YNaija.com,
the Internet News bulletin for Young Nigerians, has unveiled nominees for its
Person of the Year award. Expectedly, following in the foot prints of the TIME
Person of the Year, the recognition beams its search light on extra-ordinary
individuals who have made news headlines in the past 12 months, as well as
stirred debate in public discourse.
With nominees carefully selected by YNaija panel of editors, readers will have the opportunity to vote that person who is worthy of the title. However the editors, taking the popular vote into cognisance, will make the final decision.
The
nominees are:
Aliko
Dangote: With his entrepreneurial savvy and consistence, Dangote has risen to
become Africa’s richest man. Outside of government, the Dangote conglomerate is
the highest employer of labour in the country. This year, Dangote opened a 6
million metric tonnes cement production plant in Ibeche.
Dapo ’D’
banj’ Oyebanjo: D’banj joined the G.O.O.D Music crew owned by Grammy Award
winning artiste, Kanye West, and has since then achieved many feats including
sold out show appearances, topped charts, and won several awards to show that
his success and that of his former partner, Don Jazzy doesn’t have to be
inversely proportional.
Obiageli
Ezekwesili: Her moral authority has become her calling card. This year, she
successfully completed her stint as the World Bank Vice President Africa
Division, a position to which she was appointed in 2007. As vice-president she
was in charge of the bank’s operations in 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
and supervised a lending portfolio of over $40 billion.
The
Nigerian: For surviving against all odds, when the pump price of fuel was
increased and packaged as a New Year’s gift, the future seemed bleak. But The
Nigerian has come through. From bomb blasts, to air mishaps, to monumental
fraud, The Nigerian not only survived but continues to believe in the country’s
redemption.
Other
nominees are Davido, Don Jazzy, Wizkid, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Olusegun Mimiko,
Tunde Bakare, Omoyemi Akerele and Barth Nnaji.
The
announcement of the selection for YNaija Person of the Year is on December 31,
2012. There will be no award given to the winner, and also no event. The
winner and the public will be officially notified of the selection, with an
essay detailing rationale, impact and significance for the future.
