GIJ Eminence Awards: Can I Nag?

Christabel Brainoo texted to tell me that she had nominated me for Best Writer/Blogger of the year. I had no idea what it was about at the time. Then Dave Acheampong  texted to say he had done same for me.

In the first place, I felt really appreciated. I finally accepted that people actually read my writings and actually liked them.

Then out of nowhere, I was added to a WhatsApp Group called, ‘GIJ Excellence Awards’ (which would later be changed to GIJ Eminence Awards). The message was simple- if you are here, it is because you have been nominated for an award. There were several people in the group who claimed they had no idea what they had been nominated for. I knew mine, so I didn’t say anything.

Then a first list of nominations came out. I scanned through and got to the Best Writer/Blogger part and my name was not in there. I didn’t panic. Following the conversation in the WhatsApp Group, I realized the organizers had admitted to erring in some sections, and urged all who had issues to send their names and the categories they should have been nominated for to any of the executives. I chose Richmond Anim Damoah’s number and sent him my name and category. There was no reply. Still, I didn’t panic. Stated under the nominations list was the requirement for each category. The one for the Best Writer/Blogger was that you send two links or your article to a specified email address. Confident that the initial error would be corrected, I went ahead and emailed two of my masterpieces (oh yeah) to the organizers. This time, there was a reply. They acknowledged receipt of my email and thanked me for sending it.

Some time later, they sent a message to the WhatsApp Group talking about how the purpose for creating the group had been achieved and how the group was no longer needed for anything. They removed all of us.

Then another nominations list made the rounds. I got it and quickly got to the Best Writer/Blogger part. Still no Fiifi Khoruz.

Now I do not know why my name is refusing to appear on their nominees document when I have been nominated by people, and I have submitted the necessary requirements. Maybe they have their reasons. Maybe not.

Everybody that I have spoken to, including SRC executives, had only negative things to say about the organizers of this award scheme. I don’t have anything to say about them because I do not know them and I do not know what sort of credibility they have. It would just have been nice to hear from them concerning my issues. And I believe I am not talking for myself only.

Thinking about it, dissolving the group was very unnecessary because now they have no platform to tell us why our names were not included in the final nominations list. Maybe I should contact the organizers and ask why this happened but is it necessary? I actually want to be awarded Most Influential Student but since I was overlooked for that, it’s fine. Haha.. that was just by the way.

Anyways, people are asking questions. So if you are an organizer and you are reading this, you should find time and a platform to answer them. People want to know what criteria is being used for SRC Executive of the Year and Group of the Year among others. It’s up to you.

Chale I dey; I just chork it. I can only be content and actually happy that people read my articles and they appreciate them. You guys are the real MVPs.

**

This is the end of Fiifi Khoruz nagging. Let me text my crush and nag more. She didn’t call me today.

PS:  The Duncans were nominated for Best Group of the Year in the first nominations list. When the second one came out, the group name was nowhere to be found. None of us was contacted both times.

I believe the organizers of GIJ Eminence Awards should show some respect and be professional. If you decide to do something, do it well.