By Rose Okonkwor

The Okwe family of late Mr Iwegbunam Edward Akaraiwe in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State has confirmed their participation in the upcoming 2022 Ubulu Ezemu Award scheduled to hold 25th December, 2022 at Viva Hotel, Ubulu Uku.

Recall that Akaraiwe, the late principal of St. Anthony’s College, Ubulu-Uku (SACU) from 1979 to 1987, was few months ago, nominated in one of the categories in Ubulu Ezemu Award.

After a rigorous assessment by the assessors and Ubulu Ezemu Award Committee, Mr Akaraiwe is said to have very bright chances of clinching one of the awards posthumously.

Son of the principal, Ikeazor Akaraiwe (SAN) made the confirmation to Ubulu Ezemu on Wednesday, stating that the family will be fully on ground for the prestigious award.

As it is, all arrangements for the successful hosting of this year’s Ubulu Ezemu Award have been concluded.

This year’s edition powered by Erec Communications Limited (RC 1695474), will hold at Viva Hotel on the 25th December, 2022.

It is the third in the series, the company having hosted the first and second edition in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

So far, over 10 indigenous firms have thrown their weight behind the prestigious event. Some of the supporters include Heat Up Entertainment, Findrex Travels and Tours, Travellers Network Magazine, Atlantic NewsOnline, Goddonewell Publications, Alphacall Ambulance Services etc.

Speaking on the preparations towards the big show, Convener of the award ceremony, , Anthony Awunor promised a great outing this year.

Awunor, a multiple award-winning journalist stated that this year’s edition will be very interesting much more than the previous editions.

He said the Award Committee had pruned down the nominees which was very large initially, to a very small number of final winners.

“To maintain the prestige and genuineness with which the award is known for, the committee had cut down the number of winners after a rigorous assessment of the nominees presented”.

“It is not an all-comers affair but for genuine and authentic achievers in the community. We ensure that winners must have qualified and suitable for the award in any of the categories”, Awunor assured.

He confirmed that, no awardee lobbied to be listed, emphasizing that it was strictly by nomination from people which is followed up by a team of assessors.

The prolific writer advised nominees who did not scale through the final hurdle this year, to work harder and keep faith in the coming years.