Emmanuel Agida International (EAI) has announced the call for entries for the prestigious 100 Under 40 Young Achievers Awards, a flagship continental recognition platform established to identify, celebrate, and amplify the stories of outstanding young Africans under the age of forty who are making significant, measurable, and sustainable impact.

According to the organisers, the 100 Under 40 Awards is designed not only to celebrate success but to fundamentally redefine the African narrative by spotlighting excellence, ethical leadership, innovation, resilience, and service across Africa and its diaspora.

Speaking on the initiative, the Convener, Emmanuel Agida, described the awards as a necessary response to the need for credible, homegrown recognition. He emphasised that for too long, young Africans have been defined by narratives of struggle and lack, and the 100 Under 40 Awards is about changing that by showcasing the giants walking among us, those under forty who are building, leading, and transforming communities.

The awards operate with a clear vision to become Africa’s most credible, prestigious, and globally respected recognition platform for young leaders driving innovation, enterprise, and sustainable development. Its mission is to identify, honour, and elevate young Africans whose leadership, enterprise, creativity, and service are contributing meaningfully to socio-economic development, institutional growth, and nation-building, while inspiring a new generation to dream boldly and lead responsibly.

Recognition will span a wide spectrum of sectors, honoring excellence in entrepreneurship and business leadership, technology and innovation, energy and sustainability, governance policy and public service, finance and investment, as well as the creative and cultural industries.

Organisers have emphasised a rigourous, transparent, and merit-based selection process designed to ensure that only the most deserving candidates are honored. The journey to becoming a recipient begins with open nominations, where the public can submit nominations and institutional referrals are also accepted, including self-nominations and third-party nominations. Nominees are then required to submit supporting documentation to validate their achievements, after which an independent selection committee conducts a thorough assessment based on four core criteria: impact and innovation, leadership and integrity, sustainability and scalability, and contribution to development. The final list of award recipients is then ratified by an independent award advisory board, with selection strictly guided by transparency, merit, and diversity.

Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the process by voting for their favorite nominees. Nomination portal opens on March 9 on the official awards website, where supporters can cast their votes for any nominee of their choice.

Being named among the 100 Under 40 is a lifetime honor that comes with significant recognition. Award recipients will receive an official 100 Under 40 Young Achievers Award plaque and medal during the Achievers Summit, along with an official nomination letter. The presentation of the award trophy will take place during the 100 Under 40 Award Gala and Dinner Night, with trophies available on request and exclusively for gala dinner attendees.

Beyond the physical accolades, winners gain lifetime inclusion in the exclusive 100 Under 40 Achievers Network, providing access to strategic networking, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities. They will also enjoy media spotlight and national press coverage, as well as enhanced brand visibility through Emmanuel Agida International and its media partners.

The award presentation will be a highlight of the Achievers Summit 2026. The main summit programme is scheduled to hold on August 12, 2026, at Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, while the grand Award Dinner and Gala Night will take place on August 13th, 2026, at the prestigious Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. This black-tie event promises to bring together the crème de la crème of African leadership, offering unparalleled networking opportunities in a celebratory atmosphere.

The 100 Under 40 Awards is convened by Emmanuel Agida International, a leadership, governance, and enterprise development organization committed to building globally competitive leaders and institutions across Africa.

For nominations, inquiries, or partnership opportunities, visit the official website.