So I was jejely on my own when I got a message from a friend in a Whatsapp group that I have been nominated for the Nigerian Writers’ Awards 2017.
Not once.
But twice!
The first is for Blogger of the Year. The second is for Fiction Writer of the Year for The Fourth Finger.
I smiled.
You guys know me, I don’t do these nominations and vote stuff, reasons being that I feel that my work should get noticed for what it is and not the number of votes. Well, that was how I felt until my husband told me to reset my thinking.
But wait first, which one of you went to nominate me? Raise your hands in the comment box. Confess!
LOL! Don’t mind me. I appreciate it. You guys have been awesome. To be nominated as blogger of the year alongside the likes of Linda Ikeji, Bellanaija, Stella Damikorkus (hope I got that spelling right) and Laila’s Blog is really huge.
As the love of my life schooled me, he said “if you’re being nominated without you even knowing it, it’s because your work speaks for itself. You have earned it. Appreciate the rewards for your hard work. Secondly, you need the publicity to sell your books.”
Well, I don’t know what to say. Sometimes, I want to just find some small room and crawl into it, away from the growing popularity because I feel like I’m losing myself. Other times, I enjoy it. Although those times don’t last. When somebody has a starstruck moment with me, I don’t know how to handle it. It’s always awkward. I just want to keep writing and writing and have you guys keep reading and reading – and that’s all. But life…it happens to us as we grow.
But Erm…please ignore my attempt at modesty. Do me a favor and vote for me. It would be nice to win. No, scratch nice. Awesome to win.
To do so, send my name and the category to nwaawards@gmail.com in this format: Sally Kenneth Dadzie, Blogger of the Year.
Sally Kenneth Dadzie, Fiction Writer of the Year.
Voting ends on the 4th of November 2016. You can visit www.nigerianwritersawards.com for more details.
Thank you.
Here’s the full list of nominies in all categories
1. BUSINESS WRITER OF THE YEAR
- HOPE MOSES-ASHIKE (BUSINESS DAY)
- PATRICK ATUANYA (BUSINESS DAY)
- OLUFISAYO SANYA (ENTREPRENEURSHIP SECRET)
- BOSE IRENONSE (INSURANCE GIST)
- FEMI ASU (PUNCH)
- NIMI AKINKUGBE (A-Z OF PERSONAL FINANCE)
- ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI (THE NATION)
2. SPORTS WRITER OF THE YEAR
- JUDITH NWABIA (THE SUN)
- BAMIDELE BOLUWAJI (COMPLETE SPORTS)
- SHINA OLUDARE CHARLES (GOAL.COM)
- TUNDE LAIDI- (SPORTING LIFE)
- GEORGE AKPAYEN (SUPER SPORTS)
- SAMUEL OLUWAGBEMI AHMADU (SAVID NEWS)
- JAMES AGBEREBI (COMPLETE SPORTS)
- JEROME ESABUNEFE (SPORTS DAY)
3. FEATURE WRITER OF THE YEAR
(Sponsored by All Seven Real Estate Limited)
- ERIC DUMO ( PUNCH NEWSPAPER)
- TOLUWANI ENIOLA (PUNCH NEWSPAPER)
- ABDULLATEEF ALIYU (DAILY TRUST)
- NONSO ISIGUZO
- BOSE ADELAJA (VANGUARD NEWSPAPER)
- KEMI BUSARI (NIGERIAN BULLETIN)
- . ENTERTAINMENT WRITER OF THE YEAR
(Sponsored by Caspertainment)
- ABIOLA ALABA PETERS (NEW TELEGRAPH)
- KEHINDE AJOSE (NEWS GURU)
- BENJAMIN NJOKU (VANGUARD NEWSPAPER)
- DEJI AROLOYE (THE SUN NEWS)
- ALLI MUTIAT OMONIYI (DAILY TIMES)
- JOEY AKAN (PULSE.NG)
5. CAMPUS WRITER OF THE YEAR
- JENNIFER UMEH (THE NATION-CAMPUSLIFE)
- FESTUS IYORAH (NIGERIAN TRIBUNE-CAMPUSBEATS)
- SANYA BOLUWATIFE (THE NATION- CAMPUSLIFE)
- EGUAVOEN OSAMWONYI FESTUS
- ISRAEL O. ITOTOH (PATH FINDER)
- EZEKIEL EFEOBHOKHAN (THE NATION-CAMPUSLIFE)
6. BLOGGER OF THE YEAR
- Entertainment/fashion/information category
(Two winners- Judges and Audience)
- OLUYEMI OKUBADEJO (ALLURINGPIECE.COM
- ADEDAYO OLUBUNMI ODUBANJO- (FASHIONPHEEVA.COM).
