by Isi Esene

The Future Awards Africa 2013 will be formally opened by Nigeria’s
President Goodluck Jonathan at a special event celebrating the ‘Best
100′ – past winners at State House, Abuja, on Sunday 15 December. The
series of events will hold across the week until the 2013 awards
ceremony, which holds on the 20th of December.

On Sunday, President Goodluck Jonathan will host 100 of the Future Awards’ most distinguished alumni at State House to celebrate past winners and the awards going pan-African for the first time. The Future Awards recognise and reward the success and achievements of young people living in Africa. This year 85 young Africans from countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Liberia have been nominated to receive awards. The Awards are presented in partnership with Microsoft, the British Council, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the Tony Elumelu Foundation and Access Bank.

Among the top 100 alumni is actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, named by
TIME magazine this year as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. The alumni will be joined by some of the continent’s most prominent businesspeople, philanthropists and politicians including Jim Ovia, founder of Zenith Bank and Visafone, economist, banker and investor, Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman of Channels Television, John Momoh, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina, and Nigeria’s Minister of Sport, Bolaji Abdullahi. Nigerian TV presenter Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, presenter of Rubbin’ Minds, the popular TV talk-show for young Nigerians will present the evening’s events.

Chude Jideonwo, executive director of The Future Project and co-founder of The Future Awards Africa, commented, “The Future Awards Africa have inspired a new generation of leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs over the past eight years. This year marks an exciting new phase for the awards and we are delighted that The Future Awards Africa will be going continental for the first time. We’re looking forward to seeing the Awards touch thousands of lives across our great continent and hope that the Awards leave behind a legacy that will be recognised for years to come.”

The Future Awards Africa, described by the World Bank as “The Nobel
Prize for young Africans”, are awarded to young people aged between 18 and 31 years old in 15 separate categories, including: advocacy and activism, business, agriculture, education and fashion. In just eight years, the Awards have produced over 120 winners and 1,200 nominees in Nigeria and each year the Future Awards Africa’s online platform engages and inspires more than 20 million young people across Africa through its direct and online media engagement.

The Best 100 event is held in partnership with Microsoft, the British
Council, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation. Devices and services giant, Microsoft will also launch its jobs and employability portal, Aiki.ng at the event.

 

Celebrating 100 of the brightest and best nominees and winners over the past 8 years

Profiles of all the honourees are available on thefutureafrica.com/awards

 

See list:

Kola Oshinowo

Abdulkareem Baba Aminu

Bright “Basketmouth” Okpocha

Emem Ema

Emmanuel Etim

Esther Agbarakwe

Maupe Ogun

Mayokun Okelola

MI Abaga

Alexander Yangs

Ali Nuhu

Alkasim Abdulkadir

Chinwe Njoku

Uti Nwachukwu

Uyi Omakaro

Nmachi Jidenma

Nnaemeka Ikeguonu

Noble Igwe

OC Ukeje

Ohimai Amaize

Ola Orekunrin

Olude Lekan/Ayodeji Adewunmi/Opeyemi Awoyemi

Debola Lewis

Denrele Edun

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu

Bukola Adubi

Stephanie Linus

Tara Fela-Durotoye

Teju “Babyface” Oyelakin

Tobias and Titus Igwe

Tochukwu Ikpebu

Tolu Ogunlesi

Tolu “Toolz” Oniru

Tolu Sangosanya

Tomiwa Adesida

Femi Oyediran

Ferdinard Adimefe

Gideon Okeke

Hadiza Abdulahi

Idris Akinbajo

Ify Aniebo

Olumide Makanjuola

Japheth Omojuwa

Karo Agono

Kemi Adetiba

Jerry Ukechukwu Eze

Seun Osewa

Latashe Ngwube

Kenneth Gyang

Otto Orondaam

Perez Tigidam

Seun Onigbinde

Toyosi Ogunseye

Uche Jombo

Uche Nnaji

Wale Adetula

Chika Nwobi

Ndidi Nwuneli

Ojoma Ochai

Linda Ikeji

Banke Meshida-Lawal

Steve “Yaw” Onu

Toyin “TY” Bello

Andre Blaze

Yagazie Chukwumerije

Omawumi Megbele

IK Osakioduwa

Modupe Adefeso-Olateju

Aisha Augie-Kuta

Jason Njoku

Funke Akindele

Funke Bucknor-Obruthe

Genevieve Nnaji

Olamide Adedeji

Lamide Akintobi

Abisola Edun

Onye Ubanatu

Peter and Paul “Psquare” Okoye

Samuel Olatunji

Kemi “Lala” Akindoju

Lisa Folawiyo

Matse Uwatse

Toyosi Akerele

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde

Vincent Enyeama

Ngozi Nkwoji

Tola Sunmonu

Akin Rotimi

Michael “Don Jazzy” Ajere

Dapo “D’banj” Oyebanjo

Dare Art-Alade

Zubair Abubakar

Bukola “Asa” Elemide

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Uche Pedro

Julie Odia

Funke Awobokun

Tunde Aladese

Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi

Cohbams Asuquo