Tag: Awards

  • Worthless awards

    What’S the meaning of a celebratory international award when the recipient is not considered award-worthy at home?

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan was decorated as 2015 International Person of the Year by African Sun Times. After receiving the award, Jonathan said: “In 2015, despite challenges, we held violence-free elections that transferred power from one political party to another and from an incumbent to the opposition, without rancour, bitterness or strife.”  Correction: But there was so much rancour, bitterness and strife; it was a huge relief to many that the country didn’t explode.

    Jonathan continued: “In the process, we proved that nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian or any national of any country for that matter. That, to me, is a most worthy testimonial of the character of the Nigeria nation and the resilience of our people, which is why I dedicate the honour to them.” The majority of Nigerians would most probably dissociate themselves from Jonathan’s so-called honour simply because it is dishonourable.

    Then Jonathan was adorned with the President’s Award by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an African-American civil rights organisation based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Interestingly, Jonathan was recognised for his leadership in human rights, social justice and the universal fight for freedom.

    Jonathan’s response: “I thank Dr. Charles Steele Jr, President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, and the executive of the SCLC for honouring me…It was also a pleasure to meet Naomi King, the sister of the late American Civil Rights leader and founder of the SCLC, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who was kind enough to attend the event and identify with the goals and aspirations of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation. By this award, I am further inspired to continue to work for the advancement of democracy, peace and progress in Nigeria and Africa.”

    Without question, Jonathan’s track record as president contradicts the suggestion that he worked for the advancement of democracy, peace and progress. So he cannot talk about continuation.

    Those who considered Jonathan worthy of awards and gave him awards are unworthy of respect.

  • February date for Nigerian Broadcasters Merits Awards

    February date for Nigerian Broadcasters Merits Awards

    After hosting five editions in Lagos, the annual Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA) has shifted base to Abuja, organisers have said.

    “It’s about time other regions had the feel of the pioneer award for the broadcasters in Africa/ Nigeria,” said the convener, Mr. Kazeem Popoola in a statement, who added: “However, due to some circumstances beyond our control, this year’s NBMA earlier scheduled for 23rd January, 2016, has been shifted till February 27th.”

    He announced that the 6th edition of the event will take place at the prestigious BARCELONA HOTEL, Wuse 2 Abuja, while the nominees’ party is billed to hold on Saturday 23rd January, 2016, at new celebrity hangout, HEIRS PLACE/LOUNGE, Ibadan, Oyo State.

    “It’s going to be a gathering of broadcasting heavy weights and society big-wigs. Among the lined-up programmes that will add glitz and glamour to the event, includes a red carpet reception, live studio broadcast, fashion display, command performances from top rated music stars and humour merchants, as well as other side attractions,” said Popoola.

  • Headies awards: LAWMA harps on Olamide, Don Jazzy feud

    Headies awards: LAWMA harps on Olamide, Don Jazzy feud

    Following the New Year Day fiasco between street lyricist, Olamide and Honcho of Mavins Record, Don Jazzy at the Headies, otherwise called Hip-hop Award, Olamide, who is popularly known as Badoo, may have unwittingly created a punchline for the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA.

    When Adekunle Gold won Best Alternative Song with Sade, Olamide came up the stage and insinuated that his artiste, Lil Kesh, was more deserving of the Next Rated Artiste Award which was presented to Reekado Banks of Supreme Mavin Dynasty.

    ‘Adekunle Gold let’s be honest, this award belongs to Lil Kesh, because Lil Kesh is our Next Rated artist,” he said.

    “Every single was a hit back to back, from ‘Lyrically’ to ‘Shoki’ to ‘Efejoku’”.

    However, after Don Jazzy stepped on the same stage some minutes later to also pick up an award for his artiste, he threw the first direct salvo, aimed at Olamide. ‘Olamide, if you want the car, come and collect it,’ he said in closing.

    The reaction from Olamide who won ‘Artiste of the Year’ and ‘Best Street-Hop Artiste’ was cataclysmic. In an outburst of angry tweets which lasted for a little over thirty minutes in the early hours of Saturday, he rained abuses on Don Jazzy.

    In one of his lesser vile tweets, the YBNL honcho, positing to be acting for the benefit of his signee, wrote ‘Even me , I didn’t have the grace to have every single back to back in number one spot… Biko leave trash for lawma.’

