Posted by By Bridget Chiedu-Onochie on
ON Sunday, Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, will play host to the maiden edition of Nigeria Entertainment Award. Emmanuel Adelaja, president, organising committee at the press briefing last week in Lagos said the award is designed to honour distinguished personalities in the movie and music world.
ON Sunday, Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, will play host to the maiden edition of Nigeria Entertainment Award. Emmanuel Adelaja, president, organising committee at the press briefing last week in Lagos said the award is designed to honour distinguished personalities in the movie and music world.
According to him, "The entertainment industry in Nigerian has come of age as a sub-sector of the global entertainment industry. You would agree with us that a few years ago, Nigeria could not boast of a single nomination in global award ceremonies. This trend however has changed as a result of the commendable works of the players in this industry. It is against this backdrop of excellent performance that we have come up with the idea of recognising our own in the industry as a reference to our own 'performers' in the world at large. We call this idea, Nigeria for Nigerians", he said adding, "there is a common saying that if you do not blow your trumpet, no one will blow it for you. We do not want to be overwhelmed by developments in the international entertainment arena to the detriment of ingenious creative energies of our own artistes."
He however expressed disappointment on the quality of most foreign works being brought into the country. "Many of the works being dumped on our entertainment scene here, you would agree with me, are such that our artists will give them a run for their money, (cent for cent). Gone is that age when everything foreign must be considered of higher quality. We cannot continue to swallow all the foreign materials, hook, line and sinker.
"The creative output of our artistes in all genre of music, movie or comedy, are commendable. This goes further to reinforce the creative brains in the world. Apart from the likes of Dr. Alban, Shade Adu, Seal and others who have stayed outside the country to do us proud, there are those whose works have the potentials to see Nigeria across border. We need to celebrate and promote their creative ingenuity."
The Nigerian Entertainment Award, Adelaja said, is to recognise and decorate deserving Nigerian artistes after a competitive selection process.
The award, at present, is divided into three categories viz: Media, Movie and Music and Comedy. "The Nigerian Entertainment Award shall be held periodically to recognise creative works in the preceding period."
He named The Gunners and the Round Table Committee as the organs of the award. "This is the overall supervisory body and it is made up of a number of experienced people in the showbiz world, media executives, marketing consultants and a few other carefully selected Nigerians. The committee will shortlist nominees and get the winners based on the submission of a sub-committee's well-tuned criteria with adequate consultation with the Gunners.
"A lot of issues are considered by the committee at this stage so as to come out with the best result possible. Those issues are classified under several headings including, but not limited to Technical, Quantitative and Qualitative issues."
Adelaja disclosed that the concept has received the support of companies such as V-Mobile Nigeria, Nigerian Bottling Company as well as beverage companies, La Casera, Tasty Time Nigeria Limited, and the hospitality giant, Sheraton Hotels, Lagos.
"The enthusiasm shown by these corporate bodies has buoyed us to move ahead with confidence convinced that the future of this award is bright. It is our strong belief that this award will help propel our entertainment industry and encourage our emerging talents to put in their best. "
Actors Jim Iyke, Ramseh Nouah, Emeka Ike have been nominated in the Actor of the Year categories (English) while their female counterparts such as Rita Dominic, Omotola Jolade and Genevieve Nnaji will fight for the Actress of the Year award.
Major players in the comedy, media and music world earned nominations in different categories. The ceremony kicks off at 5.pm on Sunday.