Tag Archives: Award

Wizkid bags U.S. award for writing Drake’s “One Dance”

Posted on by
1

Nigerian music sensation and Starboy Music Worldwide boss, Wizkid, has earned himself another international award from The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

 

ASCAP, according to Wikipedia, is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization that protects its members’ musical copyrights by monitoring public performances of their music, whether via a broadcast or live performance, and compensating them accordingly.

 

The award was given to Wizkid in recognition of his role as the writer of Drake’s chart-topping hit single “One Dance” which featured Wizkid and Kyla.

 

Wizkid's award

 

The song, which is off Drake’s world-class album “Views”, also occupied a nomination spot at the Grammy Awards under the “Album of the Year” category, earning Wizkid a nomination spot also.

 

Asides being credited for writing the rave single, “One Dance” has also been acknowledge by ASCAP for occupying the number one spot on the highly revered Billboard Hot 100 Charts for an outstanding 10 weeks in a row.

 

Wizkid could not contain his joy as he took to his Instagram account to share this milestone.

 

“This came in last night! Big up my bro @champagnepapi for letting me work on this!! More Drake x Wizkid on the way!! ?.,” he said.

 

Wizkid and Drake have displayed a high level of musical synergy ever since their first encounter on Wizkid’s widely accepted single “Ojuelegba” which also featured UK rapper of Nigerian descent, Skepta.

 

Asides “Ojuelegba” remix and “One Dance”, Drake and Wizkid recently hit the studio to create “Hush Up The Silence” which leaked a couple of weeks ago.

Activist rejects Church’s award after request for ‘small assistance’.

Posted on by
1

Inibehe Effiong, a lawyer and human rights activist, has rejected a “Freedom and Justice Award” that was to be given to him by a local branch of the African Church in Akwa Ibom State.

The award ceremony took place on Sunday

, without Mr. Effiong showing up.

Mr. Effiong said he rejected the award from the St. Paul’s Parish of the church, Eket, because of “unnecessary expectation” from the church.

“I cannot accept an award that violates my principles and values,” Mr. Effiong said.

“My work as a human rights lawyer cum activist is totally humanitarian and selfless. I believe that any recognition or appreciation of my modest humanitarian activities by any individual or group should be without a request or expectation of reward.”

The young lawyer explained that he took to Facebook to publish his “Notice of Rejection” because he had previously used the same medium to publicise the church’s decision to bestow the award on him.

Richard Peter, the priest in-charge of St. Paul’s Parish, in his response to Mr. Effiong, explained what the lawyer meant by “unnecessary expectation”.

Mr. Peter said Mr. Effiong and others who were to receive different categories of awards from the church were expected to assist the church complete a “small project”. He did not mention what the project was all about.

“It was never a condition (for the award) or compulsory. But (just) an appeal for support,” Mr. Peter said.

The clergy told PREMIUM TIMES, Tuesday, that he was embarrassed by Mr. Effiong’s action.

He said he had never met with Mr. Effiong before, but that he had followed his activism through the social media, and that his nomination of the lawyer was to encourage him to touch the lives of people.

He said he called Mr. Effiong to brief him in advance that during the award ceremony the awardees would likely raise money publicly to support a church project, and that he did not want the lawyer to be surprised or embarrassed when it happened.

Buying of titles, awards and honours is a common practice among rich and influential Nigerians.

“Though I feel so sad about it, I want us to forget about what happened,” the clergy, Mr. Peter said.

JUST IN: MTV EMAs strip WizKid of ‘Best African Act’ award.

Posted on by
1

Ayo ‘Wizkid’ Balogun was “incorrectly” awarded the Best African Act award at the MTV EMAs held in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

 

A statement posted on the website of MTV EMAs noted that Alikiba, Tanzanian singer, is the rightful recipient of the award.

 

The Best African Act category is usually presented a day before the actual show, and MTV EMAs says the error was made when the results were posted.

 

“MTV congratulates Alikiba, who has won Best African Act at the 2016 MTV EMAs,” the statement read.

 

“The news was revealed 10 November, after the incorrect results were posted late Sunday night (6 November) due to an error.

 

“Six Worldwide Act winners, including Wizkid, were selected by an international committee of MTV music executives to recognize current artists who are rising to have a wider geographic appeal beyond their local regions.

 

“The winners were chosen based off a range of criteria including international MTV video play, radio airplay, streams, and sales across multiple territories and regions.

 

“The winner of Best African Act was selected by fans via votes on MTVEMA.com

 

“Both Wizkid and Alikiba are great artistes and deserving winners at the MTV EMAs and we congratulate them wholeheartedly on their achievements. We apologise for any confusion but we are pleased to recognise the achievements of both artists on this global platform.”

Nigerian Student Wins British Petroleum Prize Award For Best Project

Posted on by
Reply

Ignatius Akpabio, an Indigene of Akwa Ibom state, has won the British Petroleum Prize for the best project on the course at the School of Computing Science and Digital Media’s 2016 Annual Awards Ceremony of the Robert Gordon University, UK.

A Nigerian Masters student who has graduated with distinction from Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen is also celebrating picking up an industry prize for his academic performance.

Ignatius Akpabio (23),graduated with an MSc in IT for the Oil and Gas Industry in July, and was awarded the BP prize for the best project on the course at the School of Computing Science and Digital Media’s annual awards ceremony.

