THE EBONY BUSINESS RECOGNITION AWARDS- SETTING THE PACE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
There is something refreshing about Friday evenings, even the scents from the wind are filled with raw energy and the birth of new actions waiting to unfold.
For some, it is the celebration of new handshakes, laughter, spontaneous or formal bonding, music and glamour, for others it might be confiding to the routine and the limitations of a TV box in a quiet street in North London where nobody knows their neighbours.
But Friday the 4th of July 2014 was not just refreshing, it was different, it was profound and it was colourful and all roads lead to St Johns, Lower Clapton in Hackney, and East London for The prestigious Ebony Business Recognition Awards.
EBR Awards aims to promote and celebrate Black Business achievers, Role Models, Entrepreneurs, Professionals and people making a difference within the Black Community.
It focuses on both achievers in the public and the private sector.
The Awards also helps to enhance people’s business profiles, reputation and promote the great work of aspiring entrepreneurs and role models.
As the founder of an organization called AFRICA4U, I was in the company with my business partner, Mr. Zac Darkes – The Founder of ZIMLINK, not just for a colourful evening, but to conduct video interviews with some of these black achievers making a big difference to their communities both in the private and in the public sector.
WE ended up conducting over 12 interviews and I was deeply overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, calibre and the natural talent of many of these achievers that we met and interviewed on the night.
It was perhaps the first ever awards I had been to in London, that celebrated the achievements of new passionate faces with untold stories and people I had never met.
Society and The Media in many cases focuses a lot on “Celebrities” but I have often asked, what does a Celebrity really say about someone? Do we sometimes look up to popularity for the wrong reasons?
I would rather be a Role Model than a Celebrity. Being a Role Model is about setting example and not all Celebrities set example, hence not all Celebrities are Role Models
On the evening, I felt humbled and honoured to meet and engage with many Black Role Models.
I also ended up winning Two Awards on the evening, The Special Awards for championing Black and Ethnic Minority Visions and The Male Business Coach of the Year.
I left that evening with a smile on my face and the next day, I was eager to look up the profiles of all the winners and the participants on the Net, I was very impressed was with the great work that they had achieved.
Organizing an Awards involves detail, hard work and a high level of organizational skills, it also involves research and sometimes research is about opening up the mind and the eyes into a world of new territories of people who are unique and have untold stories, I call these people – The Quiet Achievers
The Room that evening was filled with the warmth and the smiles of quiet achievers and my mind quickly raced to what it took to organize an event like this.
My mind raced back once more to The Founder of The EBR AWARDS, – Mr. Calixtus Okere.
I remember the first time I spoke with him on the phone, I sensed a tone filled with passion, urgency and ambition, when I eventually got to meet him at The Awards night, the same hints of urgency beamed from his eyes and straight away, I knew I was talking to a Man blessed with a huge heart and drive.
Today EBR Awards continues to go from strength to strength and in my last conversation with Mr. Okere, I was planned that more future awards will also take place outside the UK, to maintain the growth of an International Brand.
To find out more about the EBR Awards, visit www.ebawardsuk.com
IMAGES HERE
A LIST OF ALL THE WINNERS AT THE AWARDS CAN BE FOUND BELOW
2014 Winners
- UK UPCOMING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
MODELLING AND BRANDING OF THE YEAR
CHERELLE ROSE
PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL BUSINESS WOMEN OF THE YEAR
TREASURE TITILOPE SABS
WOMEN’S BUSINESS COACH OF THE YEAR
YVONNE, J DOUGLASS
BUSINESS ICON OF THE YEAR UK
LABAN ROOMES
FILM DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR UK
FREDI KRUGA NWAKA
SOCIAL ENTREPRENUER OF THE YEAR
INVEST IN SUCCESS (CIC)
PR AND MARKETING
PANACHE OCCASSIONS
CREATIVE ARTS OF THE YEAR
MELANIE E HAGGINS
FASHION DESIGN & CREATIVITY OF THE YEAR
HOUSE OF LOULEE
AUTHOR OF THE YEAR
DEJI YUSUF
BEST CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
RYTHM KITCHEN
BAKING AND CONFECTIONERY
DELIGHTS BY CYNTHIA
STILL & MOTION PICTURES
JOSH DANIELS PICTURES
MENS BUSINESS COACH OF THE YEAR
TONY -TOKUNBO FERNANDEZ
YOUNG BUSINESS COACH OF THE YEAR (LADY)
CATHERINE T LABINJO
YOUNG BUSINESS COACH OF THE YEAR (MEN)
OSHEANE CHAMBERS
BUSINESS SOCIAL NETWORK OF THE YEAR
LADIES WHO LUNCH UK
ENTERTAINMENT AND LEISURE OF THE YEAR
ADAD
BUSINESS TV TALK SHOW OF THE YEAR
PAULINE LONG TALK SHOW (BEN TV)
MUSIC PROMOTER OF THE YEAR UK
BOLA ARA PROMOTIONS
MOST DESIRED PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
NIGERIAN 100 ARMBAND BY VICTOR EDOZIE
MOST INFORMATIVE BUSINESS SERVICE OF THE YEAR
THAT’S WHAT GOOD MEDIA
RETAIL SERVICES OF THE YEAR
AFRODEITY LTD
NATURAL PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR
NATURAL UNITY
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
LINA GADI
BUSINESS DIRECTORY & ADVERTISEMENT WEBSITE OF THE YEAR
BLACK ECONOMICS
BUSINESS TV STATION OF THE YEAR
BEN TV
BUSINESS ONLINE TALK SHOW OF THE YEAR
EBONY EMPRESS TALK SHOW
ACCOUNTING SERVICES OF THE YEAR
SAM O TUUDAH SOT PREFESSIONAL SERVICES LONDON
MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL MEN OF THE YEAR
MATT MATTHEWS
DIGITAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
BLACK VISIONS TV
SPECIAL AWARDS
(Founder Neo-slip) Managing Director at Neo-Innovations
NEOMI BENNETT
Special Award for Invention and Innovation
UK LTD
Special Award for promoting Black Own Businesses
PURPLE PAGES
(Founder Flaky’s Fashion designing) – Special
MRS ELIZABETH ADEGOKE
Award for Promoting Black made products
Special Award for promoting
MRS BOLA ARA (Bola Ara Music Promotions)
Afrocentric Music
Special Award for promoting and showcasing Black UK
BLACK VISION TV
Talents
Special Award for Championing Black and ethnic Minority Vision
TONY -TOKUNBO FERNANDEZ
ethnic Minority Vision
Special Award for Selfless Service in Motivating and Inspiring (SSMI) Black and Ethnic Minority Community
TREASURE TITILOPE SABS
Special award for Promoting Afro/Caribbean cultural Dances
ADAD
Special Award for promoting Black ethnic Films
THEODORA IGBOKWE
Special Award for selfless service to Black and ethnic Minorities in the community
ALPHA ROCKS SOLICITORS
VALOUR AWARD for showing great courage and turning negative experience to positive enhancement of other people
MARIE HANSON
Special Award for contributing to Media & Diaspora Development in UK
TUNDE ALABI
Special Award for Quality food and good customer services
SQUIRES RESTAURANT
Special Award for service to the community
Fizz DJ
