National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
Dayo Emmanuel
Popular newscaster and TV personality, Wofai Samuel is to host the maiden edition of the Nigerian Child Friendly Awards in February, organisers of the awards have revealed.
Wofai Samuel, who conceptualised the first ever two-hour real time celebrity interactive talk show on NIGEZIE and CRUNCH on AIT is highly sought after to be the MC of the maiden edition. The organisers are however confident she would add glamour to the award as an experienced and elegant TV personality.
The awards, being organised by the Nigerian Child Safety Report Initiatives (NCSRI) is to hold 12th February at the prestigious Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.
President of the awards, Wilson Ukhurebor told National Wire that the award is aimed at showcasing brands that have stood up for the Nigerian child.
“The Nigerian Child Friendly Awards is an initiative of our NGO, the Nigerian Child Safety Report Initiatives (NCSRI) and we have decided to show the world those brands and individuals who have contributed to the development of the Nigerian child,” Ukhurebor said, adding that the initiative is aimed at waking up the corporate Nigerians to the obvious challenges confronting the children in Nigeria.
On how the awards came about, Project Coordinator, Tunde Jenmi explained to National Wire the trip NCSRI took in arriving at the winners of the awards.
“Anyone hearing about this award may just think we just used our initiatives to draw up names of possible nominees but this is not so. The journey actually began many months ago and the nominees are products of rigorous exercise,” he said.
Jenmi added that, “We began with a nomination exercise during which over 300 children from various schools across Lagos and neighbouring states determined their favourite brands in each category as guided by the NCSRI.”
“After the nomination exercise, the children were further organised to vote for their favourite brands in the various categories. We allowed the children to choose their winners through ballot because it is all about them. The voting exercise took place in various states of the federation and also via an online platform though our dedicated website. Popular brands according to the children are such they know and can relate with, such brands that have impacted their consciousness the most and such are the winners to be unveiled because data don’t lie,” he concluded.
Stating further, Ukhurebor however added that the grand finale is the award presentation coming up on 12th February at the Sheraton hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
“We have decided to celebrate the Nigerian children who are future of the nation during this award. We all know the children in Nigeria have gone through a lot of deprivation and abuse and that is why we are using this awards to sensitize leaders of the nation and the corporate Nigerians to see why they must invest more in the children,” he explained.
Finally he said, “We are also using the awards to appreciate those brands that have been there for the children though their products and services. We are making the last phase of preparations to make it a good start being the maiden edition and that is why we have Wofai Samuel as our first ever MC to add glamour to the awards presentation which is what she is popularly known for at events.”
