NAN-ELS-1
Awards
Lagos, Jan. 5, 2018 (NAN) A Nigerian firm, Matchmakers Consult International, on Friday, said it had concluded plans for the maiden edition of Africa LAMPS Awards to identify the best in the fields of theatre and movie, among others.
The President of the firm, Mr Shina Philips, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the event was scheduled to coincide with the Africa Union General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia later in the year.
He said “for too long, Africa has missed an event which has the capacity to pull together and celebrate her best brains in key fields of human endeavours.
“The continent has missed the glamour, razzmatazz and the opportunity to publicly display her culture and heroes.
“There is the need for the continent to celebrate the achievements of her industrious sons and daughters who made tremendous impact in raising the standard of human lives both in Africa and across the globe.”
According to him, the LAMPS Awards also represents legends of arts, management, politics, security, sports and science.
He said the awards would be presented in 15 categories namely: African Music Personality of the Year, African Movie Personality of the Year and African Journalist of the Year.
Others are African Legal Luminary of the Year, African Banker of the Year; African CEO of the Year; African Entrepreneur of the Year; African Farmer of the Year and Africa’s Most Influential Political Personality of the Year.
African Support Leadership Award; Public Service Leadership Award; African Scientist of the Year; African Sport Personality of the Year; African Security Personality of the Year and African Hero.
Philips said a voting process had been designed to accommodate 100 voters per category from all countries on the continent and from a few international media.
“The process will be coordinated and verified by an international audit firm,” he added.
According to Philips, the word ‘LAMPS’ is used to refer to traditional or electric devices designed to produce light and illumination.
He said “light illuminates the world and makes things visible. Light is knowledge and it provides direction and guidance.
“The story of Africa is the epic tales of Cheikh Anta Diop, a Senegalese historian, anthropologist, physicist and politician, Thomas R. Odhiambo (1931–2003) and a Kenyan entomologist and environmental activist, Kitaw Ejigu (1948-2006).
“Ethiopian engineer and Chief of Spacecraft and Satellite Systems engineer at NASA, Kwame Nkrumah, outspoken advocate of Pan-Africanism and Ghanaian leader, Julius Kambarage Nyerere and Tanzanian leader, respected by many world leaders of his time.
“Nnamdi Azikwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa and Anthony Enahoro, all great Nigerian leaders; Bisi Ezerioha (Nigerian Engineer who has built some of the world’s most powerful Honda and Porsche engines).’’ (NAN)
ADEX/ENN/HA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu