It was celebration extravaganza at the 5th edition of the Garden City Advancement Awards held on Saturday , November 3 at Artzec Arcum Event Centre, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt as receipients were honoured with plaques, certificates and cash gifts in this year’s edition.
Speaking in an interview with The Tide entertainment shortly after the ceremony,the principal partner, Garden City Advancement Awards, Robinson Koyoyo stated that the major purpose of the brand was to celebrate virtues of excellence among individuals and corporate organisations who are adding value and impacting lives,people we can refer to as salient heroes.
He noted that the impact of the award on society was awesome. According to him, “The impact is heavy because we live in a society where youths lack people to look up to. We have individuals who have made it through hard work.People who started from the scratch and today they are great.
“We identify them, showcase their profiles at the events for the youths to see how people rose from nothing to something and from grass to grace,by so doing the youths are encouraged that one can start a genuine business and grow into a success without necessarily going into crime or other social vices.
He disclosed that the first edition was held on September 13th, 2014 at Hotel Presidential, Portharcourt with a massive crowd in attendance. He reiterated that subsequent editions were also held at the same venue with similarly large turnout, but this year’s event was bigger and better.
He said this time around, the organizers of the event decided to change the venue from Hotel Presidential to the Aztech Arcum which is the biggest event centre in Port Harcourt with a capacity of about 2000 people and the attendance at the event was amazing.
The principal partner disclosed that despite the various challenges the brand faces, such as paucity of funds, lack of partnership and sponsorship, the brand had made good success within the five years of it’s existence. He however lauded the efforts of those organizations that had identified with them and contributed to the success story.
Koyoyo who is also the managing partner Heritage Plus, organizers of the Garden City Advancement Awards and other event management services stated that so far, over 60 persons both high and low had received awards, certificates and cash gifts from the Awards ceremony.
He said, “ the brand does not honour only the high and mighty alone, we still identify individuals who are adding values in their communities and our society by virtue of what they do”.
The glamorous event also witnessed the attendance and performance of A-list entertainers and showbiz performers from the music, movie and comedy industries. Other distinguished guests of honour were also present.