    However, latching on Olamide’s rants on Twitter which he severally described the Incident as trash, LAWMA, the Lagos State waste disposal agency, using Its official Twitter handle, @Lawma_gov, took advantage of the squabble to promote its brand.

    ‘In 2016 we urge all our customers to #leavetrashforlawma use the licensed PSP operator in your area,’ It tweeted.

    It also tweeted: ‘In the fight between Olamide and Don Jazzy guess who won? LAWMA #LEAVETRASHFORLWMA Is trending.’

    Sterling Bank, which supports LAWMA also joined the bandwagon. The company, on Twitter, wrote, ‘Let’s take this opportunity to appreciate #LAWMA for their work. Supported by #SterlIngBankNg. #LeaveTrashForLAWMA’

    The scuffle which was largely an Internet fiasco saw the hashtag #LeaveTrashForLAWMA trending since Saturday.

    That the incident overshadowed the Headies is no longer news.

    In spite of all, the Next Rated winner, Reekado Banks responded heartily to a congratulatory message sent to him by Lil Kesh.

    Olamide has also apologised for his behaviour on Instagram. ‘I want to apologise to my fans for my conduct, including swearing on Live TV, at the Headies event some hours ago,’ he said, adding that, “I recognise that you all are the most important part of my work and my journey so far, and I would not have come this far without you. Therefore, you deserve better from me. I promise to conduct myself in a more respectable manner In future.”

    Interestingly, Timi Dakolo won the highest number of laurels with Best Male Performance, Best R&B single and Recording of the year for his song, ‘Wish me well.’

    Others are Headies Hall of Fame (2Face Idibia), Best Pop Single

    ‘Godwin’ by Korede Bello, Best rap single ‘King kong’ by Vector,

    Best Vocal Performance (female) Aramide (‘Iwo Nikan), Best Ragga/dancehall single ‘German juice’ by Cynthia Morgan, Best Music Video ‘Katapot’ (by Reekado Banks, video shot by Unlimited L.A) and Best Collaboration ‘Local Rappers’ – Reminisce ft Olamide, Phyno & StormRex. Others are Best Rap Album “Chairman” by M.I, Best Music Producer Legendary Beatz (‘Ojuelegba’), Lyricist On The Roll Vector, Revelation of The Year Yemi Alade Best Alternative Song ‘Sade’ – Adekunle Gold, Special Recognition Award Don Jazzy, Best Pop/R&B Album AYO – Wizkid, Song of The Year ‘Ojuelegba’ – Wizkid, Album of The Year ‘Street O.T’ – Olamide and Rookie of The Year YCee.

    The award had other entertaining angles, including the one that had the now rehabilitated Majek Fashek, throwing up side comments as many stole glances at the ‘rainmaker’ who later sang the hit track Send Down the Rain alongside Timi Dakolo and Kunle Ayo.

    The show host, Bovi also took comedy to slapstick level, dressing out like Denrele Edun at some point. His co-host, Kaffi also rendered an amazing opening dance, proving her mantle in the dance profession.

    Many were also excited by the joint performance of Jamb Question crooner, Simi and dynamic artiste, Falz, as they did Jamb Question and Soldier and got a loud ovation for their salsa dance steps.

    Other faces and performers at the event include, Denrele Edun, D’banj, Tiwa Savage, Eva Alordiah and her boo, Ceasar, Victoria Kimani, Kcee, Iyanya, Orezi, 2Face, Yemi Alade.

  • Genesis studios basks in awards

    Genesis studios basks in awards

    Genesis Studios has once again etched its name in the league of big players in the Television business with another successful outing at the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards as one of its critically acclaimed productions, Tales of Eve won the Best Series of the Year category.

    The drama series beat other productions like The Johnsons, Hotel Majestic and So Wrong So Write (also from Genesis Studios) to claim the prize.

    Excited about its winning streak, CEO of the outfit, Olaegbe Olatubosun, said that they are coming just when his platform decided to open its doors to other content producers.

    “Before now, all that drove our business were our own contents. The moment we decided to set up a content acquisition, distribution, marketing and syndication company called CREN (Cross Root Entertainment Network), we’ve seen that we have done well in terms of client services and qualitative content delivery.

    The awards, he said, proves that his company is the right place to do business with if you are an independent producer and you don’t want to disturb yourself about how to go and market your content to the advertisers or the advert agencies.

