| Nigerians Shine at the University of Greenwich Awards |
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| Monday, 02 May 2005 | |||||||||||||
The painted hall of the University of Greenwich, London was transformed into a showcase of Nigerian fashion and culture recently; the occasion was the 2005 career achievement awards held at the Maritime Greenwich campus of the University Of Greenwich London on Saturday, the 16th of April 2005. This yearly event of the Association of Nigerian Students, University of Greenwich, now in its 3rd season attracted personalities from the arts, political, business, diplomatic, academic and sports sectors. (L-R) Udy Eke, Yetunde Adeyeye, Tina Nduba, Kike Abidakun, Pauline Eke, Ijeoma Eke at the awards. The recipients of this year’s awards, an honour bestowed on them by the students for their outstanding career achievements are Senator Tokunboh Afikuyomi, Rev. Jolly Nyame (The executive governor of Taraba State), Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu, The Honourable Minister of Information and national orientation, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (The executive governor of Lagos state), Chief Jacob Alofe (Secretary to the Ekiti State government) and Chief Robert Afolayan (Chairman, UK chapter of The Nigeria Project 2007).  Senator Tokunboh Afikuyomi (4th from left) flanked by other guests at the event.  Henry Aina and Ijeoma Eke as Mr and Miss Taraba state. Highlights of the evening included an all-Nigerian fashion parade, a display of fashion from Nigeria’s 36 states. In the end, the contest was a close call between Abia and Lagos states but the flamboyance of Mr and Miss Lagos state blew the audience away and bowled the judges over, and they eventually won.  Victor Aghayere and Tina Nduba as Mr and Miss Anambra state  Kingsley Uwatse and Udy Eke as Mr and Miss Abia state  Winners of the fashion parade, Abimbola Idowu and Yetunde Adeyeye as Mr and Miss Lagos state. The keynote speaker of the evening, Senator Tokunboh Afikuyomi did not disappoint the audience. His resounding speech on Legislative issues in Nigeria was like an indictment of the Military in Nigeria for their brutal acts of making the legislature the first casualties of any coup d’etats in Nigeria. He also highlighted the plight of minority law makers (Senator Afikuyomi is an AD senator) in both the senate and the federal house of representatives, saying that the other legislators, especially from the ruling party (PDP), and from the leading opposition party (ANPP) treat minority legislators with disdain, and regard them as irritants. He deplored the underhand tactics of always forcing people like him in the minority parties to decamp; saying that this was not a good omen for democracy. He criticised the Obasanjo government for not paying lawmakers their salaries and entitlements saying that it was increasingly difficult for lawmakers to live above aboard when they have not received their entitlements since the beginning of 2005. Senator Afikuyomi also faulted the federal government for it’s plans to give lawmakers money to sink boreholes in their constituencies, saying that historically, provision of social amenities has always been done by the executive and not the lawmakers, who should be more concerned with law making.  Senator Tokunboh Afikuyomi receiving his award, flanked by Bimbo Adeyeye (left) and Ojo Oyetunde (right). In an emotion laden speech which earned him a standing ovation in the end, the senator challenged his fellow makers to live up to the Nigerian people’s expectations and regretted the situation where bills sponsored in the legislature take a long time to pass, he also regretted the fact that till date, only one private bill has been passed by the national assembly, the bill on child trafficking which was sponsored by Titi Atiku, the wife of the Vice president, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku.  (L-R) Tunde Alade (publisher of Dynamix magazine), Senator Tokunboh Afikuyomi, a female guest, Uche Nworah (founding president of ANS) & Tina Nduba. In a goodwill message, read on his behalf by Mr I.N Charles of the Nigerian High Commission London, the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu praised the students for their vision and efforts in organising the event, saying that such occasions were always good as they help to project Nigeria’s image abroad. He reminded the students of the expectations Nigerians at home have of them, to come back home at the end of their studies to help in the socio-economic development of Nigeria.  Tina Nduba (R) presents Mr I.N Charles the Hon. Minister’s award, while Kingsley Uwatse (middle) looks on. Among those present at the awards ceremony were the actress Clarion Chukwurah (of mirror in the sun fame) and her husband Mr. Oduneye, Isaac Ifenwa (International Students Adviser at the University of Greenwich), Bishop Charles Ajere (who represented the Taraba state governor), Alhaji Olajide Musa (National Vice Chairman, NDP Southwest), Christian Udechukwu (organiser of the Careers in Africa event), Adebola Mogaji (http://www.naijacommunity.com/), Otunba Yomi Fakorede (secretary, Southwest caucus, PDP UK), Ben Etiaba (Chairman of ICAN, UK chapter), Greg Obong-Oshotse (former press secretary to Mrs. Maryam Babangida, and now Europe and North America editor of the Daily Independent), Funmi Iyanda (NTA), Yemi Ogunshola (publisher of Good Times International), Tokunbo Adedoja (ThisDay), Ademorin Aliu Kuye (Chairman, Somolu LGA), Seye Oladejo (Chairman, Mushin LGA), Honourable Abdul Latin Abdulatif, Honourable Omoworara, Honourable Abayomi Sodique and many others.  (L-R) Bola Mogaji, Senator Tokunboh Afikuyomi & Uche Nworah Uche Nworah and Femi Adedapo founded the Association of Nigerian Students, University of Greenwich in 2003. In the first season of the career achievement awards, Prof Pat Utomi, Jay-Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo and Dele Momodu were all honoured for their excellence and achievements in their professions. The award ceremony is now becoming a regular feature in the events calendar of Nigerians living in London, as a result of the calibre of personalities that grace the events, the organisers are even promising a much bigger and better event in 2006.  (L-R) Angela Brown, Lady Jennifer Moore, Johnson Ike & Theresa Enamejewa. According to Johnson Ike, an executive member of the association ‘Next year’s event will be the biggest so far, we have already started our planning, and we are hoping to bring the president himself, or the vice-president to the event, we would also like to appeal to Nigerians, both individuals and companies to come to our aid by sponsoring next year’s event’.  Guests at the awards ceremony.  (L-R) Uche Nworah, Senator Tokunboh Afikuyomi & Johnson Ike uchenworah@yahoo.com
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Posted by Robot| 28.04.2008 00:37