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Monalisa Chinda-Coker (L) & Stephanie Okereke-Linus
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At its inaugural Daylight Annual Leadership Awards,
#DALA2016, held recently in Lagos, leading online newspaper Daylight honored Nollywood A-list stars and prominent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves
in their various fields.
According to Daylight reporter Chika Chimezie, “it was
truly the gathering of eminent Nigerians, stars, celebrities and achievers from
all walks of life at the historic maiden edition of Daylight Annual Leadership
Awards (#DALA2016).
The talk-of-the-town awards ceremony held elaborately at
the posh Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, amid glitz, glamour, and
grandeur.
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Daylight Publisher/Editor-in-Chief and DALA founder
Azuh Amatus delivering his welcome address |
Painstakingly and proudly organized by
leading and
reliable online newspaper Daylight,
the grand ceremony that serenaded Lagos and its environs while it lasted, was
equally well attended, with victuals in surplus.
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| Okey Bakassi & Jennifer Eliogu |
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| L-R: Ndidi Obi, Tricia Eseigbe-Kerry, & Grace Amah |
The very colorful event, which was beautifully and
professionally anchored by the famous duo of Okey Bakassi and Jennifer Eliogu,
began on a very high note with the rendition of the National Anthem, by kid
prodigy, Nonso Sax. The nine year-old precociously talented child, got a
standing ovation for his brilliant performance.
Amazingly, one unique thing about the ceremony was that
virtually all the awardees were in attendance to personally receive their
prestigious DALA Plaques.
The awards proper, which followed an elaborate red
carpet glam, commenced with the citation of leading Nollywood star and TV Host,
Monalisa Chinda-Coker, who mounted the beautifully-decorated stage to receive
her DALA plaque for the Best TV Talk Show Host of the Year amid cheers and
encomiums.
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Femi Adesina receives award from Yes magazine publisher/editor-in-chief
Azuh Arinze (L) and Ovation magazine editor Michael Effiong |
Charming and effervescent Monalisa, who was gorgeously
swathed in a flowing yellow flowery gown, in her acceptance speech thanked the organizers
of the awards and promised to continue doing her best for humanity through her
creative works.
She was immediately followed by another top entertainer
and presenter/producer of Bold Faces and The Psychologist on TV, Tricia
Eseigbe-Kerry. She won in the Best Use of Advocacy on TV category.
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| Emeka Mba (L) receives award from Emeka Ossai & Femi Adesina |
One of the biggest honors of the night went to Mr. Femi
Adesina, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu
Buhari.
Amiable Adesina, who was accompanied to the event by his darling wife
and two lovely children, was recognized and rewarded with the diadem of Most
Outstanding Media Personality.
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Raw Nwanne (C) receives award from Directors Guild of Nigeria president
Fred Amata & Association of Movie Producers president Ralph Nwadike |
Also the famous and multi-talented Nollywood trio of
Stephanie Okereke-Linus, Osita Iheme (Paw Paw), and Zik Zulu-Okafor smiled home
with DALA Plaques in the categories of Nollywood Person of the Year (Female),
Nollywood Person of the Year (Male) and Nollywood Icon of the Year, in that
order.
Stephanie, who donned a lovely green gown, was oozing
elegance and radiating in the curvy attire that was perfectly made for her.
The high point of the awards ceremony was the
presentation of the highest award of the night, Daylight Person of the Year, to
Mr. Emeka Mba, the immediate past Director General of the National Broadcasting
Commission (NBC).
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| Calebs Olumese (L) & Toni Kan |
Cerebral Mba thanked the management of Daylight, organizers
of the awards, for deeming it fit to recognize and honor him for the
outstanding contributions he rendered to his fatherland during his fruitful
tenure at the NBC.
As the classy and colorful event which was spiced with
titillating and hilarious comedy and musical performances progressed, the very
popular and celebrated trio of Okey Bakassi, Steve Onu (Yaw), and Mr. Raw
Nwanne, also received DALA plaques in the Comedian, Radio Personality, and
Musician of the Year categories, respectively, amid applause and plaudits.
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| Steve Onu (Yaw) receives award from Femi Adesina |
For his immense contributions to the growth of
entertainment and tourism in Nigeria, showbiz impresario and founder of
Niteshift Coliseum, Mr. Ken Calebs Olumese was garlanded with DALA Life Time
Achievement award.
Olumese, who was accompanied to the event by his son,
Kevin, was full of praises to the organizers for deeming it fit to recognize
and reward him.
Fast growing and time conscious airline, Air Peace, ably
led by Barrister Allen Onyema, won the DALA Plaque for Airline of the Year.
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| Zik-Zulu Okafor & Monalisa Chinda-Coker |
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| Angel Ufuoma with her award |
The last award of the memorable and fun filled night of
high-net-worth gathering went to Nollywood newest discovery, Angel Ufuoma. The
sexy lawyer turned actress walked away with the trophy of Nollywood Most
Promising Actress of the Year.
Meanwhile, earlier in his speech, the youthful and
cerebral Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Daylight newspaper and founder of DALA,
Mr. Azuh Amatus, reiterated that the award primarily seeks to reward
outstanding and hard working Nigerians in leadership positions that have
excelled immensely in their chosen careers, in both private and public sectors.
Azuh, a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE),
added that DALA was part of the activities marking Daylight newspaper’s first
anniversary of robust, responsible and reliable online journalism.
A special anniversary edition of Daylight newspaper was
also unveiled at the ceremony by Mr. Femi Adesina, who was supported by his
wife, Mrs. Nike alongside Azuh.
This was preceded by the cutting of the splendid
anniversary cake by Azuh, his wife, Mary, son, Nonso Sax, and a galaxy of
Nollywood stars and entertainers.
“I want to thank all of you for coming to rejoice and
celebrate with us. My special thanks to all our awardees for accepting to be the
first ever recipients of this laudable and prestigious DALA Plaques,” stated
elated Azuh.
The historic night of celebrations and networking ended
with riveting performances from the quartet of De Don, D’Lectura, TJ Sax, and
Kesh Ofuobi.
In their acceptance speeches, all the honorees expressed
their appreciations to the organizers of DALA 2016.
In the words of Adesina: ‘I feel honored, thank you
Daylight media for celebrating me. This is coming one year after I left active
journalism.’”
Congratulations, Azuh
ReplyDeleteWhat a collection of stars. The who's who of Nollywood. Congratulations Chief Amatus
ReplyDeleteIt was a huge success. Thanks, Azuh
ReplyDeleteWow! Huge Congratulations,Amatus Nwanne. I am so proud of you. It is really a colorful event. Keep it up.
ReplyDelete