By Milton Tella – Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Executive Governor of Ogun State in Nigeria was among the Nigerians honoured with the African Voice African Leadership Awards in London on Friday 13 November.
The award is to recognise and honour Africans in the area of governance, diplomacy, business and the film industry. The investiture ceremony was held during the glamourous African Film Awards 2015 ceremony celebrating excellence in the African film industry.
Governor Amosun was honoured with African Voice Leadership Awards in Governance for improving the welfare of the people of his state and investing in infrastructure for sustainable development. Governor Amosun was represented by Senator Lanre Tejuosho at the award ceremony.
The others are Ambassador Ahmed Umar, Nigeria’s Charge d’Affairs in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, who was honoured for his contributions to the promotion of Nigeria’s image abroad and service to the Diaspora community in the UK and Mr. Chris Ndulue, Managing Director of Arik Air, was honoured for his contribution to tourism and support for the development of the entertainment industry.
The prestigious African Film Awards went to several actors and actresses, ace comedian Julius Agwu, D’Genius was honoured for his contributions to the development of the entertainment industry in Nigeria and particularly for his role in nurturing and mentoring new talent.
AIi Nuhu was honoured for his outstanding role as a Hausa actor and as an inspiration to youth to seek careers in the industry. Ali has made a successful crossover to Nollywood with movies like SITANDA and LAST FLIGHT TO ABUJA.
This year’s winners include actors from the Hausa language movies, Adam Abdullahi Zango won Best Actor, Maryam Booth Best Supporting Actress, Hafizu Bello Best Director and Rahamatu Sadau Best Actress.
Other winners come from Black British theatre, film and television, including actors Jimmy Akingbola Best Actor and Chizzy Akindolu Best Actress, Funke Adeleke Best Black British Artistes and Niyi Towolawi Best Director.
Also from Nollywood UK are actors Ken Smart Best Actor, Gift Boyo Best Supporting Actress and Hilda Nevoh–Williams Best Actress and Philippa Chiedu Abraham Best Producer.
According to Prince Mike Abiola, publisher of African Voice, Britain’ N0.1 African Newspaper organisers of the awards, ‘the significance of the African Voice Leadership Awards to this year’s exceptionally deserving recipients was to encourage African leaders to continue to build a stable continent where citizens are gainfully employed and the rush for greener pastures in Europe will be arrested’.
The ceremony was attended by over 300 dignitaries consisting Acting Nigeria’s High Commissioner represented by Mr. Simon Ogah, Minister/Head of Information, Culture & Sports and other ministers/Head of sections and British Nigerian politicians such as the former Mayors of London Borough of Newham and Enfield, Councilor Joy Laguda and Councilor Kate Anolue, Susan Fajana- Thomas and Anna Mbachu Labour councilors for both Hackney and Waltham Forest.
