NEA prepares for 2016 award

Citicom and the National Center for Excellence and creativity say the 2016 National Excellence Award (NEA) scheduled for December is 98 percent ready for the December 16 event to be held at the Paynesville City Hall on Friday night Citicom CEO Mr. Chris Onanuga told reporters on Monday, 12 December that this year’s event is purely Liberian, meaning that performing artists and honorees, among others are not foreigners but Liberians.

Mr. Onanuga says unlike other events in which foreign artists are brought here and lodged at expensive hotels while Liberian performers commute from their homes to play theirs, this year’s event would feature local artists, key of whom is Quincy L. Burrowes (AKA Quincy -B).

He said the names of those that will be awarded will be known at the event because the program committee has nothing to do with the vetting process that is being handled by a vetting committee. He vows that this year’s award or crystal will be ten times improved than the award given last year, while trying to dismiss suspicion over the quality of awards they give out to winners.

Mr. Onanuga said all was set for the prestigious award, detailing that the Red Carpet event takes place at 8pm, while the real event begins at 9pm. The least ticket at the event will be sold at US$30.00 and VIP Tickets sold for US$100.00.

Couples tickets will be sold for US$175, while tickets for corporate tables taking eight persons will be sold at US$750. The National Coodinating Director of NEA Mr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr. says the nomination process was going on very well with high level of credibility, announcing that the preparations for the events were at 98 per cent readiness.

Mr. Joekai says all equipment needed for the event were in country, and hotel arrangements for performers, who said to be Liberian artists, has also been done. He announced that the entire event is purely Liberian, in an effort to promote Liberians. Mr. Joekai says this year’s live event will receive the widest coverage by electronic and print media organizations, with an anticipation of four million on line viewers. Quincy – B urged Liberians to buy their tickets, saying he will perform at the prestigious award ceremony on Friday night.

By Winston W. Parley-Edited Othello B. Garblah