For the past 20 years, City People Magazine has held its annual awards without fail. This year’s awards was held on Sunday 2nd April, 2017. City People Magazine held its 20th City People Awards at the B Event Center, Airport Hotel, Awolowo Road, Ikeja, Lagos. The award had all the who is who as winners. At the event, corporate bodies, eminent personalities, government agencies, politicians, celebrities and creme de la crème of Nigerian society, were honoured for their significant contributions to their various fields. The event kick started with red carpet session as celebrities, and who is who in the society got on the red carpet, Interviews were conducted and security was top notch to ensure everything went as planned. Below are details of what went down, at the colourful event.
MC ABBEY AND MANDY WERE THE HOST
The combination of MC Abbey and Mandy made the event flow one to remember, as both ace comedians anchored the event professionally and spiced it with rib cracking comedies periodically.
CHIEF AKIN DISU KEPT TO TIME
Chief Akin Disu is a Lawyer, businessman and a socialite. At 80, the elder statesmen, who appeared in his white agbada with his walking stick was one of the winners of the night. He was punctual to the event and graced it with so much confidence, even from his strides. Upon receiving his award, he revealed how excited he was to be present at the event and also praised the credibility of the City People Awards.
LUDAREH KEPT THE MUSIC GOING
The event experienced good music at its best with LudaReh dishing out sounds in its pure state. The Luda Reh Iconic Live Band thrilled guests with live music and renditions on stage and it was evident that the band sure knows how to keep guests on their feet dancing. The band played till the end of the event and still kept playing for over an hour as some guests decided to stay behind and enjoy the music.
9ICE RECOGNIZED, PERFORMS TO CELEBRATE HIS AWARD
The Gongo Aso crooner, 9ice, real names Abolore Akande was recognized at the City People Awards for Excellence for his contribution to the music industry over the years. The prolific singer was excited to be recognized and he performed a few of his hit songs to celebrate his win.
MERCY JOHNSON DAZZLED EVERY ONE
Many were shocked to see Mercy Johnson when she and a friend came down from a black jeep. She looked so sexy with all the curves. Mercy Johnson, who was recently appointed as the Special Adviser on Entertainment Arts and Culture to the Governor of Kogi State was present at the event. She stood in for the First Lady of Kogi state, Hajia Rasheeda Bello who was abroad. The Kogi first lady was specially recognized for her remarkable pet project, Kogi Women and Youth Advancement Foundation (KOWYAF).
OTUNBA IBEUN’S ELEGANCE
You can’t be found worthy of the award of excellence as the Male Entrepreneur of the year and not have a class of Elegance. The business guru, Apesin Muyiwa Ibeun had it all planned out for him and his team. Sending forth his team of security personnel to get to the venue on-time before he joined them later. Some of his personnel were even dressed in a customized black shirt with prints depicting the award of the otunba and his picture.
TVC’S BUKOLA SAMUEL SHINES
TVC News won an award as the TV Station of the Year. TVC is a 24-hour television news channel owned by Continental Broadcasting Service Nigeria Ltd., based in Lagos. From its inception, the network promoted itself and its content daily striving to be better than the previous transmission and this zeal has kept them going over the years. It is no doubt that their 24-Hours report on news and happenings within Nigeria and beyond its borders earned them the Television Station of the Year. Bukola Samuel who came in to represent the station also won big as her “FireWorks” program earned her the TV Presenter of the year. It was a double win for the Television station.
ADEWALE AYUBA CAME THROUGH
He won the Music Personality Of The Year. The brilliant musician has spanned decades in the industry and has contributed to the music sector at large. Adewale Ayuba popularly known as Ayuba, Mr. Johnson and the Bonsue-fuji maestro was radiant at the event. He smiled with everyone, took a lot of pictures and even mingled with others.
IT’S A DOUBLE FOR FIDELITY BANK
Fidelity Bank was honoured at the event. So also its MD/CEO, Mr. Okonkwo. Fidelity Bank was awarded the best bank for their support and financing of SMEs. Mr. Okonkwo also won the Bank CEO of the Year Award. It was indeed a double for the bank.
OMINI AND BABA DE BABA ADD A SPICE OF COMEDY
Omini, popularly known as Headmaster and fast-rising comedy sensation, Baba De Baba were guest comedians at the event and they took to the stage to thrill the crowd. Both comedians did pretty good as they had guests laughing hard and enjoying themselves.
