The Zongo Youth Chief of Accra, Sarkin Samari, Alhaji Salisu Maude on Saturday 3rd October, 2020 launched the 3rd edition of Nima Excellence Awards Magazine in a virtual program on @NEAawards1 on Facebook and youtube.
The national Chief Imam Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu was the special guest of honor with other guests of honors like the CEO of EIB Network ,Mr. Nathan Kwabena Anokye- Adisi -Bola Ray and the Founder and leader of The People’s Project-TPP, Mr. Kwame Asare Obeng- A-Plus, Other guests who featured include Oheneyere Gifty Anti, famous news anchor and Standpoint host, as well as the CEO of Jadore Naturels, Hajia Fatimatu Bintu Zahra. The event was viewed by many across the globe. This year’s launch is virtual mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This Edition of the community development magazine tells and showcases the successes over the three years of celebrating community developers. The magazine shows the world a brighter side of the communities, with goodwill from the people of Nima, Mamobi, New Town, Pig Farm, Kotobabi, Kanda and Ruga.
The uniqueness of this edition is that, it celebrates the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu and other high profile personalities in Ghana and beyond as well as the awardees of the third edition.
The highly respected Imam’s award was in celebration of his centenary anniversary of humility, commitment to peace, religious tolerance and interfaith cooperation. His bright light of hope has, undoubtedly, illuminates many territories, far and near, where the darkness of terror in the name of religion sadly continues to thicken.
As part of the Nima Excellence Awards scheme, the magazine serves as an official mouthpiece, and a voice to amplify the efforts by some members of the community to reshape its development agenda. The Nima Excellence Awards therefore celebrates individuals, groups and organizations who have excelled in their chosen careers and still represent the community.
The Chief Imam expressed delight with the initiative, and the dedication of the 3rd edition of the NEA Magazine to him and his lifetime of achievements, as well as his centenary anniversary. He offered his prayers and blessings to the Nima Excellence Awards and assured the organizers of his support and backing ahead of the virtual launch of this edition of the magazine.
Sarkin Samari, who is a social entrepreneur as well, said “we are in interesting times as a Zongo community. Activities over the years have highlighted the coming of age of the zongo youth. With this, came the Nima Excellence Awards”
Sarki lamented the lack of acknowledgement of achievers within Zongo communities saying “we are at a period where achievement within the Zongo community are normally or usually not celebrated and that has created the impression that we do not want people to be celebrated positively”
The renowned Ghanaian radio and television personality and entrepreneur ‘Bola Ray’ also noted that “community development is key” and the NEA magazine will contribute to the good of society, by inspiring young people from Zongo communities to have high aspirations. He also added “I believe that you’re the youth and you represent what the youth stand for and should achieve”, He furthermore stated “the initiative will get people to have role models to look up to and to let them dissociate themselves from nefarious activities and other bad habits”.
Oheneyere Gifty Anty also had this to say: “The award will inspire a lot of young people in the Zongo community, I believe the environment you find yourself shapes you. Most of the Zongo youth grow up with a loss of hope, because of negative tagging of the community and they see people from afar and admire them but they think are too far from them. So awarding people within these community will bring the lost hope back”.
Abdul-Hameed Issah, the PRO of Nima Excellence Awards explained that businesses and individuals in and outside the catchment areas will be contacted for customized publicity placements in the NEA magazine to boost and promote their brands in the over 5,000 copies to be printed and subsequently distributed to schools, hotels, shopping malls, filling station marts, institutions, offices, shops and individuals.