    “We simply let you concentrate on churning out fantastic contents while we take care of how they are profitably marketed. We feel very happy and quite fulfilled that our effort for the year has being recognized in a way this massive. I won’t but appreciate everyone who made this possible…from the Genesis family to our production and media partners.” he said.

    Only recently, Genesis Studio carted home the Content Marketing Company of the year award at the 2015 edition of the Marketing World Awards. The TV production house won the award for its role in production, marketing and overall performance of their inspiring contents notably Tales of Eve and So Wrong So Wright.

  • SARD-SC Project wins IITA awards

    SARD-SC Project wins IITA awards

    The Support to Agricultural Research and Development of Strategic Crops (SARD-SC) project has won the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Awards for Excellence.

    The project also won an Outstanding Team award by  the IITA  Board of Trustees who appreciated the multi-national CGIAR –led  SARD-SC project aimed at enhancing food and nutritional security  in 20 African  countries.

    The awards were announced during the IITA Town Hall meeting. Dr. Chrys Akem, the Project Coordinator, received a certificate and a plaque.

    He said: “This award tells me that persistent hard work does pay off. We are dealing with a very complex project involving a number of institutions, crops and partners; it has been a challenge uncomplexing the project. Thank God we have demonstrated that this can be done and also appreciated by colleagues who voted the project as the most outstanding at IITA for 2014.”

    The award is an indication that project staff’s hard work and diligence in implementing project objectives are appreciated by the executing agency.

    According to Akem, “The award is really a morale booster to the whole project team. They feel rewarded for a job well done in delivering on project outputs. It gives the team the confidence to start looking towards and working hard for a second phase of the project in order to upscale and out scale outputs of the first phase of the project.

    “SARD-SC project is the largest project in the institute. Its complex nature made many to doubt if the project team would deliver. After getting mid-way    with a financial disbursement rate of about 62 per cent as against the expected 50 per cent, it was good to highlight achievements in a complex AfDB project of this magnitude”.

    The other achievement, such as infrastructural development across the various hubs where the project is being implemented was also a salient achievement.

    He praised  his staff for the award. “I could not have been working with any better team in the world than the current team that has been working very hard to achieve project outcomes and in the process got recognised with the best team award for IITA in 2014.”

     

  • UBA Chad, Senegal win Bank of the Year awards

    The Banker Magazine has named UBA Chad and Senegal as Bank of the Year.  Both awards were presented at the Hilton Bankside, London.

    UBA Chad is winning the award for the first time while UBA Senegal has won the award for four consecutive times- 2012, 2013 and last year.

    Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), UBA Senegal, Amie Sow, SAID: “We are proud of winning this award for the fourth consecutive   year. It shows we are now the dominant bank in Senegal and the bank all other banks have to look forward to beat. The recognition will only continue to challenge us to explore opportunities to further deepen our market share in the country.’’

    His Chad counterpart said: “Salami Aliyu, “This award shows that the efficiency and business growth drivers which we put in place are beginning to pay-off and get us results. We assure that we will sustain this performance to   enable us retain the award in 2016.”

    The aim of the awards, according to the magazine “is to highlight industry wide excellence within the global banking community.”

    The Banker selects one bank from  120 participants. Over 1,000 applications are collected and judges select winning banks based on those they believe have made the most progress over the past 12 months.

    Associate Publisher Asia and Africa of the Banker magazine, Mr. Philip Church, said the award is a testimony to the trust the banks ‘clients have shown on its operations over the past months.

  • Ahmed wins awards

    Ahmed wins awards

    Kwara State government has emerged the Most Transparent State Government and Most Innovative State Government.

    The awards were presented in Lagos at the weekend by the Nigeria Impact Award, powered by Exclusive magazine.

    The organisers said the government, headed by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, was given the Most Transparent State Government award based on its efforts in reaching out to the people.

    The state is ranked among those where commissioners and top government officials interact with the people at least three times a week on the radio and TV. A monthly interactive programme, ‘The Governor Explains’, provides a platform for Governor Ahmed to interact with the people on government programmes, policies and challenges.

    Exclusive magazine said the award was presented to Ahmed because of the innovative and people-oriented programmes of his government, particularly the Community Health Insurance Scheme with over 600,000 enrollees; the Kwara State Bridge Employment Scheme, which has given jobs to the unemployed; and the Kwara State Next Entrepreneur Scheme designed to create access to loans up to N10 million.

