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"I couldn't believe it was the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ," says Ghanaian trophy designer for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Africa Radio Awards
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service has commissioned young Ghanaian designer Jery (Jeremiah) Obuobi to design and cast the winning trophies for its first Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Africa Radio Awards competition.
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"I am honoured the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has trusted me – a young, unknown designer – to play a unique role at this special event," says 25-year-old Jery. "I have listened to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ radio all my life and so this opportunity is like a dream come true."
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"The biggest challenge is ensuring the trophies truly represent the strong brief that I was given – to reflect the vibrancy of broadcasting in Africa – and I am thrilled the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has given me the freedom to come up with the creative solution.
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"We recently signed off the final design and I am now getting down to the most exciting bit which is bringing my ideas to life."
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Jery was just six-years-old when he first had aspirations of becoming a designer. He hated wearing the same shoes to school and promised one day to design and make his own.
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As he grew up he nurtured his natural artistic skills by sketching everything from comic book characters for friends to teaching aids for teachers at school.
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It was when a neighbour asked Jery to create gifts for three local artistes attending his party that Jery first knew that he wanted to make a living out of his passion. He created some unique pendants using metal that were a resounding success with the artistes. Soon most of the guests at the party were making requests to have one made for them.
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Today, Jery works across a broad range of design and with many materials to make possessions such as shoes, jewellery and lighting fixtures. He has collaborated with friends to form a clothing line where he designs clothing accessories such as belt buckles and tie pins and he periodically works with his university lecturer to design and make furniture.
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Jery also designs animated graphics and logos for local websites, his most prominent being the logo for the Association of Aerospace Engineering Students of Ghana.
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When Jery first received the call asking him to design the trophy he initially thought it was a joke: "I could not believe it was the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ on the phone and then I was nervous. A few years ago an Asian company asked me to design something for them but they went on to steal my ideas.
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"Not long after that a major US company showed an interest but because of my wariness I took too long to send my portfolio and lost the commission. Fortunately the awards Project Manager, Vera Kwakofi, convinced me it was for real and supplied a strong brief. After that I couldn't wait to get started."
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Jery studied Graphic and Textile Design at Tema Secondary School and Metal Product Design at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology. He regularly re-visits Nkrumah University to assist with lectures on Metal Product Design.
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The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Africa Radio Awards celebrates the excellence of radio journalism across Africa. The finals will be held on Saturday 26 May 2007 at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi Kenya.
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Trophies presented will recognise the best Radio Station of the Year, New Radio Station of the Year, News Journalist of the Year, Sports Journalist of the Year, Local On-Air Campaign of the Year, Interactive/Talk Show of the Year and Young Broadcaster of the Year.
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Further information is available online at bbcworldservice.com/africaradioawards.
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Notes to Editors
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An image of Jery Obuobi is available upon request.
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Publicity
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