MUSCAT -- In a glittering, well-attended ceremony, the NTI BizPro Awards 2009 were presented to the winners, at a special gala banquet held under the auspices of guest of honour, Major General Albert E Whitley WO CMG CBE, at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel, on Monday. Guests at this event included leaders and top officials from the country's premiere corporations and businesses.
The Business Leader for 2009 and the three Young Achievers, chosen from among eleven finalists, made individual presentations at the award ceremony and displayed their mettle as they confidently delivered their speeches, showing why they deserve this kind of prestige and honour. His Highness Sayyid Tarik bin Shabib al Said announced the winners, with Qais Mohammed al Yousef, CEO, Al Yousef Group, becoming the new 'Business Leader' for 2009, receiving his trophy from HH Sayyid Tarik. Stephen Thomas, CEO, Renaissance Services, handed over the scholarship cheque of RO 5,000.
The three winners of the 'Young Achiever's' category are Abdulnasir al Raisi, Head SME Credit and Marketing, Bank Muscat; Anisa bint Abdul Rasool al Raisi, Sales Manager, InterContinental Muscat and Said al Noufli, HR Team Leader, Petrogas. Thomas congratulated them and handed over scholarships of RO 2,500 to each winner. Renaissance Services SAOG sponsored all the scholarships.
The National Training Institute is one of the leading training providers in the Sultanate. They first launched the NTI BizPro Awards in 2006, as a social investment initiative with the main objective being to reward and promote the achievements of Omani Business Leaders and Young Achievers by acknowledging their contribution to Oman's corporate sectors. The winners will become role models and mentors for their peers and to the younger generation.
NTI's various training modules are specifically designed to ensure that young Omani aspirants acquire the necessary soft skills that will enable them to become the preferred choice of employers across the widest range of industrial and services sectors. For the past three years, NTI BizPro Awards have inspired employees within the industry to strive confidently in establishing themselves as business pioneers.
Excellence and quality are important elements of any product or service and an individual's learning ability is determined by these factors. This is why the awards have become an accepted benchmark, recognizing and rewarding Omanis who have excelled in their professional lives, both as Young Achievers and as Business Leaders.
"Like last year, I still believe this fantastic concept of the BizPro awards can be taken to even higher levels that will attract the leadership of all of corporate Oman and senior government," said Stephen Thomas during the award presentations. To win an NTI BizPro Award, participants have to prove their calibre at different preliminary rounds to be eligible to reach the finals.
This year too, candidates were hard pressed to prove themselves and the best were finally chosen by experts from KPMG - an independent third party and one of the largest professional advisory services firms in the world, spanning more than 140 countries. Each of the eleven finalists in the Young Achiever's category was given a special certificate of excellence by the chief guest.
In his acceptance speech, al Yousef made a very motivational gesture by giving away his scholarship award of RO 5000 back to NTI to invest in training future business leaders. All the winners shared their joy in being recognised as inspiring leaders of tomorrow and promised to work hard to fulfill the commitment they have been shouldered with. "The strength of a business leader lies in nurturing his mind towards the intricacies of maintaining decorum in the business world. The NTI has been faithful in nurturing and recognising business leaders and talent. Our sincere support is all we could selflessly extend to see more such leaders emerge in succession to those who have already made a mark for themselves", concluded, Lawrence Alva, General Manager, NTI.
By Ali Ahmed al Riyami
© Oman Daily Observer 2009
