21 winners emerge in The Future Awards Africa

Twenty-one winners emerged in Africa’s biggest youth event, The Future Awards Africa, which came to a triumphant climax on Sunday when it held its annual ceremony, now in its 11th year.

The audience were introduced to key players shaping the future in the 105 nominees identified across 21 categories. The event was well attended by Nigeria’s political, cultural, media and entertainment elite. The keynote speech was given by the President-elect of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Nana Akufo-Addo.

The winners include: Somkele Iyamah- Idhalama (28), who won the the Future Awards Africa and EbonyLife Prize for Acting; Adebayo Oke-Lawal (26), Prize for Fashion; Theodora Mogo (24), Beauty; Yemi Alade (27), Prize for Music; Dr. Salihu Dansuki (29), Prize for Professional Service; and Ifeanyi Orajaka (28),Winner, Prize for Business (endowed by Bank of Industry).

Others are: Kehinde Paul, winner of the Future Awards Africa Prize in Sports; Godwin Benson (27); Education 2016 (Endowed by University of Sussex);Abiola Olaniran (27), Prize for Technology 2016 (Endowed by Intel); Tosin Ajibade (29); EbonyLife Prize for New Media 2016; Bidemi Zakariyau (27); Prize for Media Enterpris; Asuquo Ekpenyong (31); Prize in Public Service; Adenrele Sonariwo (30), Arts & Culture; and Evans Akanno (27),Creative Professional .

Also on the winners list are Bukola Bolarinwa (28), Prize for Advocacy (endowed by Guinness); Julius Adewopo (31), Prize in Agriculture; Adeola Osunkojo (30), The Future Awards and EbonyLife Prize for Screen Producer; Chika Oduah (30), Winner, The Future Awards Africa and EbonyLife Prize for Journalism; Bolanle Olukanni (27), Prize for On Air Personality (Visual); Ayo Thompson (30), Prize for On Air Personality (audio); and Mark Okoye (31), Young Person of the Year.

The Future Awards Africa has been called the ‘Nobel Prize for Young Africans’, and the ‘most important youth awards’ by Forbes. It is a set of prizes given annually to celebrate and accelerate innovation, creativity and enterprise among young Africans aged between 18 and 31. It has produced over 150 winners and over 1550 nominees since its first edition in 2006.

It is presented in conjunction with The Future Project, which has a mandate to build empowered citizens across Africa, through inclusive enterprise and active citizenship. This focus on Human Capital Development is informed by our value proposition: Africa’s growth needs a generation of young people who are gainfully employed and able to demand and secure better leadership.

Its projects include Aiki.ng, an employability portal presented with Microsoft; the Nigeria Symposium for Young & Emerging Leaders, #StartupsAfrica, Intern4Jobs, YMonitor.org presented with National Endowment for Democracy (NED), The Future Enterprise Support Scheme and The Future Awards Africa, described as ‘The Nobel Prize for Young Africans’.
 
Founded by the Chude Jideonwo and Adebola Williams, TFP is supervised by a Global Board of Advisors drawn from Africa, Europe, North America and the Middle East, including the Coordinating Minister of the Nigerian Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Senior Economic Advisor with the Open Society Foundations, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili; co-founder of ONE, Jamie Drummond and the Chief of Cabinet with the Africa Development Bank, Anne Kabagambe.