Bellafricana held its 3rd edition of The African Creative Exhibition and Awards, [ACE Awards], on Friday, the 29th of October, 2021 to laud the works of African creatives and celebrate their contributions to their respective industries/sectors.
The event attracted a host of notable personalities, such as Mr.Olusegun Awolowo [Executive Director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) & President ECOWAS TPO Network], Mr. Tobi Asehinde [CEO/Founder Digital Marketing Skills Institute], Mrs. Yetunde Aina [CEO of Jadeas Trust], Mr. Lanre Basamta [Group Head, Mobile Financial Services, Interswitch Group], Mr. Lanre Adisa[CEO Noah’s Ark Communications].
We also had in attendance, Prince & Mrs. Adeyemi Adefulu, Mr. Oluwaseyi Adegoke-Adeyemo (Vice-Chair, Events committee) of Nigeria-Britain Association [NBA], Ms. LeratoLekena-Okoro [Real Estate Advisor], Mrs. Eyiyemi Olivia [Compere, OAP & Dress maker], and Mrs. Nnena Fakoya-Smith [Tourism Promoter & Visibility Coach].
Representatives of Access Bank and W-Community – Mrs Abiodun Olubitan [Group Head, Women Banking team at Access Bank Plc], Noah’s Ark, Inside Watch Africa, Cybertron Ads, Pride magazine, Jordan FM, Exquisite magazine, Arise Television were present to cover the event and of course, the reason for the event, the 45 nominees for the 15 different categories, their guests and a host of others.
The 3-phased event: The Creatives Connect, Exhibitions [and shopping for attendees] and The ACE Awards Dinner which garnered a lot of attention pulled a crowd of 1,000 Attendees, 20 Exhibitors, 15 Awardees and over 2million Social Media Reach just for the event.
Everyone was held spellbound as the hosts for each event expertly took us on a journey of fun, intrigue and surprises.
For the Creatives Connect & Exhibitions, we had experts address attendees, business support basket raffle, exhibitors from different industries display their beautiful and unique items, while shoppers eagerly shopped to their satisfaction. And of course, connecting, conversing, networking, and item 7. It was fun, enlightening and everyone left with smiles on their faces.
The ACE awards dinner, which was themed: A touch of Africa, was a spectacular one. With everyone glammed up as they sauntered in, making their way to their seats, ready to be thrilled and entertained. The entertainment was nothing short of mesmerizing with musical performances by Blue Note – The Saxophonist, spoken poetry by Ms. Shola Amaraibi and a host of others. Roars of applause filled the air as the winners were called and endless speeches and pictures ensued – as it should.
See the full list below:
ACE Awards 2021 Winners
Best Indigenous Textile Designer – Afrikstabel
Best Beauty Brand – Jaga Beauty
Best Fashion Brand (Clothing, Shoes) – K.Aspen
Best Startup of the Year – Just Journal
Best Accessories Brand (Jewelry, Bags) – AABOUX
Best Eco-friendly Product Innovation – Trash2Wealth
Best Innovative Product of the Year – Clay world by Marienne
Best Pioneer Craftsman/woman of the Year (Over 10 years) – Raule Royal
Best Food Produce Innovation – Klay Foods
Best Creative Child Entrepreneur – Zees Shea Hub
Best Creative Social Enterprise of the Year – Solar Sister
Best Creative Children’s Brand – 9ijakids
Best Arts & Crafts Person – Hooked by Lade
Best Home & Lifestyle Brand – Yasmin Crafts
Best emerging African Brand – Kua Designs
Mrs. Bukky Asehinde, Founder of Bellafricana and the ACE Awards initiative, gave a compelling and heartfelt speech on the journey thus far and her hopes and dreams for the future.
What is arguably the best part of the evening, was the surprise announcement from the Executive Director of NEPC & President ECOWAS TPO Network, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, who awarded the winners the Export Expansion Facility Programme [EEFP] Grant. An unexpected but wonderful gift, that got the room erupting in applause, shouts of joy and a few tears shed. He did not stop there. He then proceeded to call on stage the Founder of Bellafricana – Mrs. Bukky Asehinde, in what seemed to be commending all her efforts and this initiative, he then, right there, inducted her as the Zero-Oil Ambassador for Nigeria. It was nothing short of a night filled with wonder.
With this riveting third edition, Bellafricana’s African Creative Exhibition and Awards continue to be the most prestigious gathering of Enterprising Creative Afrocentric Brands in Nigeria (Africa). This leaves us looking forward to the next edition of the ACE Awards.
