ELA 2009 Awards Recipients

Outstanding Career Achievement Award:

Dr. Ernest B. Izevbigie

obtained his Ph.D. degree in Growth Biology/ Biochemistry in 1996 from

Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Biochemistry/

Cancer Biology at the National Institute of Craniofacial and Dental Research (NIDCR) /

NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, from 1996-1998. He joined the Jackson State University ( JSU) Biology faculty

in 1999, and currently a Professor of Biology/Biochemistry. His research interest is the characterization,

development, and therapeutic index assessment of novel plant-derived agents as candidates

for breast cancer prevention and/or therapies. He has patented several plant-based pharmacological

formulae as potential candidates for cancer therapies.

He also founder of EdoBotanics (EB), LLC. EB uses proprietary technologies in state-of-the-art laboratories

to process, extract, and standardize compounds from plants to make dietary supplements

(phytoceuticals and nutraceuticals) capable of delivering maximum and consistent potency Dietary

Supplements for promoting/supporting the immune, breast/prostate, and Gastrointestinal (GI)

health.

Dr. Augustine O. Agho joined the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis on July 14,

2008 as Dean of the Indiana University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Dr. Agho

obtained his doctoral degree in Hospital and Health Administration from the College of Medicine at

the University of Iowa, Master of Health Administration degree from Governors State University, and

Bachelor of Arts in Management Science from Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska.

Prior to assuming his current position, Dr. Agho served as the founding Dean of the School of Health

Professions and Studies at the University of Michigan-Flint. During his distinguished tenure, he

established the Urban Health and Wellness Center – a nurse-managed/physical therapy clinic and

established new degree programs (i.e., BS in Health Sciences, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Clinical

Practice track in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program). He also worked with faculty to increase

student enrollment, articulation agreements with community colleges, endowed scholarships for students,

and international service-learning opportunities for faculty and students.

Mr. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen

is a highly successful and sought after filmmaker in Nigeria and has become

the pride of the Edos home and abroad. To date, he has directed over 200 films many of which

have garnered awards at film festivals and film awards in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

As a movie director, Mr. Imasuen has single-handedly raised more world-acclaimed Nollywood stars

than any other director in Nigeria and perhaps in Africa. During a12 year period of prolific and

high fulfilling career as a filmmaker, he produced more award-wining movies than any of his closest

contemporaries in Nigeria; thus, becoming one of the most sought after film directors in Africa today.

He was invited to Hollywood to direct the first Hollywood/Nollywood collaboration (Friendly Enemy)

making him the first to achieve this feat in the Nigerian movie industry.

His latest movie EBUWA, has been premiered in Benin city, Abuja, New York, Atlanta, Boston, New

Jersey, Toronto and London; a first for any Nollywood movie. He was featured as a guest on CNN

screening special feature on Africa cinema, BBC focus Africa, Public Media Radio New York, China

Radio International, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and several other world print and broadcast

media. He has also been featured as the main character in two major documentaries on the Nollywood

phenomenon; one by the Canadian film board and another by a Dutch man Alex van der Mier,

titled Nollywood Babylon and Coming soon respectively. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen has won several

awards and was a participant at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival in the Utah, USA.

Distinguished Service Award:

In January 2004, Dr. Mercy Obeime delivered about $800,000 of donated medicine and supplies to

her homeland, Nigeria. That was during her ”spare time“ as director of the Mercy Foundation, a non–

profit healthcare organization she and several classmates from medical school started in 2001 to help

fight HIV—AIDS in Nigeria, which she confides is “a big, silent problem, with lots more out there.”

During her normal “nine–to–five” life and well beyond, of course, like the deeply caring family physician

she is, Obeime can be found at the Saint Francis Neighborhood Health Center at Garfield Park,

where she has served as Medical Director since 1996. She was nominated a Local Legend by Representative

Julia Carson [D–IN–7].

In prior recognition of her dedication and commitment to the inner–city residents of Indianapolis,

Obeime was chosen as a National Winner of the 2003 Spirit of Women Awards in the Healthcare

category. She is committed to treating the whole person, regardless of ability to pay. “It is very important

to treat people with compassion and dignity,” she says “to listen and find out what it is they want.

Along with all the technology of American medicine, there is a need for faith and values, especially

with older people.”

Whether at home in Indianapolis or back home in Nigeria, Obeime’s strong commitment to public

health enhances the quality of life for women, their children and families, and their communities.

Edo State Women Association (ESWA) is an African Diaspora organisation established in 1991 by a

group of women from the Nigerian Home Town Association living in the United Kingdom, who at

the time were experiencing similar needs relating to family, community and social issues.

