The Chairman of the Governing Council of Africa’s Highest Honour Award (AHA), Mr. Festus Uwakhemen, has explained why the organisation settled for the Chairman of THISDAY/ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena as the Media Giant for the 2021 edition of Africa Highest Honour Award.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Ghanaian President, Mr. Nana Akuffo-Addo, and former Interim President of Tunisia, Mahamad Ennaceur, were also nominated for the African Leadership Award.
Uwakhemen explained in a statement that Obaigbena has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the media industry both in Nigeria and at the international level, adding also that the media mogul has kept to the international standard of practice.
According to him, Obaigbena stands out among the African publishers who have covered both the broadcast and print sectors in line with laid down rules and practice.
Uwakhemen stressed that the list of the awardees was carefully selected to cover all sectors of the African economy, adding that appreciating entrepreneurship will spur the interest of many to do more to make society better for all.
He expressed satisfaction for a job well done by the adjudication committee set up by the organisation to scrutinise the list and make sure that every awardee is meritorious.
The award, which is the first of its kind, has been established to celebrate Africans who have distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavours as well as to celebrate individuals who are dead but whose impacts and legacy cannot be forgotten on the continent.
“The list of the awardees was carefully selected to cover all sectors of the African economy. We are appreciating entrepreneurship, which will spur the interest of many to do more and better the society for all.
“The adjudication committee has done a good job. It was set up by the organisation to scrutinise the list and making sure every awardee is meritorious without favour. I am satisfied with the outcome,” he added.
The organisers had in an earlier statement disclosed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Ghanaian President, Mr. Nana Akuffo-Addo, and former Interim President of Tunisia, Mahamad Ennaceur, were also nominated for the African Leadership Award.
Similarly, the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, Tafawa Balewa; the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela; the late President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings; and former Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, South Africa, Desmond Tutu, were also nominated for Posthumous Elites Heroes award.
The Prestigious Elites Organisations Board had announced in the statement by Uwakhemen that the names were carefully selected through due process.
He had also stated that the first award recipients would be inducted into the African Prestigious Elites Leaders Hall of Fame and Personality Award respectively and that the nominated recipients approved by the organisation’s advisory board would be inducted into the ‘Africa Highest Honour Award as nomination letters were being sent out to them.
