AHBEA Meets The Media

A Speech Presented By Mr. Sola OlaniyanCEO/Founder, Afro- Heritage Entertainment At the Press Conference of the 2016 AnnualAfro-Heritage Broadcasting & Entertainment Awards (AHBEA) Held At Eagles’ Park Hotel, Lagos, 17th March 2016

Gentlemen of the Press

Distinguished Guests

I am delighted to welcome you to the press conference to usher in the second edition of the annual Afro-Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Awards, the awards was established in 2015 to celebrate and honoureminent Africans who have contributed to the development of the race through their crafts and talents, especially in the entertainment and the broadcasting industries. These are the best brains in the industries who have gone extra mile to ensure that African cultural heritage is promoted and exhibited in the right perspective. 

Over the years, the entertainment industry has become a veritable tool to promote the sustainability of societal beliefs and customs. It has gone beyond the episodes of ordinary merrymaking and a mere instrument to keep away idleness and redundancy. It has assumed a formidable pedestal in the society in promoting peace and harmony and most importantly the industry, today has become a money spinning venture and taken a front seat in determining economic fate of not just individuals or families but nations at large. 

Therefore, it is not out of place to acknowledge those who have been committed to the development of the industry and significantly contributed their quotas for its growth. Meanwhile, AHBEA is going extra mile by not just celebrating this people but doing so in a unique way. It is a fact that every society that rejects its own will definitely suffer relegation and eventually goes to oblivion, we know Africans are everywhere and those in the Diaspora are more prone to foreign intrusion which can cause them permanent isolation from their roots. This is more reason we are taking the African legends and icons to them for celebration and appreciation. 

The success of the maiden edition speaks volume for itself that is why we are taking it further this year with assurance of more spectacular event. Apart from reinforcing the overall objective of the award, we also seek to inspire the coming generation to appreciate and embrace which is our own for sustainability of our cultural values and identity. 

The award which will take place on August 20th in Houston, Texas will have fifteen recipients which include veteran stars like Sodiq Daba, Liz Benson, Bimbo Manuel in Legend category and Desmond Elliot, Kunle Afolayan, Ayo Adesanyaamong others in Icon category respectively, while late Ray Eyiwunmi of Eyiwunmi dynasty and Jenifer Emeka-Ossai will received post-humus awards.  

One of the unique features of the awards is unlike others, it is determined not by votes or nominations, the recipients were painstakingly selected by a team of eminent and reputable advisors. One of the criteria for selection is that every recipient must be of a proven integrity andmust have been in the industry for not less than 30 years for Legend category and 20 years for icon category. 

Gentlemen of the press, it is our belief that the awards will go a long way in positioning our society and Africa for better. Meanwhile while appreciating the support of the Lagos State Government, Lagos State Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism for their support; we are using this medium to seek your support for this noble award. Our media campaign plan is pretty extensive and ambitious, covering broadcast, print and digital. And without your full support there is little we can do, we therefore rely onyour support and patronage.

We are available to answer your questions. 

Thank you for your attentiveness.

Mr Sola Olaniyan, 

The CEO and founder 

 Afro-Heritage Entertainment