African Economic Merit Awards Unveils Nominees

Mary Nnah

African Economic Merit Awards (AEMA) last weekend hosted Pan African ambassadors at the World Plaque and Nominees Unveiling held in in Abuja. Nominees include distinguished youth and renowned personalities that seek for an Africa with Economic growth and stability.

During the event, an elite panel had an informed discussion on two key economic issues:

First was on Effects of Youth in the African Economy: This panel was moderated by McEva Temofe and the Panelist include – Thembakazi Taki (South Africa), Adebola Williams (Nigeria), Japhet Omojuwa (Nigeria), Seun Ologun Williams Nigeria), Hamzat Lawal (Nigeria) and Williams Uchemba (Nigeria).

The second panel, African and China Economic Relationship was moderated by Oscar Oyinsan Gbemileke and the Panelist include – Tonia Shoyele (Mrs) (NIGERIA), Dr. Sherif Ghali Ibrahim (Nigeria), Abdoulaye Salifou (Cote d’ivoire), Abdulai Baba IMORU (AFRICAN), Moses Siasia Siloko (NIGERIA) and Charles Onunaiju ( CHINA)

This gathering was to prepare for the World Summit/Awards scheduled for 2019 in South Africa. The delegate from South Africa, Ms. Thembakazi Taki solicited for the South African government to intervene in putting an end to the killing of foreigners to avoid economic collapse in the region and by doing so, there will be a boost in the tourist industry for the South Africa economy.

The Founder, African Economic Merit Awards Mr. McEva Temofe gave a welcome address by introducing the organization saying; it is aimed at awarding successful African Entrepreneurs, celebrating and rewarding unrecognized NGOs that have contributed immensely to the development of communities through humanitarian and empowerment initiatives. African Economic Merit Awards is driven by young African professionals to promote innovative ideas for entrepreneurial, economic and social development to all Africans.
He stated that AEMA is aimed at boosting economic growth in African communities by uniting the successful business entrepreneurs with the latent talents also to enrich the soil and giving hope to Africans with Agricultural, Educational, Technology and Business initiatives.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the award event, he said, “All we are pursuing is to give hope to Africans who have given up the creative ideas and business skills to power ideas of craftsmanship into a successful future. In 2009, as the creative director of an international communication outfit, I had an encounter with a brilliant young man before I got kidnapped in Lekki, Lagos, Well, what an awkward experience. That’s a story for some other day. This young man graduated as a mechanical engineer. He had invented so many creative works that could have changed the phase of Africa. Severally, he lamented of lack of funds to project his work and non-recognition. All I could do was advising him to keep up with his good work, someday, there would be a breakthrough. Few months later, I learnt this young man committed suicide and nobody knew why he took his life.”

“I knew he took his life out of frustration of not being able to get recognition. This encounter is one of the major inspirations for AEMA – recognizing those who do not have access to realizing their potential in life”.

He said AEMA was working to connecting them with successful African entrepreneurs and making sure they become employers of labor and an added value in the African economy.

“My drive towards seeing AEMA become a huge success is not for me, neither for my generation. This is an organization created for generations unborn. I don’t want a city neither do I need a nation. All I desire is a continent with massive economic freedom leading other continents towards economic growth”.

He said this was created in anticipation for the upcoming summit/awards in 2019 which would be the first of its kind to happen in the Africa continent and the purpose is to make a difference, coin significant impact and initiate verifiable development.
Talking of the plaque, he noted that it was made of pure bronze and fine stone while the nominees were made up of fine personalities who have contributed to the economic growth of Africa.

McEva rounded up by saying he has a message for African entrepreneurs – to unite and become an irresistible force, work together, cause a drastic economic change in Africa for Africans, adding, “And I believe, this will cause a shift in the global commerce industry.”

Afterwards, the unveiling of the nominees took place immediately the panel discussion was over then came the unveiling of the plaque.