- AGBO JOSEPH (AGBOSBLOG.COM)
- OLUWAKEMI YEMI OKPAKA (KEMMYOKPAKA.BLOGSPOT.COM
- OLU FAMOUS (OLUFAMOUS.COM)
- TUNDE OGUNNOWO (ABSOLUTEMEDIA.COM)
- ODIMEGWU FRANKCESS NGOZI.- NGOZZYKA.WORDPRESS.COM
- SYLVIA CHIKA WWW.SYLVIACHIKA.BLOGSPOT.COM
- ANDERSON PAUL (LAZYWRITA)
- LAILA IJEOMA (LAILASBLOG.COM)
- MOJI DELANO (MOJIDELANO.COM)
- SALLY KENNETH DADZIE (MOSKEDAPAGES.COM)
- STELLA DIMOKO KORKUS (STELLADIMOKOKORKUS.COM)
- KEMI FILANI (KEMIFILANI.COM)
- EMEH ACHANGA (MISSPETITENAIJABLOG.COM)
- UCHE PEDRO (WWW.BELLANAIJA.COM)
- LINDA IKEJI (LINDAIKEJISBLOG.COM)
- LADUN LIADI (LADUNLIADINEWS.COM)
- Literary (blog writer)
- OSEMHEN AKHIBI ( WWW.EUREKANAIJA.WORDPRESS.COM)
- CHIOMA IWUNZE (WWW.CREATIVEWRITINGNEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM)
- AWOM KENNETH UCHECHUKWU (AWOMKENNETH)
- TOMI ADESINA (TOMIADESINA.WORDPRESS.COM)
- AINEHI EDORO (BRITTLEPAPER.COM)
- AUSTUS OFMAT NWANNE (WWW.TYOBSTACLE.BLOGSPOT.COM)
- PEARL OSIBU (PEARLOSIBU.WORDPRESS.COM)
- BASHORUN OLUWASEUN-
- OLUFISAYO SANYA (ENTREPRENEURSHIPSECRET.COM)
- ABIKIAJE OJONOKA LOVINA (XPLICITMIND.WORDPRESS.COM)
- OBIANUJU IJEKPA (WWW.THOUGHTSOFEDEN.WORDPRESS.COM)
7. ROMANCE WRITER OF THE YEAR
- HABIBAT AMINU (AMHABYBA.WORDPRESS.COM)
- SINMISOLA OGÚNYINKA- (TRUE DREAM SERIES)
- UFUOMA OTEBELE (NIGERIAROMANCESTORIES.COM)
- MAGGIE SMART (MAGGIEMARTSCRIBES.COM)
- KIRU TAYE (THE CHALLENGE )
- JAMIU ABIOLA (PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE)
- KEMI AMUSHAN ( LOVE AND LIFE- GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER)
8. INDIGENOUS WRITER OF THE YEAR
(Sponsored by National Institute for Cultural Orientation-NICO)
- TAOFEEK AFOLABI (ALAROYE -YORUBA)
- TAYO GBOLAHAN (YOURBA MOVIES GIST)
- ZAHARADDEEN IBRAHIM KALLAH (AMINIYA”-HAUSA)
- IZUNNA I. OKAFOR (IGBO)
- ABDULLAHI KANGALA (HAUSA)
9. HEALTH WRITER OF THE YEAR
- ALLI TEMILOLA WALIU- (HEALTHSAVEBLOG.COM)
- FUNMILAYO ISHOLA- (HEALTHJOURNO.COM)
- SAM AYODEJI- (HEALTHFITNESSRESOURCE.COM)
- ANTHONY CHINEDUM – (DIETHERAPY247.COM.)
