By Theresa Thomas
FREETOWN, Feb. 02 (232news.com) – The African Achievers Awards is an annual awards program founded in 2011 by Dr. Rex Idaminabo ESQ. Awards have been granted in the fields of community development leadership, arts and culture, business and entrepreneurship, agriculture, community service, rural development, and education since the organization’s inception.
Michael Okentu Bangura, the African Achievers Awards Communications Director, stated, “This is no longer a strange event as it has been ongoing for over a decade in Sierra Leone where over fifty people have been nominated for this award and eight people are qualified having gone through their Curriculum Vitae which serves as one of the qualifications for you to be considered for this award.”
He went on to say that the process was free and fair, and that they were not responsible for nominating people into different categories; rather, community members and other stakeholders did so using the forms provided, reporting back to the committee on the outstanding work done in various lives and communities, which the committee will vet and forward to the advisory committee.
This is not only for the educated, but also for the illiterate who have made a difference in people’s lives and communities by working in both skilled and unskilled jobs.
The Africa Achievers keynote speaker, Dr. Cornelius Max-Williams, said the Africa Achievers Awards are always a success because the theme is “Maximizing Diaspora Investment for Sustainable Development in Africa,” which means tapping into the expertise and resources of Africans in the diaspora to accelerate the realization of government goals and sustainable social transformation in Africa, according to the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Rex Idaminaboh.
This Award Ceremony gives a venue for African industry to get together and discuss strategy, as well as build a blueprint for attracting diaspora investment to Africa.
The African Achievers Awards is a cost-effective way to honor entrepreneurs and community leaders who have effectively contributed to Africa’s rise, as well as those who selflessly donate their time and effort.
Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin, on the other hand, is a proud recipient of the prestigious Africa Leadership Awards by the UK-based African Leadership magazine at the international forum for African leadership in New York, as well as the African Achievers Awards in Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom, where he also serves on the Board of Directors.
Dr. Gilpin is a well-known figure in the banking industry, not only for his commitment and dedication, but also for his exemplary and admirable leadership style. He is a seasoned internationally recognized financial expert with decades of experience managing complex policies and processes in banking and bank-related institutions in Africa, Europe, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, and the United States.
His strong desire to motivate and empower both management and staff to believe in themselves and set attainable goals exemplifies his belief in teamwork. He is also a senior advisor to the Commonwealth Secretariat in the United Kingdom and has managed significant financial and management initiatives that serve as the foundation for long-term reform strategies in more than 25 countries.
Rosemarie Blake, Living Water’s Country Director, is a trained and qualified gender specialist who has demonstrated expertise in dealing with these challenges in the institutions where she has worked.
She has implemented and facilitated counsel for situations of social amenities such as water sanitation and hygiene for everyone as a human activist and educator for women and children.
She is, nevertheless, overjoyed by the prize and promised to do more for underserved communities, as well as devote the award to all groups, including women and children.
