Future Awards moves to Port Harcourt; Keynote Speaker is Tony Elumelu

The central working committee for The Future Awards is excited to announce that Port Harcourt - selected by UNESCO as the World Book Capital 2014 - is the official host city for The Future Awards 2012. The event will hold on 25 and 26 August in the Rivers State capital."Exciting things are happening with Port Harcourt, and we are proud that its inspiring governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has decided to support the vision of young leaders from across Nigeria by hosting this year's event," said Obiageli Ezekwesili who was recently appointed to lead the Open Society Foundations Africa Economic Policy Development Initiative and sits on the Board of The Future Awards."These are exciting times for Rivers, which just beat Oxford, England to clinch the title of World Book Capital 2014," said Ibim Semenitari, commissioner of information for Rivers State and erstwhile editor-in-chief at BusinessEye. "His Excellency, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, a cheerleader for intellectual development, has always been passionate about engaging, with real values, the next generation of Nigerian leaders, and it gives the government and people of the state great pleasure to host the brightest young leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs in Nigeria."The committee also announced the keynote speaker for this year's awards is TonyElumelu (MFR). Mr. Elumelu, acknowledged globally as one of Africa's most influential entrepreneurs and the proponent of Africapitalism, is former chief executive officer of the United Bank for Africa Plc, is the chairman of Heirs Holdings and the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.Season 7 of The Future Awards was launched on May 29, and the organisers have gone around the country engaging young Nigerians, which ended with a spectacular reception for the Nominees in Lagos. The winners in all 21 categories will be unveiled at the awards event."The Future Awards is always a spectacular show, but it's not just a show," says Chude Jideonwo, executive director of The Future Project. "Next week we will be unveiling the impressive list of perfumers, but when the guests leave the venue, they will be inspired, and fired up to tear down the walls limiting us from changing our country."Media Partners for the event are Channels TV, Silverbird TV, TV Continental, Wazobia FM, Nigeria Info, BellaNaija, 360Nobs, LindaIkejiBlog, Jobberman, Premium Times, NET, TW, Complete Fashion, and FAB.The event is supported by LASAA, Miccom Golf Resorts, Tremor Perfect,Yvent Couture, LightHouse Productions, and Zaphairre. Official media partners are Africa Magic, Cool FM and Y! (www.ynaija.com).More information on the awards is onfacebook.com/thefutureawards.
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