Fides Media Living the Faith
By Jude Atupulazi
The Anambra State Government has dissociated itself from what it calls phantom awards being promoted by some groups or NGOs with the bogus caption, ”ANAMBRA Awards”; saying the caption confuses or deceives the public.
The state government made this known through a press statement signed by Mr Christian Aburime who is the Press Secretary to the Governor.
Fides gathered that the said awards had been scheduled to hold on Saturday, 1st July, 2023, at the Stanel Event Centre, Awka.
But reacting to it, the state government said it had received several calls from unsuspecting persons who, it said, assumed that the government was involved in the awards.
‘We respect free speech and the right of any individual or group to express their opinions about anyone through recognitions or awards, and for whatever purpose. But the title of such awards or recognitions must not leave anyone in doubt that such represent the personal/subjective opinions of the awarding group or NGO.
‘Reputable newspapers and organizations give their annual “Man of the Year” Awards, but they are sincere to appropriately caption them as: “The Sun Man of the Year”, “Vanguard Man of the Year”, etc. They do not caption their awards in a manner to confuse them with Nigeria’s National Honours, exclusively awarded by the Federal Government, as approved by the National Council of State.
‘Anambra State has the State Awards, and they have the imprimatur of the State Government. The Government therefore clarifies that it is not aware or associated with the so-called Anambra Awards.
‘The state government has a responsibility to guard against any misuse of the name of the state, especially to the unsuspecting public.’