by Oge Okonkwo

Actor OC Ukeje has wrapped up a spectacular year with his announcement yesterday as winner of The Future Awards Prize in Entertainment Talent.

The star beat Ice Prince & Iyanya to receive the coveted prize at the event which held at Aztech Arcum, hosted by the Rivers State Government and was anchored by OAP Toke Makinwa and rapper Vector.

Ukeje beat off the relatively better-known singers Ice Prince, Iyanya
and Omawumi to pick the prize. This is the actor’s second nomination for
the awards – after he lost The Future Awards for ‘Actor of the Year’ to
Tonto Dike last year.

“I’m just an ordinary guy who has been blessed, especially this year – a
year that has completely taken me by surprise,” Ukeje said at the event.
“It is very rare to win over musicians, so this very rare. I am very
proud to finally be a recipient of Africa’s biggest prize for young
people, The Future Awards Africa. I dedicate this prize to Peace
Anyiam-Osigwe for believing in me.”

The win caps up an impressive year for the 32-year-old. He had
previously won for Best Actor at the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards
for ‘2 Brides & A Baby’. He was also Best Actor in a Leading Role at the
Nigeria Entertainment Awards for ‘Alan Poza’, and the Nollywood Movies
Awards for ‘Hoodrush’.

Other winners included Jobberman founders Ayodeji Adewunmi, Opeyemi
Awoyemi and Olalekan Olude for the Prize in Enterprise Support, Kenneth
Gyang for the Prize in Arts & Culture, Precious Peter Nweke for the
Prize in Agriculture, amongst others.

The winner of the ultimate reward, Young Person of the Year – The Africa
Prize was announced as Ugandan Ashish Thakar who is recognized as
Africa’s youngest billionare at 32.

The awards held yesterday wrapped up an extraordinary year for The
Future Awards Africa, which went continental for the first time. It also
featured The Future Awards Africa ‘Best 100’, an event hosted by the
Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan to commemorate Nigeria at 100.
That event was hosted by Rubbin’ Minds presenter, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.