     

  • Glitz, glamour at PEARL Awards

    Glitz, glamour at PEARL Awards

    The 20th Performance Earnings and Returns Leadership (PEARL) Awards was held last Sunday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI writes.

    Glitz, glamour, excellence were on display at this year’s 20th Performance Earnings and Returns Leadership (PEARL) Awards, which held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island last Sunday.

    It was a gathering of captains of industries who came to celebrate companies and business executives for outstanding performance in the capital market.

    The hall decoration was classic. Chairs in gold covers were set around tables with black and white overlays. The colourful lighting beautifiedn the hall.

    On the aisle leading to the Convention Centre of the hotel were photo exhibition of PEARL Awards over the years.

    Guests moved to the carpet where they posed for photographs. They later moved to a section of the hall for cocktail.

    The men looked elegant in suits while the women were in beautiful dinner dresses; they were ushered to labelled seats in the hall by ushers dressed in black and gold dress.

    In his welcome address, PEARL Awards Chairman Alhaji Umaru Abdulahi thanked God for the day. He congratulated the awardees on their excellent performance, urging them to sustain their good deeds and strive for a better performance.

    PEARL Awards, over the years, its President, Mr Tayo Orekoya said, is not only to celebrate quoted companies on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), but to also honour major stakeholders of the capital market.

    He said the awards were based on credibility, integrity, fairness and transparency.

    Orekoya congratulated the awardees, urging them to remain winners.

    He said aside rewarding corporate excellence, they also have initiatives aimed at contributing to the growth of the capital market through its yearly public lecture for capital market development, publication of the Nigerian Stock Market Annual and the Winning strategies of Nigeria corporate giants.

    In his goodwill message, the representative of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed, Mrs Teju Phillips, a former Commissioner of the Lagos State Ministry of Human Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, wished Pearl Awards the best

    Former Chairman, Lafarge  Africa Plc, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, described PEARL Awards as a success story.

    The anniversary cake was cut after the spelling of PEARL.

    At the event, Nigerian Stock Market Annual was launched. There was a fundraiser.

    Among the awards were the Special Honorary Award, Secretarial Leadership Award; Market Excellence Awards and Special Recognition Awards, others were Good Corporate Governance Award; Issuing House of the Year Award; Stock Broking Firm of the Year Award; NASD OTC Participating Institutions Award and NASD OTC traded securities award.

    The winner of the award was Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc.

    It also won the ‘2015 PEARL Most Outstanding CEO of the Year award’. It achieved the highest earnings yield in the ‘Market Excellence Category Award’.

    As the winner was announced, guests applauded.

    Receiving the award, the Group Managing Director, Mr Akin Ogunbiyi, said the award would distinguish the organisation and make it tower above competitors.

    He said the award, which is based on empirical parameters, has judged the company as Nigeria’s clear leader in the insurance sector.

    He said the award was the recognition for good work, urging Nigerians not to be weary in doing well. It added that they too could get the reward at the appointed time.

  • Noah’s Ark leads LAIF Awards

    Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, a creative advertising agency, has emerged the overall best agency at the 2015 Lagos Advertising Ideas Festival (LAIF), held in Lagos last Saturday.

    The agency won 10 awards including a Grand Prix, five gold, two silver and two bronze plaques to emerge the number one agency for 2015.

    The agency beat old generation agencies such as Insight Communications Limited, DDB, among others.

    Noah’s Ark communication won the Grand Prix with a Press Ad tagged: Obama for Gala, for UAC Foods Limited making the Grand Prix a cutting edge for Noah’s Ark to emerge the best agency for 2015.

    The five gold awards won included: Best Use of Photo Manipulation for its CSR campaign- Boko Halal (Naomi Zakariyah), another Gold was won in The Ad That Never Ran, (press media) category for UAC Gala brand tagged: Gala Queen; Noah’s Ark also won two gold in the food and consumables category one for Three Crowns Milk (outdoor  media) and the other for Gala Obama (Press media). Finally, the agency won another gold for Indomie Noodles in The Best Use of Copy (Print) for the Ramadan campaign.

    The Minime Chin Chin (POV Bus Stop) won the agency Silver in the Food & Consumables category while the other Silver was won in the Best Use of Photo Manipulation for Gala (Soyinka).