- TOLUSE FRANCIS- (EAT FIT/ TOLUFRANCIS.COM)
- SYLVESTER IKHISEMOJIE (THE PUNCH)
10. FICTION WRITER OF THE YEAR
- JULIUS BOKURU (THE ANGEL THAT WAS ALWAYS THERE)
- OLUWASEGUN OLUFEMI FRAGILE- (LETTERS TO GOD)
- OLAJUMOKE HELEN OYEYEMI (WHAT IS NOT YOURS IS NOT YOURS)
- IKIMAT SALAWU-YUSUFF (MEMORY CARD)
- NWAKAEME CHINONSO
- MEDICINE MAN (IBEH NWOKOCHA)
- AHUBELEM AZUBIKE A. (DON’T JOIN)
- SALLY KENNETH DADZIE (THE FOURTH FINGER)
- AMADAK UBENG (UNDERWORLD HEAVEN)
11. NON-FICTION WRITER OF THE YEAR
- SIXTUS CHETACHI IGBOKWE-(DRUM OF SUNRISE)
- JAMIU ABIOLA- (THE PRESIDENT WHO NEVER RULED)
- OBI OGBUAGU (WHY THEY HATE US)
- NNAEMEKA N. OKERE (BLOOD AT NOON)
- HAFEEZ ONITILO (THE VIRGIN)
- TOSIN OLUKUADE (SON OF MY FATHER)
12. POETRY WRITER OF THE YEAR
(Sponsored by Poets in Nigeria “PIN” Initiative)
- UKAONU DORIS OBIANUJU
- AYOOLA GOODNESS OLANREWAJU
- ADEDOKUN SEGUN MALIK
- QUEEN TAWAKALTU OYINLOYE (WORDS IN THE CUPBOARD)
- TOLU AKINYEMI (I LAUGH AT THESE SKINNY GIRLS)
- AWODIYA FUNKE (THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER)
- AKINLABI OLOLADE
- ANUONYE CHIBUEZE DARLINGTON
- ABDULSALAM ABDULMAJEED OJIE
- EGBUNE OLISE VICTOR- (POEMSBYVIC)
- KOLADE OLANREWAJU FREEDOM
- OLAWALE FAMODUN (POEMS OF REDEMPTION)
- KUKOGHO IRUESIRI SAMSON (WHAT CAN WORDS DO?)
- IBIDUNNI DAMILOLA
- HABIB AKEWUSOLA
- TEGA TIVERE OHWERHOYE
- Spoken word poet of the year
- TITILOPE SONUGA
- SOONEST NATHANIEL
- JAMES ADEMUYIWA
- IQUO DIANA
- CHIKA JONES
- HABEEB DA BELOVED
- DONNA OGUNNAIKE
- ARCHANGEL
- KEMI BAKARE (KEMISTREE)
- PAUL WORD
- UCHE UWADINACHI
- FREEZING PAUL
- POETHICK SAMURAI
- NEOFLOETRY
- IFEANYI PRESTIGE
iii. Poetry Promoter
- KUKOGHO IRUESIRI SAMSON (WORDS RHYTHM AND RHYMES)
- TORPEDO MASCAW ( FREEDOM HALL)
- DIKE CHUKWUMERIJE ( OPEN MIC- ABUJA)
- KEN IKE (POETRY SLAM)
- ERIATA ORHIBABOR (POETS IN NIGERIA)
- EFE PAUL AZINO (WS80/LABAF)
- AJ DAGGA TOLAR (FREEDOM SPOKE WORDS)
- GRACIANO ENWEREM (FIGURES OF SPEECH)
- ENIGMATIC OLUMIDE (BE BLESSED)
- OLULU (WAR OF WORDS)
13. DIASPORA WRITER OF THE YEAR
- AMANDA EPE
- TEJU COLE
- TOLULOPE POPOOLA
- MAC KELLY OBISON
- SAMSON MAYOWA ADEYEMI
- IBITOLA OJOYE-ADEBAYO
- UNOMA NWANKWOR
- CHIGOZIE OBIOMA
- NNEDI OKOROAFOR
- MYNE WHITMAN
14. MOTIVATIONAL WRITER OF THE YEAR
- ABIKIAJE OJONOKA LOVINA – XPLICITMIND.WORDPRESS.COM.
