Eminent and deserving Akwa Ibom indigenes at home and in the Diaspora are to be conferred with icons’ awards on September 20, this year, the Governing Council of Akwa Ibom Icons Awards has stated.
Known as AKIA 2019, the programme also tagged Dakkada Plus and being the fourth season has commenced the public/institutional nomination of prospective awardees in 10 categories which lasted from July 22 – 26, 2019, while verification of claims will begin from July 29 to August 9, 2019.
Announcement of the best five nominees/final voting in the different 10 awards categories is slated for August 12 –17, compilation of results from September 2 – 5 while the conferment of awards ceremony and lecture will hold on Friday, September 20, 2019 at Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort, Uyo to coincide with the 32nd anniversary celebration of the state’s creation.
A press release signed by Prince Ene Baba Owoh, Jr, AKIA Executive Secretary and made available to Straightnews in Uyo lists the10 categories as follows:
Akwa Ibom Person of the year (2015 – 2019)
Local Government Chairman of the year/
Commissioner of the year (2015 – 2019)
Legislature of the year (State & National) (2015 – 2019)
Government Project of the year. (2015 – 2019)
Others are:
Akwa Ibom Woman of the year
Akwa Ibom most resourceful youth of the year
Akwa Ibom Company of the year
Akwa Ibom Cleanest Town/L.G.A. of the year
Akwa Ibom State Hotel /Tourism Ambassador of the year
Life-time achievement Ambassador of the year (indigene and non-indigene)
The press release noted that as in the past, the award recipients would be admitted into the Akwa Ibom Hall of fame.
It, therefore, called on the general public, institutions and government at all levels at home and in the Diaspora to fully participate in the award and vote for nominees who demonstrate the can-do-enterprise spirit in uplifting the profile of the state and her citizenry.
The release further explained that the performance indicators used for the conferment of the AKIA Awards on deserving recipients is anchored on three variables that meet the international metric system: Actual work done/performance rating attracts 50 percent, Voting by the Akwa Ibom public worldwide – 40 percent and Technical scores by the awards Jury – 10 percent.
Meanwhile, AKIA Governing council has approved appointment of a 10-man Awards Jury drawn from all segments of the society in which Israel Umoh, the publisher of Straightnews, is one of the member.
It will be recalled that the first season of AKIA took place in 2008 while the second – third seasons of AKIA were held in 2009 and 2013 respectively with monumental success.
AKIA seeks to mainstream the accelerated annual home coming of Akwa Ibom people worldwide, using the forum to network business promotions with government at all levels, catalysing tourism promotion for the state and showcasing the development strides of government at all levels.
