NIGERIAN Watch has been honoured with the Community Newspaper of the Year Award at the Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts (Beffta) awards which took place in London last night.
Founded in 2012, Nigerian Watch has established itself as the leading ethnic minority newspaper in the UK with a circulation of 50,000. Now a fortnightly, the paper served as the vital link between the UK diaspora and Nigeria and in recognition of this feat, Beffta nominated it for the prestigious award, with members of the public voting overwhelmingly in favour of Nigerian Watch.
At yesterday's classy event which took place at The Rock Tower near Tufnell Green in north London, awards were handed out in several categories across the media, entertainment, film and fashion industries. Today, more awards will be handed out in several other categories, including a number of lifetime achievement awards.
Among the dignitaries to grace yesterday's event were the former president of the Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, the acting Nigerian high commissioner to the UK Simon Ogah, Kenyan presidential candidate Dr Ekuru Aukot and Mrs Olufolake Abdulrasaq, head of welfare, education and consular at the Nigerian high commission. They all received honours for their service to humanity at the event to great acclaim.
Motivational speaker Dayo Olomu, who gave the opening address, said: "Beffta celebrates an all-round accomplishments of a hard-working community especially the unknown talent that need exposure. The awards ceremony founded by Dr Pauline Long aims to inspire black and ethnic personalities worldwide to achieve at the highest levels and raise the bar of excellence. It also provides a networking platform for industry personalities and decision makes.
"We are all living proof that race or colour is no limitation to success. We are all gifted and unique in our different ways and have the power to turn adversities to success and sorrows to joy and the difference between ordinary people and extra ordinary people is that little extra."
Among the stars of the night was Nollywood movie producer and director Malcolm Benson, who picked up six different awards for the success of his film Return of the Don. Property guru Richard Obahor was also honoured as was Mary Kay director Chief Mrs Elizabeth Ozua, among many others.
Dr Long used the event to praise the public for supporting Beffta now in its eighth year, adding that despite the odds, it has now established itself as the major black awards ceremony in the UK. New Beffta chairman Chief Bimbo Afolayan, used the occasion to state that as from next year, the event will spread its tentacles to Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East.
Accepting his award, Mr Ogah said that he was receiving it on behalf of the entire staff at the Nigerian high commission as although the buck stops at his desk, everyone in the mission works hard to achieve success. Mrs Abdulrasaq promised her support to all future Beffta events.
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