- ADENIRAN OLUWATOBILOBA EBENEZER (AFRIBREEZE.COM)
- SAMSON MAYOWA ADEYEMI (LESSONS FROM MY FATHER)
- OTUONYE CHIDERA CHRISTIAN- WWW.BELIEVEALL.COM
- PATRICIA OMOQUI. ( PATRICIAOMOQUI.COM)
- ADEYERA DAMILOLA
- JEPHTER AKAEHIE (JEPHTERAKAEHIE.COM)
- UJU ONYECHERE ( MRUJUONYECHERE.COM)
- OKECHUKWU OFILI (OFILISPEAKS.COM)
- MUHAMMED ABDULLAHI TOSIN (NAIJA WRITERS’ COACH)
15. FAITH-BASED WRITER OF THE YEAR
- UGOCHI ORITSEJOLOMISAN (WWW.UGOCHI-JOLOMI.COM)
- SINMISOLA OGÚNYINKA- (THE DAYS AFTER NIGHT)
- IFEOMA SAMUEL –(MY 30 DAYS JOURNEY TO A FULFILLED LIFE)
- OTUONYE CHIDERA CHRISTIAN- (BELIEVE ALL)
- UNOMA NWANKWOR (HE CHANGED MY NAME)
- DR. UGWUJI ETIGWE (DRNSMUSINGS.WORDPRESS.COM)
- UJU CHRISTY OKOYE (LIVING MY LIFE)
- ABIMBOLA DARE ( WHEN BROKEN CHORDS SING)
16. SCRIPT WRITER OF THE YEAR
(Sponsored by Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria)
- OMONI OBOLI (WIVES ON STRIKE)
- FUNKE AKINDELE (JENIFA’S DAIRY)
- STEPHANIE OKEREKE LINUS (DRY)
- KEVIN NWANKWOR (TEMPTING FATE)
- KEMI ADESOYE & BOLA AGBAJE (FIFTY)
- EMMANUEL OKOMANYI (76)
17. SONG WRITER OF THE YEAR
- TIMI DAKOLO
- KOREDE BELLO
- ADEKUNLE GOLD
- ASA
- COBHAMS ASUQUO
- DAREY ART ALADE
- SIMI
- FALZ
- OLAMIDE
- COMIC WRITER OF THE YEAR
- KALEJAYE AKINTOBA (VISONARY)
- AYODELE ELEGBE (VOTEX)
- XAVIER IGHORODJE – (AVONOME)
- SIMISOLA OPEODU (BLACKSMITH CHRONICLES)
- WALE AWELENJE (GUARDIAN PRIME)
19. CHILD/TEENAGE WRITER OF THE YEAR (6-19years)
(Sponsored by Ms Rose Blossom)
- ADEDOTUN RICHARD ADENIRAN
- IRIANELE VIRTUOUS OSELUMESE ( OSASSTORIES.WORDPRESS.COM)
- OYINDAMOLA VICTORIA OLOWOYO ( SUCCESSEXALTATION)
- KINGSWILL OGHENEKENO LIGHT (GLOBAL TEEN AMBASSADOR)
- NATHANIEL INCREASE (POET)
- ADANNA OTUECHERE (POET/SHORT STORY)
- UCHECHI NWABIA
- IBEH LEONARD CHUKUEBUKA (TUCK MAGAZINE)
- ONYEKA DABELUCHUKWU OLAMI (POET/SHORT STORY)
- NWACHUKWU OLUSEGUN (SPRING LITERARY MOVEMENT)
20. YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR (20-25years)
(Sponsored by Insight of an Author Show)
- BINOGUN WINIFRED (WINNIETALKER.BLOGSPOT.COM)
- QUADRI ZAYNAB (PULSE.NG)
- OYIN OLUDIPE (PRAXIS MAGAZINE)
- CHIOMA ROSEMARY ONYEKABA (ALL TIMES MAGAZINE)
- OLUYEMI OKUBADEJO (ALLURINGPIECE.COM)
- ADAEZE IBECHUKWU-(WWW.ADAEZEWRITES.COM)
- HABIBAT AMINU (AMHABYBA.WORDPRESS.COM)
21(i). HISTORICAL BOOK OF THE YEAR
(The Winner’s Book will be previewed on the Large Screen)
- THE NIGERIA CIVIL WAR-( MATTEW UZUKWU)
- NIGERIAN WOMEN PIONEERS AND ICONS (BOLANLE AWE)