    The two Bronze plaques were won in the Public, Political & Social category (Press) for Boko Halal (Grinding Stone) and Food and Consumables category for the Indomie (Ramadan).

    The Executive Creative Director of the agency, Mr. Abolaji Alausa described the feat by the agency at 2015 LAIF award as a well deserved honour and reward for creativity and excellence, which the agency is reputed for.

    Alausa said emerging first in the 2015 LAIF awards ahead of the other leading advertising agencies in Nigeria, posed a very big challenge for the agency to continue to strive to improve in the quality of creative work.

    Also, the Group Managing Director, Noah’s Ark Group, Mr. Lanre Adisa congratulated the team, noting that the agency is now one of the best agencies in Africa.

    ‘’Congratulations to all of us for staying consistent all these years, for living our vision, for staying the course and most importantly for being an inspiration to the industry and beyond. I am very proud of our performance at this year’s LAIF awards,” he said.

  • Oracle’s brand campaigns attract awards

    Oracle’s brand campaigns attract awards

    Oracle Experience, a foremost brand activation agency, has won awards for its prowess in interpreting clients’ briefs. At the 2015 Marketing World Awards (MWA), the agency won the 2015 experiential agency of the year for its Star Bottle Tree and Gulder World Biggest poster brand activations campaigns.

    For Star Bottle Tree brand activation, this makes it second time in two weeks to win a major prize.  The campaign was confirmed as the best experiential marketing campaign in the year under review at the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) Awards for Marketing Excellence.

    At the keenly contested category at the ADVAN awards, Star Bottle Tree defeated Nescafe Get Started, Star Music Trek, MTN Project Fame, Fayrouz L’Original Expression, Jaguar Landover Ride & Drive, Heineken House, Ranger Odyssey and Orijin Drum unveil   to emerge the best for the year.

    However, the agency behind the award-winning campaign, Oracle Experience, was adjudged the best experiential marketing agency in its category at the 5th Marketing World Awards as result of its several groundbreaking activations between 2014 and 2015. The agency defeated EXP and Brands Optima.

    In the Excellence in Marketing Innovation category, Nigerian Breweries’ Gulder World Biggest Poster, which was unveiled in Enugu some months ago pitched against Coca-Cola’s Share-A-Coke and MultiChoice’s DStv Explora Box office won. Also,  Star Bottle Tree defeated Star Music Trek, Guinness’ Made of Black and Coca-Cola’s Coke Studio.

    The World’s biggest poster measuring 5,367 square metres unveiled at the Michael Okpara Square in Enugu State broke the record for the existing largest poster measuring 4,793.65 square metres, which was displayed in India on June 27, 2015. The size of the poster was attested to by a chartered quantity surveyor Nath Agu, while a lawyer, Onyekwuluje Ogochukwu, legally affirmed the measurement and size.

    Oracle had won several awards in the past, including Nigeria Brand Awards 2015 as Best Experiential agency of the year Award – Gold category, MarketingEdge’s 2014 Outstanding Experiential Agency, Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria’s Brand Activation influencer with its Nescafe Hot Air Balloon campaign, 2013 Best Effort in Innovation, 2013 Polaris Excellence Awards, and 2011 Institute of Direct Marketing of Nigeria’s West Africa World Class Experiential Marketing Service Consultant.

    The latest accolades come on the heels of Oracle’s world record breaking Christmas bottle tree with 8,000 bottles of Star beer bottle covering a 2.7 kilometre stretch. Prior to this, the world record was 1,000 bottles achieved in China.

    Another feat was the Gulder crate tunnel using over 3,200 crates of Gulder beer to build the ultimate corridor that led to the place the new Gulder bottle was launched.

    Other achievements by Oracle include Amstel Show Time, a musical presentation, which was first of its kind in Nigeria, Heineken Green light party with extraordinary video mapping and using the Heineken bottles to create a selfie wall.

    They also include the star triple X experience centre, the hot air balloon activation for Nescafe, Gulder club ultimate hosted in a 70-metre ultimate liner just like Titanic, and the sensational strongbow golden hour sensory experience.

    The CEO, Oracle Experience, Felix King Eiremiokhae, said: “We have come a long way and the journey to success is not bread and butter, but that which is filled with great burden that involves sweat and blood.  I will tell you this, there is no short cut to success, and there is never an end to the road of success. It is continuous journey, a journey filled with thorns and roses,” he said.