The awards
night recorded a high turn-out of dignitaries and attendees from the African
and Irish communities in Ireland, various non-governmental organizations as
well as representatives from corporate organizations who were at the event to
promote their products and services.
The South African Ambassador Mr. Azwindini Jeremiah Ndou
was among the dignitaries and guests
speakers in attendance at the Award Ceremony who captivated the crowd with
their heart moving speech.
The Lord
Mayor of Dublin representative Cllr. Paddy McCartan; Mr. Georges Omokhagbor O.Alabi
Minister/Political/Economics Affairs of the Nigerian Embassy; Killian Forde the Chief Executive of the Integration Centre;
David Byrne, the Chief Executive (Manager High Growth Markets) Enterprise Ireland
as well as Tendai Madondo, programme development officer
with Christian Aid Ireland all made the night a remarkable success.
“The African
Leadership and Excellence Award which is a first initiative to fill a big gap
identified in the community by The African Voice Newspaper was set up to reward
outstanding performance in every work of life among immigrants of African
descent living in Ireland,” says the paper’s publisher and editor, Nigerian Malcolm
Eremionkhale.
“At the core
of its mission is Reimaging Africa by promoting a positive image of Africa and
Africans, challenging stereotypes and identifying potential mentors for first
and second generation migrants in Ireland,” Mr. Eremionkhale added.
In a press
statement, the paper said: “There were 12 categories of awards and categories
that had a high representation were presented with two winners. For Community Development we had Marie Claire Kah and Patrick
Maphoso; Art and Culture - Joe Odiboh and Jean Ryan Hakizamina; Media, legal or Fashion - Okeremute O. Okeregha; Sports Patrick Akpoveta and Cedric Mahango; Entrepreneur and Business - Maud Mc Guckin; Entertainment Debsandy; Educational
Excellence - Dr. Stephen
Onakuse; Future Leaders - Ifrah Ahmed and Billy Banda; Social Responsibility/Charities - Mr Zéphyrin Ngaliema Mukoko; Public Sector - Mark Moses Manty; and for Life Time Achievement - Rosemary Namuli Karuga.”
The
night ended on a high note with all the supporters and contributors to the
African Voice Newspaper being presented with a certificate of recognition.
About The African Voice Newspaper
The African Voice is a development education newspaper
set up in Ireland in June 2007 to give voice to issues affecting the African
continent and Africans in the Diaspora.
It publishes news and information aimed at educating
African immigrants about Ireland and the majority Irish society about Africa
and Africans.
The African Voice Newspaper, published and edited by
founder Malcolm Eremionkhale, a Nigerian, is a bi-weekly
circulated all over Ireland, particularly in major cities and towns.
The readership of the newspaper includes African
immigrants and members of mainstream Irish society.
Written by Modou S. Joof
By the powers conferred on me, by the Globe House Residents in Sligo, the asylum seekers in Ireland, and the asylum seekers all over the universe, I will continue in this struggle to ensure a just and free society for all asylum seekers, those victims of the obnoxious business system in the so called Direct Provision System, and ensure that our children do not inherit the pains and sufferings in the various hostels. Our children must not and will not be allowed to experience the injustice of unfairness in the unholy abnormality that hold us asylum seekers inferior in society. We must move from grass to grace and become useful to ourselves, to our children and family. to the Irish community and society and receive the necessary educational skills and growth necessary to raise this great nation to greater heights in life. We and our children must not live and feed like sheep and goats in the fields, knowing that even these animals are useful to society in economic growth and development. We must be allowed to live like normal human beings in society among other settlers and pay our rents to landlords and integrate fully with our brothers and sisters in the Irish society. We shall not waste away in vain and become elements of mental disorder and aggravated stress disorder. We must be partners in progress. Children and babies must have living space and places to play with their friends and toys. Children must not be allowed to see certain things in a single room with their parents, brothers and sisters their eyes were never meant to see. The Direct Provision system is a system that places much premium on profit before humanity and is of immense benefits to the sponsors and owners of this business of human trafficking. We shall not be trafficked into the Direct Provision System through situations and circumstances in life beyond human understanding and human comprehension. This system must come to an end. Victims of this system must be compensated by being granted Leave to Remain, and allowed to live and eat like normal human beings, go to school and acquire the relevant skills and education necessary for national growth and development. We must be encouraged to work or own our own business and create a rainbow nation which encourages tourism through music, art, theatre, industry and enterprise. We must be encouraged to become fire- fighters, pilots, engineers, medical doctor and practitioners, scientists and technologists, nurses and midwives, soldiers and sailors by a unique reformation of the immigration process by the justice department. Ireland must follow the virtues of Nelson Mandela and Barrack Obama in what humanity can do for humanity. Finally, how the outcome of the working group recommendations in the reform of the immigration process and Direct Provision system will be, and what the present justice minister will act for the common good of society will be, will be for history and posterity to vindicate the just. We must not forget that we are humans whose lives do not exist forever. We must remember that in what we do in life, and in what opportunity God has given us in life, it is meant for the good of humanity. One does not fix appointments with fate. In God We Trust.
ReplyDeleteBy the powers conferred on me, by the Globe House Residents in Sligo, the asylum seekers in Ireland, and the asylum seekers all over the universe, I will continue in this struggle to ensure a just and free society for all asylum seekers, those victims of the obnoxious business system in the so called Direct Provision System, and ensure that our children do not inherit the pains and sufferings in the various hostels. Our children must not and will not be allowed to experience the injustice of unfairness in the unholy abnormality that hold us asylum seekers inferior in society. We must move from grass to grace and become useful to ourselves, to our children and family. to the Irish community and society and receive the necessary educational skills and growth necessary to raise this great nation to greater heights in life. We and our children must not live and feed like sheep and goats in the fields, knowing that even these animals are useful to society in economic growth and development. We must be allowed to live like normal human beings in society among other settlers and pay our rents to landlords and integrate fully with our brothers and sisters in the Irish society. We shall not waste away in vain and become elements of mental disorder and aggravated stress disorder. We must be partners in progress. Children and babies must have living space and places to play with their friends and toys. Children must not be allowed to see certain things in a single room with their parents, brothers and sisters their eyes were never meant to see. The Direct Provision system is a system that places much premium on profit before humanity and is of immense benefits to the sponsors and owners of this business of human trafficking. We shall not be trafficked into the Direct Provision System through situations and circumstances in life beyond human understanding and human comprehension. This system must come to an end. Victims of this system must be compensated by being granted Leave to Remain, and allowed to live and eat like normal human beings, go to school and acquire the relevant skills and education necessary for national growth and development. We must be encouraged to work or own our own business and create a rainbow nation which encourages tourism through music, art, theatre, industry and enterprise. We must be encouraged to become fire- fighters, pilots, engineers, medical doctor and practitioners, scientists and technologists, nurses and midwives, soldiers and sailors by a unique reformation of the immigration process by the justice department. Ireland must follow the virtues of Nelson Mandela and Barrack Obama in what humanity can do for humanity. Finally, how the outcome of the working group recommendations in the reform of the immigration process and Direct Provision system will be, and what the present justice minister will act for the common good of society will be, will be for history and posterity to vindicate the just. We must not forget that we are humans whose lives do not exist forever. We must remember that in what we do in life, and in what opportunity God has given us in life, it is meant for the good of humanity. One does not fix appointments with fate. In God We Trust.
ReplyDelete