- THE PRESIDENT WHO NEVER RULED- (JAMIU ABIOLA)
- OIL WEALTH AND INSURGENCY IN NIGERIA (OMOLADE ADUNBI)
21(ii). AUTO/BIOGRAPHY BOOK OF THE YEAR
- THE LIFE OF AN ACTRESS; MY STORY (KATE HENSHAW)
- JOKES APART: HOW DID I GET HERE? (JULIUS AGWU)
- MY WATCH TRILOGY BUNDLE (OLUSEGUN OBASANJO)
- FROM ME TO YOU (SEUN OLOKETUYI)
- ACCIDENTAL PUBLIC SERVANT ( NASIR EL-RUFAI)
- AVANT – GARDE: THE COOL DJ JIMMY JATT STORY
- ALIKO DANGOTE: THE BIOGRAPHY OF THE RICHEST BLACK PERSON IN THE WORLD
- VERY GOOD BAD GUY – THE STORY OF INNOCENT ‘2FACE’ IDIBIA
21 (iii). ADVOCACY BOOK OF THE YEAR
- S IS FOR SURVIVOR- “SICKLE CELL” (SAMIRA HARUNA SANUSI)
- BREAKING THE SILENCE-“RAPE” (ESTHER IJEWERE KALEJAIYE)
- ADOLESCENCE AND GROWTH –“TEENAGE SEX” (JONJUDE OKERE)
- LIFE AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE (HALIMA LAYENI)
- EFFECTS OF PREMARITAL SEX (SUNDAY MOSHOOD)
22. WRITER OF THE YEAR
- HELON HABILA
- SEUN AKIOYE
- ELNATHAN JOHN
- TOLU OGUNLESI
- ADAM I. ABUBAKAR
- TEJU COLE
23. WRITERS’ MOST SUPPORTIVE BRAND OF THE YEAR
- BRITISH COUNCIL (CREATIVE WRITING)
- NLNG (LITERATURE)
- PROMASIDOR (QUILL AWARDS-JOURNALISTS).
- ETISALAT NIGERIA (PRIZE FOR LITERATURE)
- NIGERIAN BREWERIES (CREATIVE WRITERS WORKSHOP/GOLDEN PEN)
- COCA COLA (CAMPUS JOURNALISTS)
- FIRST BANK NIGERIA (JOURNALISTS)
24. i. MEDIA HOUSE OF THE YEAR (PRINT)
- BUSINESS DAY
- PUNCH NEWSPAPER
- THE NATION NEWSPAPER
- GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER
- DAILY TRUST
- TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER
- VANGUARD NEWSPAPER
ii. MEDIA HOUSE OF THE YEAR (TV)
- TELEVISION CONTINETAL (TVC)
- CHANNELS
- MITV
- RAVE TV
- SILVERBIRD.
iii. MEDIA HOUSE OF THE YEAR (RADIO)
- RADIO ONE
- WAZOBIA FM
- METRO FM
- CITY FM
- RADIO CONTENETAL (RC)
- TOP RADIO
- STAR FM
I will be seeing you guys tomorrow with Boys With Toys (hopefully) and The Darker Berry. No IANS this weekend. Or next. I’m sorry. I have a wedding to attend in Jos and this is a busy week. But you know I love you and I’ll always make it up.
*kisses!
Congratulations Sally!!
Happy Birthday to you…..don’t know if it’s in advance or arrears though
It’s right on time.
Thank you, Bee
Nice 1 aunty Sally, definitely your works speaks for you ma’am, trust me,you get my back and vote ?????
❤❤❤
Congrats on your nomination,like I said earlier,you earned and deserved it.
Rhoda luv. You’re always a sweetheart. Thank you
Going to vote immediately.
