Honorable Kenneth Gbandi
DIASPORA MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD 2016
– Why we choose him (The Voice Achievers Award Committee full text below)
Dear Honorable Gbandi,
NOMINEE FOR THE VOICE MAGAZINE ACHIEVERS AWARD
“DIASPORA MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD 2016”
We have the honour to inform you sir that the award committee of The Voice Achievers Award 2016 has proudly nominated and confirmed on you, Honourable Kenneth Gbandi, as our African Diaspora Man of the Year for 2016. This recognition is in appreciation for your immense contributions towards advancing the course of Nigeria and Africans in general with your activities in Germany but it has spread across your borders to reach the whole world.
This award is coming at a time in your life when your career has taken a whole world wide dimension but truly an inspirational career with huge successes which has made you to become an icon to inspire the younger generation coming behind. We choose this year to celebrate you and pray that your attendance and award remarks will serve as an encouragement to ‘empower African people to inspire for greater heights’.
This award will be bestowed on you at a ceremony slated for 20th & 21st October 2016 at Royal Party & Events, Transistorstraat 60, 1322CG, Almere, The Netherlands.
Honourable Kenneth Gbandi, you were a unanimous choice for this year’s award. Our challenge was more on which of the awards best suit your tremendous contributions to the advancement of Africa continent. You have been involved in promoting trade and investment towards Africa, projecting your rich African heritage and putting your proud personality before the world through your involvement with the media; organizing media activities to promote Africa in a positive light to the world.
You are a perfect example of integration into a western society where the language is not yours but you have made it yours and representing African people at Hamburg Senate Integration Council in Germany, bringing into forefront issues of anti-discrimination against color people. Your efforts is encouraging to this generation and a pride to us as Africans in the Diaspora.
It is on record that you have performed excellently well in whatever role you have been given including your appointment to serve in Nigerian former President Goodluck Jonathan National Campaign Organization, in the Civil Society and Support Groups capacity and a job you did with all your heart for the betterment of Nigeria as a whole.
For over two decades now, you have provided leadership at a global scene to your thousands of followers around the world, offering yourself for service with your election as President of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe, Germany Chapter (NIDOE), and your recent reelection simply because of your performances.
You are being recognized severally for your outstanding contributions to the course of advancing Africa through your leadership role displayed in your position as business negotiator with Germany businesses and African governments and private sector initiatives. Your positive contributions in discussions and bringing your expertise to bear on African politics, development cooperation and globalization questions as it affects Africa is highly commendable.
You are positively impacting and promoting black cultural involvement and uplifting the image of the black people as icon of hope and fulfilment. Your work is well known in the African Diaspora communities in Germany and the general public at large as well as internationally.
The African Heritage magazine you founded in 2004 as a mainstream print magazine, now part of the Heritage TV, Radio, Print and Online Media has become the biggest Black European Media with a firm foothold in West-central Europe. You have used your media experience and wide knowledge in the business sector to bring African leaders and business opportunities before the European society and to promote Africa as the destination for financial investment, culture, entertainment and many other ventures that is yielding good results for Africa.
We have enough reasons to see your commitment to excel in a terrain that has become very hostile and crowded yet for hard working ones like you, abound opportunities to excel in what you do. This trend is positively influencing young immigrants within the Diaspora.
Worthy of note is your decision to identify with your country of birth, Nigeria despite all the chances you are exposed to in the western society, the love of mother Africa supersede other interests. It is obvious that Africa needs many more like yourself willing to change the status quo of how we do things and govern ourselves.
As a living example for Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world, the Voice magazine is honoring you with our DIASPORA MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD 2016
On the list of past award winners are the following names: Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda, former President of Zambia, Mrs Fatou Bensouda, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal court, Honourable Dr. Mrs. Esther Keino, Kenyan Parliamentarian, – Dr. Harold Robles of Health Educators from South Africa, H.E. Prof. Ruthie C. Rono, Kenyan Ambassador to The Netherlands, Dr. Alistair Soyede of Ben Television and footballer Eyong Enoh of Cameroon.
In 2013, we had the following persons on the award list, President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, H. E. Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida – Nigeria High Commission to UK, Arch-Bishop Margret Benson Idahosa – Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Dr. Felix Omobude – President of Pentecostal Churches of Nigeria (PFN), Ms. Miet Smet – President European Parliamentarians with Africa, H.E Dr. Mrs. N.N. Akanbi (OON) – the Dean of African Missions in the Netherlands, Hon. Sharon Gesthuizen – Dutch parliamentarian, Vlisco group in Helmond, Apostle Dr. Hayford Ikponmwosa Alile and His Excellency, Governor of Plateau State, Dr. David Jonah Jang.
Those honoured in 2014 included the following persons, Chief Joop Berkhout, Dr. Anita Davis-Defoe, Dr. Jelle T. Braaksma, Bishop Michael O. Amamieye, Her Excellency Mrs. Bianca Olivia Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Dadtco Netherlands, Sally Ebot, Musa Farida Halliru, Stephen Ogongo, Mark Adu, Bruce Carew, Dr Samuel Lee, Tessy Ojo, Health Promotion South Africa Trust, Engr Barry Igbeare, Alphonse Muambi, Akua Manfo, Tony Tprhymes Patrick, Veronica Van de Kamp, Mrs. Caroline Ngo Mbamseck Bayiha, Mr. Bernd Wandkowski, Dr. Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah and Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra state of Nigeria.
And in 2015, we had Justice Florence Mumba of Zambia, Mrs. Yvonne Williams of Mary Kay, Princess Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin, a seasoned journalist, Queen Muzvare Betty Makoni from Zimbabwe, Dr. Mrs Elfieda Aikins from Ghana, Dr. Alie Kabba from Sierra Leone, Apostle Frank Aikins from Ghana, Dr. Lanalee Araba Sam from United States of America, Albert Chapel from The Netherlands, Mr. Pascal Bida Koyagbele from CAR, Mr. Dick Becht and Pastor E.E. H. Hongerbron among others.
We look forward to your response at your earliest convenience, preferably by early August 2016 as to enable us include it in our promotional flyers in preparation for the awards.
For this year, letters are been sent out and replies are coming in on acceptance of the award. The full list of awardees will be published by end of August 2016.
Kindly accept our gesture and respond promptly to enable us continue our preparations.
Our Esteem regards,
Pastor Elvis Iruh
posted by Tony Airhenbuwa Program Director African Heritage on Radio Fm Hamburg Germany (Heritage Media Network Germany)