Ashionye
The event started on time, showing early signs of what to expect at the event proper in January 2008. “Even by our own standards it was late,” the event Operations Director quipped. It was the exclusive Nominees Party for the 120 young icons who made it into the long list of The Future.. Awards 2008 – the first such party in the award’s history, it couldn’t have started on a higher note!
 
Before the event formally kicked off, guests had already begun to stream into the Waka, Victoria Island venue – Dbanj, Don Jazzy, Ashionye, Ikechukwu, TY Bello, Big Brother’s Ebuka, Buki de La Zaria, Virgin Nigeria’s Noble Igwe, Muyiwa Osindero, Storm’s Tola Odunsi amongst others, so that when rave of the moment comedian Jedidiah, declared the event open, it was to a full house.
 

 
D'Banj
After brisk introductions by the event’s PR Director, Emilia Asim-Ita, and a re-hash of the awards process by its Creative Director, Chude Jideonwo, it was straight to the day’s business, and the first set of nomination certificates, as signed by Board of Trustees Vice-Chair, Prof. Jadesola Akande, and Independent Audit Committee Chair, Dr. Reuben Abati – were presented by one of the award judges, HR guru, Fela Durotoye. This session was followed by a musical performance by new kid on the block, Base. 

 
Fela Durotoye also presented the second set of awards before giving a short address to the nominees. Moving the crowd as is his trademark with to-the-point eloquence, Fela captured the attention of the audience to a rousing standing ovation. Speaking further, he said, “The reason why I support The Future. An award whole-heartedly is very simple: the principle of appreciation. What we are doing is appreciating the successes of people who are adding value to the society and the result of that is to sustain that movement, to make it even more enduring.”

Presenting the next set of awards were Mr. Tunji Soyinka, advertising guru, until recently with TBWA and then IMS, and now with Globacom. Following from that was another performance by reigning sensation, GT the Guitarman that got the crown roaring with applause.

This was followed by a comedy interlude from Segun Dangote, before AMAA Awards chief and one of the event judges, Peace Fiberesima came on board next to present the next and final set of awards – Musician of the Year, On-Air Personality of the Year, and Young Person of the Year.

The event stuck to its two hour schedule and ended right on time with a vote of thanks and update on the awards, including the novel Get Your Green On campaign, by the event’s Creative Director. And then the dance floor was open as the guests let it loose for a party!

However, even as the evening glided to a close, nominees stuck in traffic and coming straight from the offices continues to stream in, adding even more glitz to an already colourful evening.

With Soundcity’s Denrele Edun working the red carpet, alongside endless flashes from cameras all over the venue, there was a magic to the venue that you could readily feel – and the guests just didn’t want to go home – networking, meeting people, and sharing laughing more than 2 hours after the event… the whole space filled with innumerable young achievers, from almost every sector of Nigeria’s economy. It was brilliant!

Other nominees at the star-studded event, all between the ages of 18 and 31, included Tosin Dekalu, Mike Magic, Cool FM’s Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, STV’s Adaure Achumba, Solape Agagu, Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, Funke Awobokun, 2007 IYMEY winner, Nigezie’s Lamide Opere, Emmanuel Etim, Seyi Taylor, Obiwon, Linda Ikeji etc, with nominees like Dumebi Agbakoba and Ronke Adeola coming in from the UK and others like Saturday Trust editor, Abdulkareem Baba Aminu, AMAA Award winner Ali Nuhu and film-maker Mak Kusare jetting in from Abuja.

The race gets even hotter as Nigeria begins to count the days to the 3rd edition of “Africa’s biggest youth awards” – The Future.. Awards 2008! With organizers of the event, RedSTRAT Communications, working with the phenomenal Storm Group, the pleasant surprises planned for the lucky guests who get invitations to this event are set to be revealed in a matter of days.