It was glitz and pageantry as Africa’s premier Social Impact and Sustainability news publication spotlighted the contributions of Nonprofits in communities across Nigeria with excellence awards.
The award ceremony which held on Thursday July 6 had dignitaries from across Nigeria in attendance with Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje, CEO, Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) who doubled as an awardee and guest speaker charging leaders of nonprofit organizations to increase their commitment to their works so as to engender a more equitable and just society.
Speaking to the theme of the event ‘Driving Nonprofit Performance and Innovation through Effective Leadership, Dr. Adirieje emphatically propagated the importance of acquiring and deploying the necessary skills and knowledge along what he called the “Six Core Innovative Competencies of an Effective Leadership [6-star General]” namely: Partnerships and Collaborations; Advocacy, Communication and Social/Resource Mobilization (ACSM); Research and Evidence-generation; Capacity Development and Learning; Outreaches and Community Engagements; and Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability (MEA)
Mr. Eche Munonye, the publisher and President of CSR Reporters, Africa’s premier social impact and sustainability news publication, while welcoming dignitaries, noted
that, if a country must make quicker progress, government and private sector must partner with volunteer organizations like the Nonprofit community to bring development to local communities. He said that, it is only in doing that that they can be adequately equipped to helping government build a more equitable society.
On how the nominees were selected, Eche said, ‘Nonprofit Excellence Award did not only recognize prominent international NGOs, but also the smaller, lesser-known ones in remote areas, whose exemplary service and success may have gone unnoticed and unappreciated on the national stage’.
He further noted that the process of nominating and entering for the award was seamless and simple. The nominations, he said, were received from various individuals and organizations with knowledge of the nominee-organization and the works being done. Thereafter, nominations were reviewed by a panel of judges composed of experts drawn from both international and local NGOs, media and intergovernmental organizations.
Eche further commended the awardees for their commitment to a better Nigeria with their time and financial investment while also encouraging other organizations to imbibe the culture of giving back to the society.
The Keynote Speaker, Victor Emeruwa, the Executive Director of the Sun Media Foundation while thanking the community of Nonprofit organizations for their selfless efforts charged them to be more proactive and dedicated to finding new funding opportunities for their work as this will help them to increase their chances of getting more works executed.
Among the organizations that received awards in different categories are Eko Smile Support & Empowerment Initiative (ESSEI), Girl’s Power Initiative (GPI), Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Gender Equality Peace and Development Center (GEPaDC), Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment (S.M.I.L.E), Centre for the Right to Health (CRH), Secure-De-Future (SDF) Initiative, Afrihealth Optonet Association, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities and Foundation for Partnerships Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND Foundation).
Others are Teen Ambassadors Foundation, Caring Hands Empowerment Foundation, SDG Radio, AFRICAN CLEAN-UP INITIATIVE, Yerima Balla international Education initiative, Patriotic Citizen Initiatives, Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF), Do Take Action, Sterling One Foundation, CEDI, Women of Inestimable Value, Save The Child Initiative, Emmanuel World Children Foundation, Cedar Seed Foundation, Lagos Food Bank Initiative, Proactive Gender Initiative and Funmi Nehan Foundation.
The individual categories of the award had Princess Dr. Rosula Mku-Atu, Founder and President, Rosula Foundation; Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, The Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation; Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje, CEO, Afrihealth Optonet Association; Mr. Tunji Idowu, Executive Director, Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND Foundation); Mr. Olumide Idowu; Dr. AlexGreat Akhigbe, The Founder/CEO, AFRICAN CLEAN-UP INITIATIVE; Dr. Fahad Ahmed Chikaji, The Executive Director, AREWA YOUTH TRUST FOUNDATION (AYTF); Ms. Rhoda Robinson, the Executive Director, HACEY Health Initiative; Ms. Imade Bibowei-Osuobeni, Founder, Tech Herfrica; Honorable Mrs. Mojisola Ayinke A. Badmus, the Executive Vice Chairman, Igando-Ikotun LCDA; Mrs. Elizabeth Azubuike; Dr. Olayinka Alausa, Founder/Executive Director, Omo Alausa Foundation and Mr. John Enyinnaya Thompson, President of Africa Institute for Charity
Indeed, it was a day of insights, learnings and fun as key leaders in the nonprofit sector gathered for this awesome time out.
