E-101 awards: Nigerian governor bags Entertainment Industry man of the year

The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Chief (Dr) Godswill Akpabio has bagged yet another, this time from the entertainment industry. In the wee hours of the Christmas Day, Chief Akpabio was presented with the Entertainment Industry Man of the Year by E101magazine.

The award which was a surprise package for the governor for his contributions to the entertainment industry in the year under review however turned out to be his first Christmas gift.

While presenting the award the Governor, the Associate Editor of E-101magazine, Mr. Ekemini 'Asteroid' Bassey said “Your Excellency, considering your invaluable contributions to the entertainment industry, the magazine alongside entertainment stars has found you worthy to be awarded the Entertainment Industry Man of the Year. I know this may have come too impromptu but we wanted to give you a surprise Christmas gift”.

The governor who was glaringly surprised at the award, thanked E-101magazine for award, expressing happiness that his 'little' contributions to entertainment in the state and Nigeria in general have not gone unnoticed. He pledged to continue supporting the industry in all ramifications.

The award presentation which took place at the Governor's lodge Banquet Hall was witnessed by the wife of the governor, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, Deputy Governor, Mr. Nsima Ekere and wife Ese, the co-ordinator of the International Institute of Journalism, Dr. Peter Esu, catholic priests and the governor's children.

Commenting after the event, the Editor-in-Chief of E-101magazine, who made history during the year by replacing the late Pa Anthony Enaharo as the youngest Editor ever in Nigeria some months to his 21st birthday said the Governor truly deserved the award for his numerous contributions to the entertainment industry.

“Gov. Akpabio's contributions to the nation's entertainment industry cannot be over-emphasized. Of course, he's an entertainer himself because he is the only 'singing governor' we have now and he was a Disc Jockey in his youthful days. You can see that he loves entertainment when he jokingly said had his children start singing from the age of 2 like the little songstress Mya K, he would have been the manager of superstars now”, said the young media guru.

“We can't enumerate all he has done for the entertainment industry to merit the award because time and space won't permit. You can remember in 2009 when he brought Ciara and 50Cent to perform live in Uyo. He has built the world class Silverbird Entertainment Centre/Cineplex, he powered the breaking of the Guinness World Records with the 9,300 choristers. He recently hosted the crème-de-la-crème of Nollywood at the newly built Banquet Hall during the premiere of Ini Edo's 'I'll Take My Chances'. He contributed immensely to giving Nigeria's Lady of Songs a befitting burial. When the industry lost Sam Loco Efe, he gave out cash donation to aid the burial of the Nollywood icon”, he opined.

“I can't continue to reel out his numerous contributions to the industry but it would tantamount to the industry being an ingrate if it doesn't appreciate a man that has done so much for it. Good enough, the award was in collaboration with the stars of the industry and we had the backing of the likes of Mista Xto, Moses Armstrong, UNIK, Ime 'Bishop' Umoh, Mish, and other A-rated entertainers in the country”, concluded Nseowo.

E-101magazine is an all-entertainment newsmagazine published by D'Kartel Media and circulated nationwide.