ISAAC IZOYA BAGS CULTURAL AWARD IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA.

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Benin City, Nigeria. Monday 23rd of February 2026

The State Ministry Of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy has bestowed the honour of Cultural Ambassador on the president of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V based in Frankfurt, Germany.

Presenting the award to Ambassador Izoya in his office, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hon. Chris Okaeben, said the award was in recognition Ambassador Izoya ‘s unalloyed commitment to promoting Edo culture and values to the world, saying that his antecedence has been inspiring and worthy of emulation.

Responding, the elated awardee, Ambassador Isaac Izoya said the award was a lifetime blessing he would never forget in a hurry because it was coming from home of culture and land of my birth.

He maintained that the gesture had sent a message to others in the diaspora on the need to promote the good sides of us as no stranger knows our story more than us, so, we shouldn’t let strangers tell our stories wrongly.

He said the award had shown that what they have been doing was recognized, adding that the award had also counter the narrative of people in the diaspora concerning how good works were being viewed with neglects by leaders at home.

Ambassador Isaac Izoya expressed profound appreciation to the Honourable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Chris Okaeben, for considering him worthy of the honour. He noted that the recognition has further motivated him to continue projecting the positive image of the people of Nigeria and Africa at large.

Speaking about his work in cultural entertainment, Ambassador Izoya described his efforts as part of an “image cleansing” initiative carried out through the annual Nollywood Film Festival Germany (NFFG) and the Nollywood Europe Golden Awards (NEGA). Both platforms are organized by Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V., the cultural organization he leads as President. Reaffirming the organization’s motto, “The Show Must Go On,” he stressed his unwavering commitment to promoting Nigerian culture and enhancing the country’s global image.

Ambassador Izoya further described the honour from his home state, Edo State in Nigeria, as a renewed source of energy and inspiration “like a driver who has just refilled his car’s tank and is ready to continue the journey without slowing down.” He assured stakeholders and supporters that his best contributions are still ahead.

A major highlight of the occasion was the presentation of the award to Ambassador Isaac Izoya by the Honourable Commissioner of the State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Chris Okaeben. The impromptu ceremony was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Iryn Omorogiuwa, Esq., and Prince Patrick Oronsaye—an art historian and provenance researcher who first recognized the potential in Isaac Izoya during a courtesy visit to the Honourable Commissioner to present his Edo State Diaspora Projects four-point agenda.

Prince Patrick Oronsaye, who coincidentally arrived at the Commissioner’s office during the meeting, listened briefly to Izoya’s presentation before interjecting with a strong endorsement. Addressing the Commissioner, he remarked that the young cultural advocate possessed the vision and capacity needed to strengthen Edo State’s cultural promotion in the diaspora. He recommended that Izoya’s details be formally documented and proposed that he be appointed Edo State Cultural Ambassador to represent the state across the Schengen nations.

Responding to the recommendation, Honourable Commissioner Okaeben noted that even within the first few minutes of the presentation it was clear that Izoya had come well prepared with a strong agenda for advancing Edo State’s cultural presence internationally. He explained that this conviction was precisely why the Permanent Secretary had been invited to the meeting, to witness the proposal firsthand and facilitate the next steps.

In less than a week, Monday 23rd of February 2026, the vision materialized into reality, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Edo State’s cultural diplomacy and diaspora engagement.