Organisers of Nigerian Centenary Awards UK release list of 100 outstanding citizens

ORGANISERS of the Nigerian Centenary Awards UK have released the list of 100 prominent UK diasporans who will be honoured at a glitzy gala dinner taking place at Waltham Forest Town Hall on Friday June 27.

Backed by the Nigerian high commission, the event, tagged the Nigerian Centenary Awards UK in conjunction with Ben TV, will see the handing out of plaques and certificates to 100 outstanding citizens over the last century. Dr Dalhatu Tafida, the Nigerian high commissioner to the UK will personally hand out some of the awards, as will other dignitaries including the leader of Waltham Forest Council Chris Robbins and Diane Abbott MP.

Among the 100 outstanding Nigerians to be honoured are historical figures such as Matthew Mbu, Nigeria's first ever high commissioner to the UK and Teslim Balogun, the first ever Nigerian to play professional football in the English league. Among the more recent awardees are former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Olisa, the current borough commander of Haringey; Nwabueze Nwokolo, the chairman of the Black Solicitors Network and Helen Duke, the proprieties of Mama Calabar restaurant.

Ayo Akinfe, the chairman of the Nigerian Centenary Awards UK organising committee, said: "We are using this event to celebrate the good about Nigeria over the last 100 years and to acknowledge the contribution our people have made to both countries. We have our fair share of challenges which we must address but while doing that, we must also acknowledge the positive contributions our people have made too."

Ronke Udofia, the chairman of the organising committee's awards sub-committee, whose responsibility it was to compile the list, said it was hard work but was very rewarding. She added that the quality and calibre of the nominees was very high and it was very taxing to whittle the list down to 100.

Ms Udofia added: "As we wanted to ensure transparency, we opened up a website and asked members of the public to nominate people and ended up with about 200 nominees, which we had to reduce to 100. When nominations closed, we found out that the calibre of nominees was of such class, that it was very taxing picking the top 100.

"There are a lot of other Nigerians out there doing a lot of good and impacting people's lives who deserve recognition for the good they are doing. Unfortunately, we could only honour 100 of them but this exercise has shown that there are thousands of Nigerians out there worthy of emulation."

Organised by a committee of 32 community leaders and activists, the Nigerian Centenary Awards UK is designed to be the event of the century and will include a three course buffet meal and entertainment. Starting at 7pm and ending at 1am, it will accommodate 450 guests with standard tickets going for £50 and VIP ones available for £75.

Ms Udofia said that there are still a few tickets available, adding that anyone interested in attending should make their order via the website www.nigeriancentenaryawardsuk.com. She pointed that as the organisers want the event to be a celebration of Nigerian culture, it would be ideal if guests wore traditional costumes.

 Nigerian Centenary Awards UK 2014 - Award Recipients  

Unsung Heroes

Adebunmi Apanishile

Toibudeen Adeniyi

Nnasha Michael-Ihunde

Youth Ambassadors

Eby Emenike

Anne Marie Imafidon

Laila Johnson Salami

Nsikan Adejumoke Udofia

Yemi Soile

Whitney Ihenachor

Health Services

Dr. Peter Ozua

Dr. Adebisi Bello

Prof. Dilly Anumba

Prof. Uduak Archibong

Dr. Comfort Momoh MBE

Dr. Baba Inusa

Wallace Ogufere

Samuel Osaghae

Chief (Mrs) Yemisi Sanusi

Dr Ify Okocha

Dr. Lola Omotayo

Prof. Stanley Okolo

Ifesinachi Anyamene

Chima Mbubaegbu

Sport

Ade  Adepitan MBE

Teslim  Balogun

Michael Emenalo

Nwankwo Kanu

Christine Ijeoma Ohuruogu MBE

Anthony Ogogo

Science & Technology

Dr. Sunday Popo-ola

Tunji Akintokun

Dr. Chris Imafidon

Public Service

Joachim A Adenusi

Yetunde Adeola

Michael Adeyeye

Kindness Aifuwa

Michelle Akintoye BEM

Ruth Alake

Cllr. Adedamola Aminu

Kate  Anolue

Dr Erinma Bell

Yinka Alli Balogun

Cllr. Susan Fajana-Thomas

Dr. Toyin Idowu

Dr Larry Jones-Esan

Barbara Kasumu

Cllr. Anna  Mbachu

Stella Ngozi Mbubaegbu

Dr. Akanmo Odon

Godwin Odusami

Tessy Ojo

Dr Victor Olisa

Benn  Omotayo

Dr Joe Ukemenam

Chuka Umunna MP

Michael Ihemere

Dr. Mathew Tawo Mbu

Cllr. Buky Okunade

Kenneth Olisa OBE

Ade  Adetosoye OBE

Entrepreneurship & Business

Yemisi Aiyegbusi

Afolabi Andu

Engr. Olumuyiwa Ayebgusi

Helen  Bageire Duke

Adebayo Jones

Samuel Kasumu

Dr. Alistair Soyode

Dr. Adebayo Ogunlesi

Sola Oyebade

Banking, Finance & Accounting

Ibironke Adeagbo

Claire Ighodaro CBE

Legal

Kehinde Adesina

Taiwo Adesina

Remi Margaret Nwando Aiyela

Dr Patrick  Davies

Liz Ikiriko

Prof. Oba Nsugbe QC, SAN

Nwabueze Nwokolo

Iguyovwe Ogheneruona

Femi Osibanjo

The Arts

Yinka Shonibare  MBE

Sam Anwuzia

Micheal Appoh

Femi Elufuwoju Jnr

Rita Nzelu Okoro

Jermaine Sanwoolu (JahMain KinG)

Media

Michelle Ogundehin

Mike Abiola

Victor  Amokeodo

Princess Deun Solarin

Community Leadership

Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo

Dr Mark Abani

Debbie Ariyo OBE

Rev Rex Chosen

David Doherty

Ene Ebong

Chief Dr. Ejikeme Eric Uzoalor

Okechukwu Ashley  Mpi

Prince Isaac Namibiri

James O Coker

Grace Oba Fayose

Prof Chike Oduoza

Pa Adebayo Oladimeji

Sam Onigbanjo

Abimbola Sonde