The Federal Government has announced that the Nigeria@60 celebration will conclude in September with a National Special Awards for Achievement and Recognition of Exceptional Nigerians in Abuja.
This was stated in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja by Mr Olakunle Fasina, Director, Public Affairs and Bilateral Relations/Secretary, Ownership Sub-Committee on the Nigeria @60 Project.
According to NAN, the country will mark its 60th anniversary as a nation on Oct. 1, 2020.
President Muhammadu Buhari announced on September 16, 2020, that the anniversary will be commemorated for a year, ending on September 30, 2021.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Together,” which is an appropriate choice for forging a more unified and inclusive Nigeria.
The awards, according to Fasina, are intended to recognize and honor patriotic Nigerians who have made a positive impact in all sectors of the Nigerian economy and in the Diaspora.
Top government officials, chairmen and managing directors of multinational corporations, foreign mission ambassadors to Nigeria, and Nigerian celebrities, according to Fasina, will attend the gathering.
President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, and House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila are scheduled to attend, according to him.
“Performances at the award include cultural displays showing major cultural dances and music renditions by popular Nigerian artistes.
“There will also be a brief documentary showing the resilience of Nigerians across all sectors as well as a poetic brief history of Nigeria’s independence and our unity in diversity, intermarriages and cultural heritage,” he said.
Mr Femi Oyelade, the Managing Director, Say It Loud Limited, the Consultant/Organiser of the event, said that the awards would be witnessed by no fewer than 500 million viewers within and outside the country.
“The Nigeria @60 Jubilee Special Awards enjoys over 500 million viewership within and across the globe.
“It will also be streamed live on a dedicated YouTube Channel, Facebook and IG Social Media Platforms respectively for viewing across the globe,” he said.
The organizers, according to Oyelade, launched a strong sponsorship push ahead of the gathering, inviting the public and private sectors, as well as financial institutions, to participate.
He also mentioned that at the end of the month, a website will be launched where people will be able to nominate potential award recipients.
“The Nigeria @60 Jubilee Special Awards Independent Assessment Panel will access from the information contained in the submission and any other information available in the public domain.
“There will be 10 categories of awards, each having its own specific subject area, but all the Special Awards are underpinned by the overarching qualities of transparency, integrity, determination and achievement.
“Also, there will be more than one recipient per category cutting across the six geopolitical zones of the Federation.
“The categories include Services to Arts; Business; Community; Education; Healthcare; Industry; International Achievement; Volunteering and Charitable Giving; Sports and Life Time award,” he said.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
