Amaechi, Ohakim, Soludo for Ikenga Awards
02.14.2009



The organisers of the inaugural Ikenga Merit Awards scheduled to take place at the All Seasons Hotel Owerri on April 11, 2009 have released the list of the nominees for this year’s award.



The award, which is being organised by Ikenga Entertainment and Awards Inc,  was conceived  to identify and recognise sons and daughters of Igbo land who have distinguished themselves in various fields of human endeavour.

The award which has its theme “ana esi na ulo mara nma puo na ama” (charity begins at home) would be the first of its kind in the history of the Igbo Nation.

In a statement by CEO of Ikenga Awards and Entertainment, Mr. Chris Nwandu, the nominees include Mr. Jim Ovia, CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu of UBA Plc, Mr. Emeka Onwuka of Diamond Bank Plc and Mr. Okey Nwosu of Finbank Plc in the Ikenga Banker of the Year category. Engineer Ernest Ndukwe, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo and Prof Ndidi Okereke- Onyuike are listed in the Regulator of the Year category.

Amongst those shortlisted for the Ikenga Journalist of the year category are Mr. Paul Ibe, Editor, Nation’s Capital of THISDAY, Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene, Executive Director, Publications  of The Punch Newspapers, Mr. Steve Nwosu of The Sun, Mrs. Augusta Maduegbuna of  NTA and Ms Rose Moses of Champion Newspapers.

Also nominated are Governors, Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State, Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, T.A. Orji of Abia State, Peter Obi of Anambra State, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State and Sullivan Chime of Enugu State among others.

Senator Ken Nnamani, Air Marshal Paul Dike, Mr. Chukwurah Udeh, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyimand Mr. Mike Okiro are to be conferred with the Ikenga Award for Service to the Nation.



The awards which is in twenty five categories will cover such areas as Politics, Business, Legislature, Music, Movies, Comedy, Good  Governance, Banking and finance, ICT (Telecom) , Commerce, Transportation, Regulator, Media (Print and Electronic), Service to Nation and Ndigbo, Leadership and Sports, among others.



There will also be Life Time Achievement Awards for such notable Igbo citizens like Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Rtd Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prof Philip Emegwali and Prof Chinua Achebe.

[size=14pt]The event will be rounded up with the 1st Miss Ikenga Beauty Pageant at the same venue, same day[/size].



Ikenga Merit Awards and Pageant is a celebration of all Igbo sons and daughters within the Igbo speaking states of Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, Rivers and Delta.

Is this another virgin pageant?