Is Mama G (Patience Ozokwor) bigger than Pete Edochie, Genevieve and Omotola? Riddle of Centenary Awards

The list of 100 Nigerian heroes and heroines unveiled recently by the Presidential Committee on Nigeria's Centenary Celebrations is bound to elicit heated debate in the entertainment industry, especially in Nollywood.

While contemporary actress Patience Ozokwor (Mama G), is among those on honours under the “Internationally acclaimed artists, literary icons and journalists” category, bigger Nollywood stars such as Pete Edochie, Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde have been conspicuously left out.

Also in music, Chief Sunday Adegeye (King Sunny Ade) was not listed for honour. This has raised eyebrows about the criteria used by the Presidential Committee to select awardees.

Below are the list of those in the category honoured by President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday, February 28, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, to climax the country's centenary celebration:

1. Michael Taiwo Akinkumi

2. Professor Wole Soyinka

3. Professor Chinua Achebe

4. Prof John Pepper Clark

5. Cyprian Odiatu Duaka Ekwensi

6. Alhaji Abubakar Imam

7. Daniel O. Fagunwa

8. Ernest Sesei Ikoli

9. Alhaji Ismail Babatunde Jose

10. Kenneth Nnebue

11. Patience Ozokwor

12. Alhaji (Dr) Mamman Shata Katsina