Former actress Lizzy Anjorin honoured in Canada by Starboy Temidayo: here's what the award is for

Former Nollywood actress and businesswoman Lizzy Anjorin has been honoured in Canada for her contributions to the entertainment industry, after photos of her holding two trophies left many social media users asking what the award was for.

The award was presented by Starboy Temidayo, a Canada-based Nollywood actor and promoter who recognises Nigerian actors and actresses for their hard work in the industry, according to information shared with PauseandPonderTV. He welcomed Anjorin at the airport when she arrived in Canada earlier this week.

Blogs that covered her trip said the ceremony took place on Wednesday, 4 November, and described the honour as an award of outstanding excellence for her achievements in entertainment and business.

Starboy Temidayo, whose real name is Temidayo Enitan, is a Yoruba film actor and producer based in Ontario. A 2020 ThisDay profile described him as head of Starboard Entertainment, a company that promotes Nigerian actors and celebrities in Canada, and as the founder of an annual awards event for Nigerian entertainers there. Other Yoruba film stars have also travelled to Canada for his events in recent years.

Because early reports did not name the award or its organiser, some fans questioned it online, with one commenter calling it a 'backyard award'.

Others were more sarcastic. In comments seen online, some social media users asked whether she was being rewarded for cursing people or for attacking fellow actresses on social media, a reference to her past public feuds. In 2019, Anjorin was involved in a bitter online row with actress Toyin Abraham, for which she later publicly apologised.

Other fans, however, congratulated her on the honour.