T-ME AND DAMIONE WENT IN AFTER 9ICE
The music galore continued as award winning act T-Me thrilled guests with his new single right after 9ice performed. He was later joined on stage by Damione, another budding act who brought the show to an end just before Ludareh and his iconic Band rounded up the event with live music magic.
IBADAN CELEB WOMAN, ALHAJA TAFIKAT STORMED AWARD
She’s a very popular personality in Ibadan. Alhaja Tafikat has soared in business within Ibadan. She is one of the biggest players in the property and real estate business in Ibadan. The unique quality that this woman possesses is her love for Ibadan thereby running all her investments in the ancient city. She also owns a 72-room hotel in Ibadan. The top hotelier stunned the City People Awards for Excellence In a lovely Long Black Dress and she was excited to be awarded the Hotelier of The Year Award.
AGEGE LG BOSS CAME THROUGH
Gbenga Abiola, 28, is the Sole Administrator of Agege Local Government. He was one of the 57 sole administrators sworn in by Governor Ambode on Monday, June 13, 2016. On Sunday, the 2nd of April, the young Local Government Boss, cladded in White was awarded the Local Government Boss of the year for transforming Agege to what it is now.
BIBI BRIGHT FLEW IN FROM GHANA
Bibi Bright is an actress born in 1986 Cape Coast, Ghana. The sexy actress flew in from Ghana to the City People Awards for Excellence. She was dressed in a black gown that was laced with Sequences that reflected all through the event. She was awarded for her Advocacy for Good Governance in Ghana.
HON. FUNMI TEJUOSHO came with associates
She won the Female Politician of the year award and she couldn’t hide her joy as she was all smiles throughout the event. She was present with her team and they all stepped out to receive the award with her.
D1 – DAYO ADENEYE-REPRESENTED OGUN GOVERNOR
The Commissioner for Information and strategy, Ogun State, Hon. Dayo Adeneye was present at the event. He stood in for the Governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun as the governor was awarded the Best Governor for Infrastructural Development. He also received the award on behalf of the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun as she was awarded with the 1st Lady of the year Award.
KENNY JONES STEPS OUT WITH TWIN BROTHER
Taiwo and Kehinde Jones stepped out together with their family to the City People Award For Excellence. The twin stepped out with their wives who wore the same attire. Also present was their Elder brother, his wife and his son. Kenny Jones won the Fashion Designer of the Year and his family celebrated with him.
GUILD OF EDITORS PRESIDO HONOUR
The President of the Guild of Editors, Funke Egbemode was honoured . She is a successful female journalist who is the MD of Telegraph Newspaper. She was awarded the Media Personality of The Year Award.
THIDAY EDITOR RECEIVES AWARDS
Also, honoured was Ms Ijeoma Nwogwugwu. She was able to bring two decades of valuable experience to her job as Editor of THISDAY. She is a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and has sat on the board of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, Daily Times of Nigeria Plc and the National Hospital Abuja. She was awarded the Editor of The Year award.
SENATOR GBENGA ASHAFA’S WIFE SADE STEPS OUT
Wife of Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Sade Ashafa was present at the event. The soon-to-be 60years wife of the Senator was looking radiant and elegant that you won’t believe she is about to clock 60 later this year. She walked with class to the stage to receive the award of the Senator of the Year on behalf of her husband who wasn’t present at the event.
CASH MADAM’S SON REPRESENTED HER
Cash Madam, Alhaja Adebisi Edionseri won a Lifetime Architect Award. She could not make it. She sent her son Yomi to represent her.
CELEBRITIES WHO CAME
A lot of celebrities attended the event. Former Lagos Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire was there. So also Senator Ganiu Solomon (GOS). Actress Lola Alao came with friends. Lagos State Commissioner, for Special Duties, Seye Oladejo was also in attendance. Some Sole Administrators of Lagos LGs came. The Sole Administrator for Agege LG was there, so also the one for Yaba LCDA. Mr John Oguzoro of Smartmark and his beautiful wife and friends also graced the occasion
APESIN MUYIWA IBEUN STEALS SHOW
Popular business man, Apesin Muyiwa Ibeun stole the show at the awards. He was honoured as The Entrepreneur of The Year and he came with his wife and friends.
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