Ignatius said:

“I feel very excited to have won this prize as I didn’t expect it and I’m very grateful to the best project supervisor anyone can have, Dr Iain Pirie, for been very supportive of me during the implementation of my MSc project.”

Ignatius decided to embark on the course due to its unique nature in the higher education sector, as well as the growing importance of the oil and gas industry in his home country.

“Oil and gas being the major source of GDP in Nigeria means that the future of the country might well depend on the sector,” he said. “I’m a strong proponent of the ‘Nigeria of Tomorrow’ and therefore, in every possible way I want to contribute my own quota to the development of my country.

“Coming from an IT background, I would like to use IT to develop and improve the oil and gas sector.”

Ignatius developed an inventory management system for an oil and gas servicing company as part of his MSc project, which was able to monitor and ensure effective management of goods to and from the warehouses and also record sales and purchases of goods while automatically updating stock levels with each transaction.

He said: “Implementing the system was very challenging as it consists of a lot of functionalities. It was developed as a web application to aid authorised access from anywhere around the world as long as there is connection to the internet.”

Ignatius added: “The MSc course content itself is a very rich one which encompasses modules from core oil and gas engineering, petroleum geoscience and information technology.

“I have found my time at RGU very rewarding and the School, alongside dedication on my part, has helped me improve on my software development skills.

“Thanks to lecturers like Dr David Lonie and Dr Angela Siegel, I found software development very interesting and this enabled me to excel exceedingly well in both modules.”

Despite offers to stay back abroad, Akpabio has resolved to return home to pursue the Nigerian dream!

Nigerian Journalist Wins BBC World News Award

Posted on by
Reply

Nigeria’s Didi Akinyelure, a business journalist with CNBC Africa, has won the  BBC World News Komla Dumor Award.

The award, instituted in 2015 in honour of Komla Dumor, a presenter for BBC World News, who died aged 41 in 2014, seeks to “celebrate African journalism and reward exceptional talent,” BBC says.

Akinyelure has been with CNBC Africa in Lagos since 2013. She will join BBC news teams in September for a 3-month placement.
The inaugural edition of the award was won by Nancy Kacungira, a television anchor for Kenya’s KTN television channel.

Credit: Guardian

Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi Emerges Ohanaeze Igbo Man Of The Year

Posted on by
1

Nigeria’s Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi has won the 2015 Igbo Man of the Year Award.

 

 

National Secretary of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, who disclosed this to journalists at a press briefing on Thursday, said “the former Governor of Rivers State from the Ikwerre sub Igbo clan won the award after a stiff poll organised by the OYC.”

 

 

While disclosing that the award will officially be conferred on Hon Amaechi on Saturday, 30th January, 2015 at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, he stated that the Deputy Senate President, Chief Senator Ike Ekweremadu emerged as the outstanding Igbo politician of the year.

 
According to him, winners of other categories include Governor Willy Obiano- the best Igbo Governor of the year, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Igbo legislator of the year, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, the Igbo entrepreneur of the year, Leo Stan Ekeh, the Igbo Scientist of the year, Prof Ben Nwabueze, the Igbo Elder statesman of the year and Prof May Nwoye the Igbo Woman of the year.

 

 

Others are Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Igbo Minister of the year, Chief Charles Okereke, the Igbo Journalist of the year, Chief Innocent Chukwuma , the Igbo investor of the year, Chief Author Eze, the Igbo philanthropist of the year and Chief Maduka Onyishi, the Igbo Transporter of the year.

 

 

On why Amaechi won the award, Okwu explained that “his actions before and during the 2015 presidential election has so much helped in deepening Nigeria’s democracy.

 

 

“We recall how he doggedly fought and retained his position as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, against all odds.

 
“Apart from that, as the Director of President Buhari’s campaign team, he gallantly led the fight that led to the change in the country today. These no doubt, put him forward as a true Igbo son from the South-South.

 

 

“On the part of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, apart from the effective representation he has given to his constituency and the South-East Zone, he emerged as the Deputy Senate President against all odds”.

 

 

On the recognition of Gov Willie Obiano as the best Igbo Governor of the Year in the zone, he explained that even though all the governors, especially the three new ones, had make remarkable impact, the Anambra Governor had created so many indelible records.

 

 

He further stated that other categories of awards to be announced later include the Igbo Sportsperson of the year, the Igbo Farmer of the year, the Igbo Academic of the year, the Igbo footballer of the year, among others.

 

 

 

Credit : Daily Post

Chimamanda Adiche’s ‘Half Of A Yellow Sun’ Wins Best Of The Best Award

Posted on by
Reply

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun has topped a list of the last decade’s winners of the Baileys Women’s Fiction Prize.

“Best of the best” is part of the celebrations to mark 20 years of the annual £30,000 prize.

The Nigerian author won in 2007 for her story, her second novel, set during the Biafran War of the 1960s.

The 38-year-old said of the prize, Over the years it’s brought wonderful literature to a wide readership that might not have found many of the books. I feel I am in very good company.

Credit: Vanguard

Yemi Alade Gets International Music Award Nomination

Posted on by
15

Energetic singer, Yemi Alade, gets an international music award nomination. The singer who has carved a niche for herself in the Nigerian Music industry, shared on her instagram the amazing news.

She captioned that she was nominated for BET’s Best African Act and added that it was an act of God. She also shared a photo of the nomination.

image