Obasanjo to be honoured at GPA Awards

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has confirmed he will attend and receive his award at the Premier Global Professional Achievers (GPA) Africa 2.0 Awards due to be held on Thursday, 20th November, at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra, Ghana.

The former president was nominated and selected for The GPA Africa Diaspora Excellence Award.

The Awards which is in partnership with Africa 2.0 Foundation in South Africa, will honour and recognise exceptional achievement in Business and the Professions across Africa.

The awards, for over a decade has been showcasing and honouring achievements in the UK and Africa. This year's event dubbed: “Celebrating Africa’s Icons of Innovation” will present 13 awards to key Change Drivers on the continent.

Unlike previous awards, this years have the awardees recommended by researchers and relevant regional and mainstream institutions across the continent including the Africa 2.0 Foundation and judged by a ten member panel selected across the continent.

The founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPA Awards, Ms. Em Bartels believes in the promotion of Education and Excellence hence the Awards ceremony. Ms. Bartels is of the view that the event will depict a better picture of Africa rather than the “crisis-ridden” portrayal of the continent. She stated that the continent has made tremendous strides and is high time such “Achievers “are recognised to encourage the youth.

According to her, the Awards ceremony will encourage the youth to set up their own businesses rather than relying on others for employment after acquiring higher education. She said, the GPA Africa 2014 Awards will focus on the achievements of the continents change makers and drivers and provide a platform to harness and celebrate Inspiring African Icons Innovation. ‘Africa’s success stories will have to be told by Africans themselves and we are delighted to champion that change”, she noted.

The chairman of Ecobank Nigeria, Olorogun Dr. Sonny Folorunsho Kuku is among the awardees for this year as well as Mr. Edward Effah, CEO of Fidelity Bank, Ghana, Mrs. Kate Quartey-Papafio, CEO of Reroy Cables, Ghana, and Technology expert Ms Regina Agyare, CEO of Soronko Solutions, Ghana among others.

The Awards ceremony which promises to be a soiree not to be missed is expected to attract a high number of dignitaries. Some of whom are former President John Agyekum Kufour, former Nigerian President, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, Sir Sam Jonah, Olorogun Chief Oskar Ibru Head of the Ibru organisation, one of the largest conglomerates in Nigeria and Ms. Hadeel Ibrahim, daughter of Mo Ibrahim.