Awards and reality Shows

Between Awards and Reality Shows
Just recently I was flipping through one of the national dailies and I read some articles on award ceremonies and reality shows. Many things came through my mind and different situation came to play. Just about some days ago, it was announced on Silverbird TV (STV) that the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) executives had a meeting to warn companies and advertising agencies who run unrealistic adverts and promotions without fulfilling their promises to the consumers. It is an act of deception and does not show the integrity, loyalty and trust of a company to the consumers. There are many promos and adverts running on our TV screen that have no meaning or make any sense. That is not to say that some advert/advertising agencies are not doing well. If I must ask, what is the motive or essence of these reality shows and awards? I must say that in as much as we have good ideas and concept what do we plan to achieve? The trend especially in Nigeria is that once someone starts a concept everybody follows suit. One award organizers I must seriously commend are the FUTURE AWARD team, no strings attached or whatsoever. The more reason we are acclimatizing for a change of baton, a voice for the young people, a new way of doing things. Let me say it like the pastors, Brethren, the world is changing and things are taking a new dimension. After a reality show is organized, what plans have these organizers for the winners? You find out most times a lot of promises are made with a quarter of them almost not being fulfilled as if that is not bad enough, we also expect that atleast, since the so called winners are meant to reign for a tenure of one year which is the trend, we don’t get to hear anything about them or their growth and development in that line of achievement. What most of the organizers are after is the money they can make out of the winner rather than making the winner get a stand and establish his/herself in the line of career or become a star/famous as it is one of the major reasons a lot of people enter for these reality shows.
On awards, most awards are given based on achievement and “clean” success story which the world I suppose knows already but what is the trend today, it is a way of compensating or watering the ground for one deal or the other. Come on, why are we loosing the essence and value of so many things in life? Everyone is organizing awards all over the streets of the world but what do we hope to achieve with it. It would have been good if the right set of people grab the award but the reverse is the case. We celebrate and promote those who ruin and destroy the lot of the people all in the name of politics. Even at the so called reality shows, those who deserve to win most times never emerge winners and at the end of the day, the so called runner-ups make it even better than the winners. When will we start to get it right? Awards are meant to be deserved and worked for. It is not what you get on a platter of gold. That is why good things don’t come easy or cheap. Imagine some people putting together a reality show, a competition, where people are suppose to show their creativity and skills to vie for a price but before the end of the contest, did I say before the end? Before the competition even takes place they (the organizers) are already warning the selected contestants and informing them of the winner and sounding a note of warning to the so called winner stating that he/she must not contradict or go against the warnings. Who are we deceiving? Why is it a reality show or a competition for crying out loud? If am right the meaning of competition has not changed in the dictionary except the world or a professor has carved another meaning for it. Why won’t people like the late legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi not refuse awards from the Federal Government a number of times but rather have the ones from the masses, the general public who recognize and appreciate his sincere contribution to the development of the society? Those involved in this game know themselves but those of you in the business either for or against have a taste of it every day of your lives.
No party is left out of my worry. The companies and organizations who we expect to be socially responsible to their consumers finds pleasure in giving sponsorship to awards and reality shows that cannot give a clear or convincing motive, what am I saying, even those who have sincere and convincing ideas are thrown into the thrash can or given promises which they never fulfill and when they even try to, they give nothing close to a quarter and yet want to claim franchise for the major sponsors of the award or reality show. So why is it my idea? And why are there corporate social responsibility departments in a company? Don’t get me wrong, it is not about dolling money to everyone who comes to ask for sponsorship, it is about recognizing a project that has a future and plan rather than frivolities.
No doubt award ceremonies and reality shows are good for one reason or the other to show appreciation, recognitions and prowess of individuals who have a dream to become one thing or the other and have contributed greatly to the growth and development of our beloved society but we need to do a check of the quality, organization, plan and future of it all. No one is saying everybody should not organize any kind of awards or reality show but let the credibility, motive, and sustainability be clear to all. Tell us your plan for the contestants and stick to it. Let us know your confirmed sponsors and be sure that you have everything and on the part of the sponsors, be sure that you can give and fulfill your promises. Don’t take praises for what you cannot do all because you want your name or company’s name to be recognize or identified as a socially responsible company or popular for supporting their consumers. Who are you deceiving? Nobody! The moment you disappoint, the word of mouth advert will sell more and you have your integrity at stake.