Sally, you rock! Always.
??
Wow congrats sally,I ll definitely vote fr u.
Thank you ?
Gooooooooood. Congrats Sal. How many times are we allowed to vote?
Sad face @noIANS. Safe trip sha.
We got to win this Sal. Just voted, used my two emails addresses and hubby’s two email Addy.
Awww, thank you, Chinny baby
Congratulations sally on your nominations. Bright light can never be hidden and Sal you are a light dats so so bright. i always knew you will go places, congrats again
Thank you for voting and the support
Absolutely, thoroughly deserved nomination. Let’s go vote for Sally and Moskedapages!
??
Congratulations Sally,i have voted with my two email addresses,now can wait for it on the big screen.
Amen o! May God take us all to greater heights.
Yaaaaaay, congratulations Sally. You deserve it.
We thank God
Congrats dearest! Abeg how many times can we vote in a day?
Lol! I don’t know o! But I guess it’s once
I’m using all my friends email address to vote. You must win oooooo
???I must ooo
Done Sally. U trully earned and deserve it.?
Safe trip! ✈
Thank you, Neymar
Congrats Sally. It’s truly well deserved. You are not only gifted but you work so hard. Well done. Yay, let’s get voting.
Thanks dear
😘😘😘😘
You Deserve this, enjoy it my Sugar Mama…. And Happy birthday in arrears ma
I love you sugar baby
I am definitely going to vote for u cos U ROCK
💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿
Congrats Sally v v well deserved. Will be voting
I’m grateful
Congratulations. Truly well deserved.
Thank you, Zainab
Yipee.. congratss.. lemme gaan vote through my multiple email addresses.. hehehhe
☺☺☺appreciated
congrats…voting
😄 thanks
congrats n I’m off to vote.
Thanks, Onyichick
Happy birthday in arrears..more of God’s grace on your life this new year and in the years to come
God bless you too 😇
Yay! I’m so voting on all my emails and my friends sef ???you’ve earned it mama
Eshey!!!
congrats ma, hope you win…you deserve both awards
congrats ma, hope you win…you deserve both awards. enjoy the bliss
I will, Gbemmy. Thank you
Nomination well deserved. This is the beginning of better things to come, congratulations!
Amen, Anthony
Thank you
There u go Congrats….Two Emails two Votes More to be canvassed
😘😘😘
Thank you so very much le hubs of sally.
Let the voting begin….u gas to win oh
Yes o!
Voted already….Congrat SugarMama u deserved it gan ni nd I pray I award will be urs only urs no oda prsn Ijn (amen). Sally plz we nvr c IANS abeg
Thanks for voting. 🙌
As for IANS, as I said above, I’ll be traveling, so I won’t be available
Yeeeeeeeeeessssss. You did it!!! I’m so happy…. i will vote tire. Ma Sally You will go places in Jesus name.
Amen, my luv, as God wills
Haaa. Sally must win!!! Currently using everyone’s phone around me to vote!!
This made me laugh. You’re gangsta
Thanks plenty
I just voted for the two categories and have told my sis to do same, the trophy belongs to you. much love from my end
???????
Sally you must win oh, by fire by force by everything…..am really happy….xoxo bae.
You’ve been super duper awesome, Sarah
Thanks – always
congrats on the nomination Sally,I am so voting for u,cus u deserve it.
Bless you, OBA
Just voted!!
??
Wow! Congrats sally , you deserve this and more.??
Na God my sister
Now i pray you win both awards Ooo.. Congrats maami., its a well deserved nomination and you’ll win it too..
Bless you
?
Thank you, Amina
Voted.
Sally,Hope you had fun in Jos?
Congrats, voted already. Hope you win both categories.
Just voted. Congrats, you deserve it.
Will get my colleagues to vote as well.
I have voted, can i vote more than once
If I hear say I nor vote and it won’t end there because I must force hubby to vote and even broadcast it on my fb and whatsapp. This is just my little way to appreciate your good work.
so sorry am commenting late but SALLLY!!!!!!! OYA LET’S START VOTING!
wonna see Sally beat all odds n get the tittle…u are amazing blogger
Big congrats to Sally