ESWA focuses on key projects to improve the lives of mothers and children working in the markets in

Edo State. Initially, the group sought to address the concerns of women from Edo State origin 0nly, but

over the years ESWA has transformed into a community group, seeking to tackle wider issues faced

by local residents in United Kingdom, USA and Nigeria. ESWA also supports important projects in the

United Kingdom benefiting children from underprivileged backgrounds within the African community

in London. ESWA works within communities in Nigeria and the UK to tackle issues at grassroots

level and in the past years has made a difference to hundred’s of lives. ESWA’s support enables women

to become empowered, to support themselves and give their children a chance of achieving a better

life.

As a duly registered British Charity, ESWA is recognized for her significant contributions in Edo State,

Nigeria and United Kingdom and has established several significant projects, such as: Community

Pre-School (a free child care service for the children of market women in Edo State), to support children

of low income market women, and in United Kingdom, Toys Appeal and Youth Club to support

children from underprivileged backgrounds within the African community in London. ESWA’s mission

is to make a great difference in the lives of children, youths and women in Edo State and around

the world, and create a good global image of Africa, while setting an acceptable standard of living for

mothers and their children.

ESWA’s Director, Eki Ogbeide, was invited by the Queen of England on 12th November 2007, to

attend a reception with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace- as a reflection

ESWA’s work and association with Commonwealth African countries. This was a distinguished

privilege for ESWA.

ASSOCIATION AGAINST WOMEN EXPORT (AAWE)

AAWE: “Making a difference”

AAWE was established in 2000 and is registered and incorporated as an international Not-for-Profit

Organization in the State of North Carolina, USA. The Corporation is organized for charitable and

educational purposes and has tax exempt status within section 501(c) (3) and any other relevant section

(s) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

AAWE members reside in Canada, United Kingdom, United States and Nigeria.

AAWE is deeply committed to taking appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of trafficking in

humans, the exploitation of women generally, and Edo women and children in particular. Bearing in

mind the great contribution of women to the welfare of the family and to the development of society

in general, our overall objective is to assist in Empowering, Mentoring and Uplifting women through

Self-Awareness and Education.

AAWE supports the eliminations of all forms of discrimination against women, and all our initiatives

are aimed at empowering Edo young girls and poor women. AAWE also serves as a Networking, Information,

Advocacy and Training Forum for the women of Edo State.

AAWE does this by:

1. Involving community leaders, institutions, the law enforcement agencies and legislatures, media

and the hotel and tourist industries in the fight against prostitution and commercial traffic in women

and children.

2. Liaising with other organizations with similar objectives to fight this modern slave trade.

3. Lobbying the government of Edo State to enact appropriate laws and policies, which explicitly

criminalize the trafficking in human beings, especially teenage girls and women.

3. Offering scholarships to both high school and university students

4. Providing Micro-Credit Loans to women to start cottage industries.

5. Providing mentoring programs for both high school and university students

***Many of our high school scholarship recipients have completed their education and three of our

University students have graduated from the University of Benin. Two are lawyers and the third student

studied Business Administration.

Over 250 women have benefited from the Micro-Credit Loan program. AAWE is in the process of

starting a Micro-Credit School.

Community Leadership Award:

Mr. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo is currently pursuing graduate studies in Public Administration at the

University of Benin. This is in addition to his other responsibilities with the Edo State Government. As

a young activist, Comrade Aiya (as he is fondly called by friends and associates) became concerned by

the worrisome decline in values and morals in the society; hence in 2000, he joined forces with his

colleagues to spear-head the Benin Youth Congress- a socio-cultural group. This later gave birth to

the Benin National Congress (BNC) in August 2005. The BNC is an organization at the apex of fostering

the much desired Edo cultural and social renaissance. Mr. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo has a strong

record of community activism for positive change and he has subsequently taken on the leadership

mantle of mobilizing his contemporaries to become active civil advocates for socio-political progress

in Edo State, Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

Some highlights of his community leadership include: writing petitions to the House of Representatives

to take up the issue of repatriating stolen Benin artifacts, petitioning the Federal government

of Nigeria in July 2007 over the continued looting of Benin artifacts by those meant to be caretakers

of the art works. As a result, five directors and assistants in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and

National Orientation in October 2007, were subsequently fired. In addition to being an active voice

within the numerous voices agitating for the return of stolen Benin artifacts, he also sought legal review

of the unjust appropriation of Edo oil wells to neighboring States of Ondo and Delta. His commitment

to the community has garnered him audience with the Oba of Benin as well as an invited

reception in 2008 at Government House by Prof. Senator, Osarhiemen Osunbor for his doggedness in

the fight for social justice and cultural rebirth on behalf of Edo people.

Additionally, in recognition of his leadership ability and remarkable work ethics, he was appointed

Senior Special Assistant to Edo State Governor- Politics and Strategy, by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,

the Governor of Edo State. Aiyamenkhue is the recipient of several awards; including the Midwest

Achievers Award by the Midwest Herald 2007. In his spare time, he is an active member of his local