Information reaching Newswatch Times has it that Nigerians
in the United Kingdom (UK) intend to hold a special awards ceremony for the
those uncelebrated diasporans who work tirelessly but get no recognition as
part of an ambitious plan to highlight the good work the teeming numbers of
hardworking do for society.
Due to take place on September 24, 2016 at the
Mayfair Banqueting Suite in east London, the event has been tagged the
Uncelebrated Nigerians Awards UK. According to its organisers, “It will be a
classy gala dinner that will attract community leaders, guests from Nigeria and
high commission officials.”
Organised to honour ordinary Nigerians in the UK who
are excelling in numerous fields, the awards ceremony is being put together by
the same committee that organised the Nigerian Centenary Awards UK in 2014. At
a recent meeting, the committee elected several officials to run its affairs
and organise the event including journalist Ayo Akinfe as coordinator, former
Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk) treasurer June Douglas as
vice coordinator, healthy eating medical campaigner Dr Nkem Ezeilo as
secretary, Agatha Ewruje as assistant secretary and accountant Ayo Oyebade as
treasurer.
Other prominent community members on the 40-man
committee include former Canuk chairman Chief Bimbo Afolayan, current Canuk
first vice chairman Chief Alex Achebe and its assistant publicity secretary
Theodora Ibekwe-Oyebade. Also on board
is the current mayor of Hackney Sade Etti, her predecessor Susan Fajana-Thomas,
former mayor of Lambeth Adedamola Aminu and the former mayor of Enfield Kate
Anolue.
Mr Akinfe said: "Over recent years, there has
been an explosion of awards but unfortunately, what we have seen is that the
same people are getting them every week. Consequently, we have decided to reach
out to ordinary hardworking Nigerians in the UK, who get very little
recognition and honour them.
"This event will be different in that we will
be handing out awards to traffic wardens, chefs, care workers, civil servants,
mini cab drivers, cleaners, hotel porters, school keepers, security guards,
nurses, ambulance drivers, firemen, etc. We will be honouring 56 people as
Nigeria will be 56 this year and for most of our awardees, this will be the
first time they come to an event."
Chief Achebe added that the idea behind the event is
to reach out to those members of the community who Canuk has not been able to
reach so far. He pointed out that the venue can take 800 people and it is
expected that a majority of those who attend will be first timers, who will
from henceforth be absorbed in community activities.
Dr Ezeilo said that the process will be highly
transparent as a website will be set up at www. uncelebratednigeriansawards.com,
with members of the public asked to nominate people. She added that a
sub-committee would ensure that all nominees met the criteria established by
the committee, which included that relatives of members cannot be nominated and
that everyone suggested is of outstanding character.
According to Mrs Ibekwe-Oyebade, the event will be
highly publicised within the Nigerian media in the UK like Trumpet, Nigerian
Watch, Ben Television and African Voice. She added that there will also be a
concerted effort to reach out to every nook and cranny of the UK as Nigerians
are everywhere.
Mrs Douglas added that the event will start at 6pm
prompt and will involve Nigerian cuisine, entertainment and stand-up comedy.
Among the guests that will attend will be the acting high commissioner Mr Simon
Ogah and several prominent dignitaries are also expected from Nigeria.
Chief Afolayan said: "The beauty of this event
is that for the first time, it is recognising people who have been ignored in
the past. Once they have received their awards, the list will then be forwarded
to those who organise the Queens Honours List, so they can consider them for
further recognition too.
"When I was Canuk chairman, we worked
tirelessly to reach out to as many Nigerians in the UK, so I see this as a
continuation of that process. We will be asking other community bodies like
Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, the Nigerian Committee of Elders and the
Nigerian Women in Diaspora Leadership Forum to get their members involved
too."
Mrs Ewruje stressed that some of the proceeds from
the sale of tickets will be donated to charities that support and help
Nigerians in the UK or those back home in Nigeria. She pointed out that the
rationale behind this is to be able to encourage more unsung heroes, especially
those just toiling in fields that are not theirs, to realise their potential by
being able to realise their dreams.
Malcolm Benson,
a prominent movie director and producer and the chair of the publicity and
marketing sub-committee added that the committee would ensure that all parts
and segments of the UK and Nigerian community is made aware of this event
through a series of media campaigns. He also pointed out that as there is a
need to avoid the event appearing elitist or London-based, hence, most
Nigerians who perhaps feel marginalised would actively be encouraged to engage
and participate in this event as well as other community activities.
Henrietta Abraham, the chairperson of Nigerians in
Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) UK South said: "This is a great initiative
aimed at recognising all those silent stars. We at NIDO will be giving it our
full support as we believe that all those honest, hardworking and unsung
Nigerians deserve some recognition too."
Cultural icon and entertainer Ayan De First, who is
the chairman of the sub-committee of sponsorship and partnership, will be
responsible for attracting sponsors. He said he will approach all the companies
that serve the Nigerian diaspora market and are looking to break into it,
offering to provide them with a platform to sell their products.
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