What began as a vibrant voice on radio in Nigeria has blossomed into a transatlantic platform, celebrating African excellence — CBI Community Network. Lanre Omotoso, fondly known as Larritosh, has forged a legacy that ambitiously spans development communication, community empowerment, media, and diaspora advocacy. As the founder of CBI Community Network and the visionary behind its flagship initiative, the CBI African Icons Merit Award in the USA, Omotoso has redefined what it means to elevate African excellence on the global stage.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Omotoso was a household name on radio and television in faraway Nigeria. His shows on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) and Galaxy Television, including Educational Legacy, Schools Parade, Ododo Eye, as well as dramatic pieces like Parasite and the likes, shook the airwaves of the BCOS — these were not just entertainment programs; they also served as intellectual provocations, community advocacy, and a drive for social justice. His engaging presence also translated to appearances in popular TV dramas like Jaggar Street, Storming Waters, Eleti Ofe, and Ogba Iwosan, attesting to his reputation as a multimedia talent.
Upon relocation outside the country, Omotoso channelled his energy into Development Communication, founding The Community Broadcast Interlink (CBI), a media platform rooted in the belief that storytelling and community connection can drive social change. The platform creates web broadcasts to highlight neighbourhood resources, announce events, and foster civic participation, particularly among African diaspora groups.
As the anchor of CBI’s African Voices Abroad, Omotoso spearheads interviews and forums that confront real challenges and offer solutions for Africans navigating life in the diaspora. His commitment to personal narrative and cultural affirmation has strengthened diaspora ties across his area of media coverage.
In an attempt to spotlight, promote, and celebrate Africans who demonstrate outstanding impact in the diaspora, Omotoso has initiated the CBI African Icons Merit Award. This ceremony honours diaspora Africans across sectors and professional disciplines on a global scale. More than a trophy, the award aspires to tell stories that inspire future African leaders and elevate diasporic identity through shared achievement.
Omotoso’s creations — the media platform and the award, amongst others — do more than build prestige. They serve as avenues for mentorship, recognition, and storytelling. They also seek to rewrite the negative stereotypes about immigrants and provide powerful true narratives of the African people: African excellence thrives, adapts, and leads across skies and borders.
In his own little way, he strives to promote inter-community networking through his online programs such as African Voices Abroad and Life in Diaspora. He was honoured with the African Voices Abroad award by Coolwealth Awards Nigeria. Omotoso’s impact is anything but understated. As CBI prepares the first-ever African Icons Merit Award in the State of Indiana, USA, his work ushers in a new era of unity in leadership among diaspora communities of Africa.
The CBI African Icons Merit Award is more than an accolade: it’s a movement, a narrative, and a call for African diasporans to connect, unite, and celebrate African legacy.
