee in the 10th Assembly, and his sponsorship and support of critical legislation, including the Acts Authentication Act and the Nigerian Communications Act.

The media organization further commended his initiation of the Peace in South-East Project (PISE-P), an initiative promoting non-kinetic approaches to addressing regional insecurity, alongside his efforts in fostering harmony across the legislative and executive arms of government. The New Telegraph award ceremony is scheduled for Friday, December 4, 2026, in Lagos.