Black African- History Global Icon Award To Celebrate Excellence – Ekufu

By Ifeanyi Eduzor

President of Bahgia, organisers of the forthcoming maiden Black African- History Global Icon Award, Ambassador Loveth Petra- Ekufu, says that the essence of instituting the award, is to celebrate and honour Africans of all descent both at home and in the Diaspora who have excelled in various areas of human endeavour.

She stated this, Thursday during a world press conference to herald activities for the event slated for July,5, 2026 at Mariot Hotel Ikeja GRA Lagos.

Ekufu, a two- time mixed martial arts world champion, who joined the press conference by zoom from her base in the United States, explained that the award is basically to reward the black race, celebrate her culture and belief system as well as recognize black icons that have excelled in politics, business, sports, music, arts and other professions.

” The award we are organizing is a global one intended to recognize Africans both at home and in the Diaspora who have excelled in various professions be it in arts, music, medicine, banking, business, sports and other professions and that’s what makes it unique and I promise everyone that it will be a world class event.

In his remarks, the Vice President, of Bahgia, Charles Ezerime, noted that the award is not just like any other award but a global one that stands for excellence and will be used to celebrate and appreciate people for what they’ve done for the human race.

Ezerime while promising that the award will boost the tourism potentials of Lagos State, announced that the organizers have already written to the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism and that of Lagos State on the need to partner with the organizers for a successful event.

” Right now, we’re putting finishing touches to arrangements for a successful hosting of the global event. We’ve already written to the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism who have acknowledged our letter and we hope to get similar response from Lagos State which as host state will benefit immensely from the tourism potentials of the award.

He further explained that Africa have a lot of people who have excelled in various professions but lack encouragement and honour which gap the award is out to bridge.

On how the awardees will be selected, he assured that the jurists will do a thorough job and proper screening of the names of nominees submitted even as he announced that they’re limiting the nominees for the maiden edition to 20 persons.

Ezerime appealed to corporate Nigeria to partner with the organizers in order to have a seamless event.

“I can tell you that right now, we don’t have corporate bodies supporting this wonderful initiative but we appeal to them to come up and support us because this event is for all of us”, he stressed.

Also speaking through zoom, from her base in Canada, President of Martin Luther king Award, Pauline Christian, said she’s happy that the award is happening in Lagos, describing the state as a phenomenon, gateway to the world, a city emborded with excellence with it’s environment unmatched.

She expressed joy that the award is coming up at a time the exploits of African professionals are not fully appreciated ; saying she’s looking forward to a successful event.

A member of the Board of Trustees of the award who is also a renowned actor, Segun Arinze, said he’s happy associating with the organizers; saying that their plan is to make the award comparable to the best awards all over the world.

Giving a breakdown of the event, Olisa Chukwuma, Head Strategist Bahgia, said the award will hold on July,5 at Mariot Hotel, Ikeja.
According to him, the day’s event will commence by 11am with youth empowerment conference for ages 18-22 where they’ll be taught on soft skills and principles of doing business in Africa while the red carpet starts by 5pm with the award nite holding at 7pm.

” It’s going to be very loaded package. We’ll start the event with youth empowerment conference where young professionals will be taught on how to engage in Pan African business and we hope that at the end of the day, they’ll be acquainted with how to do business whether in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Benin Republic amongst others”, he concluded