Neya Kalu, Chairman of The Sun Publishing and Sun Heaven Hotels and Resorts, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Emerging Next Gen Family Business Leader Award. The honour forms part of the Family Business Summit 2026.

The award will be presented at the Family Business Leadership Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday, October 15, 2026, in Lagos. The three-day summit, scheduled for October 15 to 17, is themed “Beyond the Founder: Scaling Family Businesses Across Generations.”

Organisers said few next-generation leaders embody the theme more than Kalu. They noted that she has built on the entrepreneurial foundation laid by her father, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, founder of the Slok Group, while taking on leadership roles across the family’s diverse business interests.

Her portfolio spans publishing, hospitality, renewable energy, travel, transport, gaming and real estate. She also founded and scaled Base Coat, a nail salon business, and supports women and community empowerment through the Neya Kalu Foundation and the OUK Foundation.

The award was based on an independent review by PwC Nigeria. The summit will bring together family business owners, next-generation leaders, investors and policymakers to discuss leadership, governance and continuity across generations.

Photo credit: The Sun Nigeria