Gov. Nyesome Wike of Rivers has been nominated for the 2016 edition of
the Prestigious South-South Progressive Awards (SSPA).
Mr Kinsley Amafibe, the Project Director of the SSPA, told the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday that foremost Nigerian
comedian, Alibaba and veteran singer, Timi Dakolo, were also nominated
for the award.
Other nominees for the award, which would hold on Dec. 16, include
Stella Dimokokorkus, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, traditional rulers, as
well as industrialists, veteran entertainers and athletes from the
South-South region.
Amafibe said the names were among the list of nominees made available
by organisers of the award — Good Dreams Multimedia Concepts, an NGO
that celebrates productivity, excellence and good governance.
He said the nominees would be honoured because of their contributions
to the peace and development of the South-South.
He added that “we believe that this recognition will always be the push for them to achieve more in their various fields.“After looking critically at the various achievements of these sons and daughters of South-South, there is no better way to appreciate them than giving them a boost.’’
The project director
said that although there were more people contributing to peaceful
coexistence and development in the South-South, there was need to honour
the outstanding ones.
He noted that Rivers was peaceful “and
very strategic in the South-South; its peace or otherwise can affect
other states in the region in one way or the other.’’
He also
commended artistes from the South-South, especially those nominated for
the awards, adding that “the Nigerian entertainment industry has become
one of our unifying factors.
“It entertains and brings happiness to Nigerians, which are crucial keys to peace, in spite of tribal and religious divides.
“Besides,
these artistes listed for honour have been involved in humanitarian
initiatives that have impacted the society, especially in the
South-South.’’
According to Amafibe, the 2016 edition of the
award will feature a summit with the theme: “Peace in the South-South,
Our Hope to Economic Development.”
He added that militancy, kidnapping and other vices threatening peace in the region would be discussed at the summit.
“Peace in the Niger-Delta is very crucial to our economic survival as a nation, especially in this recession we are facing.
“We
must do everything collectively to sustain peace in the region,and that
is the essence of choosing the theme for the summit,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the South–South Progressive Awards is an annual award
that honours Nigerians, especially those from the South-South who
contributed meaningfully to the development of the region.
The awards cuts across over 20 categories, with recipients picked from various fields and backgrounds.
The
categories include South-South Governor of the Year, Award for
Peacekeeping in the South-South, South-South Comedian and Entertainment
Entrepreneur of the Year.
Others include South-South Traditional Ruler of the Year, South-South
Construction Company of the Year and South–South Community Personality
of the Year.
The 2016 edition is scheduled for the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers.