Wednesday 22 August 2012

See The Nominees That Made The Final List Of The Future Awards 2012 In Nigeria


The Central Working Committee of The Future Awards has unveiled the final shortlist of 5 people per category for the Awards.
Read their profiles here:


The Future Awards Nominee Profile
BEST USE OF ADVOCACY:
  • Olumide Femi Makanjuola (25)
Makanjuola dedicates his time, energy and resources working for the cause of the Most-At-Risk-Population (MARP). According to Aids Alliance, the MARPs are populations with a “higher risk of being infected or affected by HIV, who play a key role in how HIV spreads, and whose involvement is vital for an effective and sustainable response to HIV.”
They include the partners and families of those with HIV, people who sell or buy sex, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, orphans and other vulnerable children.
Makanjuola, and other team members at The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIER), are involved in sexual health programming, skill acquisition programs, capacity building development and legal aid program for MARPs.
TIER has been recognized across Nigeria as an organization that addresses human rights violation on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. He runs a life and vocational skill empowerment program to help reduce the vulnerability of MARPs because with financial independence, MARPs can show greater self-esteem and have some leverage during negotiations for safer sex. He also organises workshops for health care workers to help enhance their knowledge on issues relating to sexual health and rights and manages a network of over 40 peer educators who spread HIV-prevention messages. The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIER) has grown from an organization with zero income three years ago to annual income of about $60,000 presently. The United Nations Development Program honoured TIER with a Red Ribbon Award.
  • Adamma Umeofia (20):
Ordinarily, at 20, effecting tangible change through architecture is not just something you worry your head about. Not so for Adamma Umeofia, an architect and Lead Designer of WeBuilt: Africa. Moving beyond mere talk, Umeofia’s work with WeBuilt: Africa applies innovative and contemporary architecture to redesign and rebuild market stalls. Ultimately, she hopes to extend this to homes, where she’ll use recycled building materials to do the double-R across slums in Africa. She was winner of the Challenge Future 2012 Award with prize money of 10,000 Euros and the Google Zeitgeist Young Minds 2012 Winner.
  • Chizoba Mary Imoka (25):
Imoka is the Executive Director of Unveiling Africa Foundation. She understood that for Nigeria to stand any chance of competing in the future, the right demographic to engage now is that of those between the ages of 13 -19. So she and her team stepped in to do just that. They mentor and educate the teens, organize an annual essay contest called the UVA Teenager Innovation Prize Contest, and publish an annual quarterly magazine aimed at reinforcing engagement with teens and enhancing their nation-building skills.
So far, it’s been very good. The program has positively impacted the lives of over 3,000 people and delivered its programs to over 2,000 teenagers.
  • Priscilla Usiobaifo (28):
Honest, blunt, a fighter, an Amazon –those are words which have been used to describe Usiobaifo. She’s earned it. As founder and coordinator of the Brave Heart Initiative, Usiobaifo has consistently facilitated the empowerment of women and youths, especially in her beloved Akoko Edo local government area of Edo State. Twelve secondary schools have fully integrated the activities of the Brave Heart Initiative (BHI) into their school calendar and rural community leaders have also embraced the work of the group. BHI has facilitated the recovery of 18 sexually abused girls in the past one year. Usiobaifo was awarded the LEAP Africa Annual Nigerian Youth Leadership Awards in 2011 and BHI was recognised by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development as an anti-rape NGO champion in December 2011.
  • Babafemi Oyediran (29):
Oyediran is the Initiator of the Rural Enterprise Development Project (Project RED).Project RED trains artisans, small and micro business owners in organisational development using pidgin English or local dialects. Project RED also provides leverage for their businesses. Oyediran’s vision is to help reduce poverty in the locality where Project RED operates (mostly Niger and Nasarawa States,) by 20% by the year 2015. In the past year, over 34 artisan associations have been trained by Project RED, four of which were founded by the initiative. Oyediran was selected as a Young Global Changemaker in 2011 by British Council and was Winner of the Nigeria Youth Leadership Awards 2011 by LEAP Africa.

BEST USE OF NEW MEDIA:
  • Omojuwa Japheth (28):
Through his blog (omojuwa.com) and his twitter handle (he has over 30,000 twitter followers), Omojuwa has managed to make his voice a loud, tough sounding one to be reckoned with, especially on issues relating to governance, politics and citizenship participation. Highly opinionated and controversial, the online community takes note when Omojuwa supports or opposes a cause. He was particularly vocal in his support for the #SaveOke project and Beacons, both of which are nominated in this same category, underscoring his impact on social media. Other causes he supported via new media channels include #EssenceOfOil and #DanaCrashAction. He was the sole African nominee on the 10-man World Economic Forum team on global youth sourcing project and won the Best Nigerian Political Blog in the Nigeria Blog Awards. Omojuwa is also a public speaker and consultant.
  • Gidi Traffic (22):
Lagos was long overdue for a service like @. Even though limited to twitter, where he has about 30,000 followers, @ adopts crowdsourcing (a type of participative online activity) to help ease the stress that comes with Lagos traffic. It provides on-the-go traffic updates and responds to inquiries on anything that has to do with traffic in Lagos.
  • Ediongsenyane Umoh (25):
Umoh is a new media enthusiast who uses the NigeriaNewsdesk platform to disseminate news on the go. His remarkably quick news gathering techniques and consistency has made the @twitter handle one of the most widely followed in the country with over 200,000 followers.
  • #SaveOke/Ejiro Gegere – coordinator (28):
The #SaveOke case is the proof, if ever we needed one, of the amazing power of social media and the can-do spirit of Nigerians. For six years Okeoghene Ighiwotho (Oke), who had a severe case of diabetes, needed the sum of N5,000,000 (five million naira)for surgical procedures in India but was unable to raise the funds. Through the use of new media (Blogs, Twitter, Blackberry messengers, and Facebook,) like-minded individuals who saw a need and believed that Nigerians were more than capable of helping to save Oke’s life, began to tell his story using pictures and pitches that would impress professional fundraisers. Thanks to the #SaveOke campaign on new media, the entire funds were raised in less than 6months.
  • Nmachi Jidenma (24):
Jidenma is a hardworker, an overachiever and one of the poster girls of new media in Nigeria. She is presently the Outreach Manager for Google social platform, Google+, and has continued to serve as Publisher of the progressive African site, Celebrating progress African/CP-African, which she founded. One of the early adopters of social media, especially Facebook, CP-Africa reached the 50,000 subscribers mark this year, across social media and email platforms. Jidenma is also the editor of the next web, one of the world’s top 10 leading technology blogs based in the Netherlands. She was recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Global Shaper.

CREATIVE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
  • Obi Somto (24):
Somto is a photographer extraordinaire. His clientele includes such diverse entities as Etisalat, Mavin Records, British Council, Coca-Cola and even Nigeria’s president Goodluck Jonathan. In 2010, his work was featured at the Raustenstrauch-Joest Museum in Cologne, Germany, as well as in a German publication, “Afropolis. City-Media-Art.” Somto also mentors other young Nigerians in the art of photography. In 2012, he was one of the facilitators at The Future Enterprise Support Scheme workshop on photography alongside Kelechi Amadi and Ade Plumpter.
  • Aderemi Adegbite (30):
Adegbite wears many hats, as a photographer, video artist, cultural producer and publisher. He is currently the African Coordinator of the “Africa: See You, See Me” contemporary photographic exhibition. In November 2011, he was made the project coordinator and photographer for ‘BornTroWay,’ a creative arts training initiative aimed at promoting individual self-confidence, self-expression and integration amongst the youth, with success so far in Ajegunle, Lagos and Port Harcourt. He emerged the global winner of the World Youth Movement for Democracy Photo Contest in 2012 and was recently commissioned by the Director of the One Minute Foundation in Amsterdam to create a one minute video for the organisation’s Olympics exhibition in London. Aderemi‘s mix of local and international clients include the Heinrich Boll Foundation; Goethe-Institute, Lagos; Lagos Black Heritage Festival; amongst others.
  • Imoleoluwa Elijah Balogun (23):
Balogun is a man with a passion for the fashion and entertainment industry in Nigeria. He hopes to refine that industry by providing high standard events photographs. He created a blog-type website which serves as an image repository and a free distribution system, where any interested party can simply download pictures as required. And there has not been a shortage of interested parties with Bella Naija, Linda Ikeji Blog, Soundcity and many other bloggers and journalists benefited from Balogun’s platform.  His clients include Sleek Nigeria, Coca-Cola, Olmeca Tequilla amongst many others. He also uses his images to spread a social message, participating in such causes as #OccupyNigeria and Anti-pollution campaigns.
  • Omoboriowo Adebayo John (25):
Omoboriowo is a freelance photographer and photo artist. He is also a photo coach who has trained over 30 young people. The University of Lagos Chemistry graduate was second-runner-up at the AAF-Etisalat Amateur Photography competition 2012 and was winner of the NACCP Climate Change photo contest, also this year. He loves street/documentary photography. Some of his documentaries include Life at Makoko, the NYSC diary, Ileya Festival and rainy Lagos Story. A graduate of LEAP Africa’s Youth Leadership Programme and Fate Foundation’s Samsung Real Dreams programme, Omoboriowo’s client base include Leap Africa, FansConnect Online, MTN Nigeria, Dell Nigeria, LaMediafritiq, Alliance Francaise, the Spanish Embassy, and Wamco Nigeria (makers of Peak Milk).
  • MohammedAbbagana (26):
Abbagana is an award winning painter, designer, artist and illustrator. His works have been showcased all over the world, including one on the London tube at St Johns Wood and Hampstead.
DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
  • Makun Omoniyi Olorunyomi (27):
Makun is the Creative Director of Yomi Casuals. One of Nigeria’s most talented young designers, Makun styles celebrities and VIPs for events and functions. He is a Nigeria Youth Merit Award recipient, and was a winner of City People’s Fashion Designer of the year award. He also does set and stage designing. His outfit, Yomi Casuals, has impressive celebrities as its clients, including Lagos State First Lady, Abimbola Fashola; ace comedian Ali Baba; gospel artist, Sammie Okposo; and Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot.
  •  Adebisi Anita (25):
As CEO of Ms Makor Designs, Adebisi has carved a niche for herself in creating women’s wear brands strictly tailored to cater to the modern global woman. She fuses brilliant art into fashion thus creating priceless pieces which continues to feel trendy and fashionable long after they first came into vogue. Ms Makor has two outlets in Abuja where clients shop for ready to wear pieces or place orders for couture pieces. In April 2012, Adebisi won the Abuja Young Entrepreneur Award in Fashion and Style category.
  • Rukky Ladoja (28), Obida Obioha (29), and Tola Ayanwale (29):
These three brilliant partners own the apparel company simply called Grey. Grey is a fast growing outfit with a focus on offering trendy, quality and affordable women’s wear proudly made in Nigeria. Grey designs, produces and retails its products, using cost effective ways to introduce innovations to the Nigerian fashion scene like its 2012 MTN Fashion and Design Week collection which drew inspiration from local basket weavers and created dresses with hand woven chiffon fabric. In the past year Grey has participated in three major fashion shows, provided clothing for a number of music videos, TV shows and adverts, as well as the Martini Model Contest.
  • Toluwaloju Olowofoyeku (23):
Olowofoyeku has come a long way since she began professional designing in 2008. Her label, Toju Foyeh (abbreviation of her name), deals with women’s wears. Foyeh’s work is bold, creative and colourful. Her designs have been showcased on some prestigious runways, including during the AriseFashion Week in 2011 and 2012. Mavin first lady, Tiwa Savage, is one of the proudest and most prominent fans of Olowofoyeku’s work.
  • Ugonna Omeruo (28):
Omeruo is the founder and creative director of the House of Nwocha. The label was launched in 2008 and has shown collections at various events including the Ovation Red Carol 2009 and the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2010 Pre-Show. She sees herself as a walking mannequin for her work. The House of Nwocha offers a selection of styles divided into the casual wear line and the couture line. Omeruo’s designs are unique, imaginative, sexy, and experimental. Her 2012 House of Nwocha collection drew inspiration from the sad Japanese Tsunami disaster. It features simple and fluid pieces laden with emotions and evoking hope for a better day after the storm.
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE.
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE – GOVERNMENT
  • Akintunde Oluwaseun Rotimi (31):
Rotimi is the Senior Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor and Head, Corporate Communications Unit, Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti. His excellence and dedication led to his inclusion in several statutory committees by the Ekiti State government. He set up the Corporate Communications Unit of the Governor’s Office, a pioneering effort. He oversees the standardization and vetting of all outgoing communications materials from all units of the Ekiti State Government House. A milestone for Rotimi was his role in overseeing the development of the new Ekiti State logo.
  • Gomiluk John Otokwala (28):
After a stint working as an attorney in Lewis Baach, PLLC, a law firm based in Washington DC, the United States capital, Otokwala chose to return to Nigeria where he took up work as a lawyer in the office of the Director-General of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). Otokwala’s decision to return back to Nigeria was borne out of love for his fatherland and was inspired by a generation of other upwardly mobile individuals who have tried and succeeded in public service. He helped develop a draft roadmap for housing finance in Nigeria, as a result of which he worked with the World Bank and the IFC.
  • Hadiza Abdullahi (31):
As Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Abdullahi’s brief is to assist the government in a national effort to improve local government planning, project management, and monitoring capacity to catalyze new projects. Through her efforts, she has help set up key structures so that the 113 LGAs participating in the MDGs Conditioned Grant Scheme (CGS) can access their grants. As technical assistant domiciled in Kaiama LGA of Kwara State, she helped catalyse new processes, working practices and prioritise development needs of the local council.
  • Ohimai Amaize( 27):
Before his foray into politics, Amaize was a social change advocate and a Microsoft Internet Safety Ambassador. He became the youngest presidential campaign manager in the world at the age of 26 when he managed the candidacy of Chief Dele Momodu in the 2011 presidential election under the Labour party. Amaize is currently the Special Adviser on Advocacy to the current Minister of Sports, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi. He’d previously occupied the same role when Abdullahi served as Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development. He was the public face of the minister in the thick of the issues which defined Abdullahi’s time as Youth Affairs Minister like the ABSU rape matter, YouWin and NYSC reform.
  • Banks Omisore (29):
Omisore is the Special Assistant (ADVOCACY & NEW MEDIA) to the former governor of Kwara State, who is presently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Environment, Senator Bukola Saraki of Kwara State. Omisore is responsible for the senator’s largely progressive face on social media, especially on twitter.
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE – JOURNALISM
  • Ezeobi Chiemelie (25):
Ezeobi is a crime/metro reporter with a sharp eye for news hunting. She is an employee of Thisday Newspaper and is renowned for her tenacity and dedication. Ezeobi’s most challenging work till date was covering the Dana Crash, in which she balanced objectivity and compassion for the bereaved families. Despite threats, intimidation and harassment, her passion for crime reporting is unrelenting. She has participated in the British Council training for journalists, The CNN training for journalists and the Google training on new media tools.
  • Tomi Oladipo (25):
Oladipo was one of the five BBC reporters selected in 2012 from around the world as the first set of BBC’s next generation of multimedia, multi-location and multilingual journalists. He considers his exclusive interview with IMF president, Christine Lagarde, at the height of the global economic downturn as his major assignment in the last one year. He has hundreds of news reports on BBC’s various web, magazine, radio and television outlets and on partner stations across Africa. The most extensive among the Nigerian stories he has covered include the Boko Haram violence, the presidential elections and the fuel subsidy protests.
  • Adeparusi Ezekiel Oluyinka (30):
Oluyinka, a staff of the National Mirror Newspaper, is a member of the World Photography Organization, Global Media Professionals amongst other professional associations for journalists. He is a photo-journalist. Covering the Dana crash was his most challenging report in the last one year. He is a multiple award recipient, winning the Wole Soyinka Award for investigative reporting in 2011, amongst others awards. He has engaged in live discussions on television, magazines and special project for students as well as giving them professional advice.
  • Ogunseye Oluwatoyosi Esther (28):
Ogunseye is a high flying politics reporter of The Punch Newspaper, Nigeria, where she is currently the Staff of the Year. At 28, she is a guest lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism where she teaches Media Ethics. She assigns, coordinates and edits news and politics stories for Sunday Punch. In 2011, Ogunseye won the CNN African Journalist of the Year Award. That same year, she also received a commendation from the African Investigative Journalism Awards for her work; a Millennium Development Goals Award for supporting the campaign against child mortality in Nigeria as well as the Peak Media Business and Social Responsibility Reporter of the Year Award.
  • Alkasim Abdulkadir (32):
Abdulkadir has been practising journalism for the past seven years. In the past year, he did a world exclusive investigative piece for CNN International, in which he revealed the identity of the bomber behind the UN headquarters bombing via a phone call to the Boko Haram spokesperson; produced and directed two series of ‘Story Story’ for BBC London; produced 24 episodes of radio content ‘Nebo-my-nebo’ for BBC Nigeria; several live reports for CNN, BBC, France 24 and co-reported Boko Haram attack on Kano for The Times of London with Jonathan Clayton. He’s also a news editor for Citizens Platform. His brand of citizen journalism has oftentimes forced government agencies like the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to act swiftly.
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE – CORPORATE
  • Babatomiwa Adesida (32):
Adesida presently works as the Social Performance and Corporate Responsibility Manager for Sahara Group. His responsibilities include the facilitation, identification, implementation and coordination of community development initiatives for Sahara Group both within and outside of Nigeria. His efforts have aroused a newfound sense of taking Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as serious business within his organization. Adesida singlehandedly developed all the policies, procedures and manuals that are in use as CSR guides in Sahara Group, some of which has been imbibed by other companies. Due to his efforts, Sahara Group has received numerous awards for her involvement in CSR activities in Ghana, Nigeria and Coted’Ivoire.
  • Ngozi Chinyelu Nkwoji (29):
She is a Brand Manager in Nigeria Breweries Plc. Nkwoji presently works for the Maltina Brand, with a brief to effectively manage and ensure its equity brand growth. She successfully executed the 5th Season of the Maltina Dance All competition, the successful relaunch of the Maltina brand and the execution of the Maltina Sharing Happiness promo. In 2011, she was runner up in the Heineken Global Brand Building Awards under brand activation.
  • Oluwaseyi Abiola Ogunro (29):
A Senior Associate in the prestigious law firm of Banwo and Ighodalo handling the areas of Project finance, Corporate Finance, Structured Trade finance and commercial law. Ogunro provides excellent legal opinions and facilitates training sessions for the law firm/ mentors junior associates, thus contributing to the firm’s continued success. She was the team leader for her firm in its role as counsel to a syndicate of Nigerian banks in connection with a two tranche loan facility of N82,600,000,000 and USD$100,000,000 which was advanced to Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited. She is a Harvard Alumni and a member of the Nigerian, American and New York Bars.
  • Adim Isiakpona (27):
Isiakpona manages all forms of brand communications within HP in Nigeria as its Marketing Manager. He develops a channel to enable a smooth ripple effect within the sales chain. He has engineered the growth of an organized retail business structure within the HP channel in this region, orchestrating the increased revenue of the retail business to $26 million in 2011. He also helped improve the HP brand essence and visibility through conversational marketing methods, like the use of social media where the facebook fan base grew to about 60,000 within 7 months.
  • Kayode Jegede (30):
Jegede is the GM/Head of Facility Management of Deux Project. He has drawn up complex facility management programs for assets like the LASUTH Cardiac and Renal Centre and the Rivers National Stadium. He ensures the welfare of all his staff and oversees the operations of his organization to achieve economic and social goals. He has spearheaded several successful facility management bids and has put in place new company structures to encourage skill development in various technical vocations.
INNOVATION.
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
  • Oluseun Onigbinde (27):
Most Nigerians are genuinely interested in the country’s yearly budget but find the document a huge mass of non-readable jargon. Onigbinde saw this and came to the rescue. BudgIT has contributed in promoting transparency through human capacity building. The Budgit.com website has had over 650,000 website hits in just nine months. During the 2012 Occupy Nigeria protest, Onigbinde developed a Budget Cut App which was used by over 3000 Nigerians within 72 hours. Onigbinde got an Ashoka Fellowship Award in 2012 and was a winner in the Nigeria Internet Group Awards for Social entrepreneurship.
  • Zubair Abubakar (29):
Abubakar is a web developer responsible for one of Nigeria’s biggest information portals, www.connectnigeria.com. Thanks to his Nigerian Constitution Blackberry App, over 80,000 Nigerians now have the constitution right on their mobile phone. Together with some friends, Abubakar also developed an app for Nigeria’s Vision 20:20 document with the support of the National Planning Commission. Other apps developed by Abubakar in the past year include the Ramadan App downloaded 50,000 times and the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) App. Abubakar is a TED fellow and was a 2011 Nigerian Youths Merits award nominee.
  • Olumide Babajide Adewunmi (27):
Adewunmi’s Gidilounge is a godsend for the media and entertainment industries in Nigeria. Gidilounge uses online/cloud technology to provide an accessible outlet for promotion of new artists, media, entertainment and events. This ground breaking in-house technology gives On Air Personalities the freedom and liberty to host content rich shows with their mobile devices. Adewunmi has developed Mobile apps on 3 major platforms (Blackberry, iPhone and Android), hence the general acclaim of Gidilounge as Africa’s All Mobile Radio Station. Gidilounge has also implemented sub-stations to serve OAPs in 3 major time zones.
  • Ahmad Ibrahim Mukoshy (23):
Mukoshy runs GigaLayer.com which currently empowers 300 websites in Nigeria. In addition, he has built other websites and applications for the web including a URL shorter, yrn.me which happens to be the first in Nigeria. It allows users to shrink long web addresses to short like structures for easysharing. Registered users of yrn.me also have access to a statistics reports on how many times their links got visited and from which website. In 2010, he won the Techloy Person of the Year.
  • Abdulraheem Temitope Bello (19):
Bello has two undergraduate degrees – in Astronomy and Physics with Special Honours and is already a doctoral student; all before he turned 19. For most of his undergraduate years, he conducted research in a condensed matter physics lab; refurbishing the thermal conductivity probe and fabricating unique thermocouples in order to measure temperature gradient. During his 2+ years of research, he has presented his work at various conferences and has given an oral presentation at the American Physical Society (APS). Presently, he is working on the development of a startup energy utility company GeoUtill. GeoUtill leverages geothermal energy to supply homes with clean, sustainable, and dependable energy. He is currently working on the development of a new type of a low cost solar panel, that may be deployed anywhere in the world without access to an energy grid.
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR – EDUCATION
  • Sangosanya Tolulope Odunayo (30):
Sangosanya is a past winner of The Future Awards Best Use of Advocacy. Her LOTS charity foundation caters to the needs of street kids and other vulnerable children like the physically disabled and the physically abused. They not only provide books for the kids, but also train them to imbibe the culture of reading. They also offer an after school support programme at the LOTS Resource Centre. The LOTS centre adopts audiovisuals, games and other creative ways to teach children.
  • Gospel Omeoga Ukanwoke (Gossy) (24):
In initiating the Beni American University, Ukanwoke brought together some of the smartest minds in education from all over the world. Beni American University is Africa’s first online hybrid university, and was set up because of the inadequacy of our regular universities to meet increasing demand.  His vision for Beni Africa University is to ensure that higher education is made available to all, irrespective of background, religion, gender or sex. The Beni American University model involves 70% online and 30% on-campus training. Ukanwoke also founded Students Circle Network. He won the African Students Award in North Cyprus for Innovation and Creativity in 2012 and Entrepreneur of the Year 2011/2012.
  • Adebayo Ibidapo Adegbebo (29):
Adegbebo is a software developer with special interests in mobile and multimedia technology. He developed Asa, a brand borne out of the need to address the problems associated with our cultural identity by re-packaging the very elements of our culture through leveraging on the widespread availability of mobile technology. In the past one year, he has developed working prototypes for two flagship products –One is “tortoise and the shell,” an android application for phones and tablets which uses a combination of original illustrations, text and voice to retell the popular Nigerian folktale; the other is the “i-Yoruba” application which is another android mobile application for teaching and learning about the Yoruba language.
  • Otto Orondaam (25):
Orondaam is a social crusader, a developmental worker, an analyst, and a social entrepreneur.  He is the initiator of the Slum to School Project and Net a Child Project, which are both geared towards lending a voice and offering a platform to bring to the fore the educational, health and social needs of disadvantaged children, and providing succour for them. His Slum to School Project provided complete educational scholarships for 118 orphans and vulnerable children in Makoko community and also provided school uniforms, sandals, canvass, school bags, books and other psychosocial support. Orondaam was winner of the Lagos State Honours Award 2012 as the most outstanding corps member and is a nominee for the MDG Presidential Award.
  • Aboyeji Iyinoluwa Samuel (21):
Iyinoluwa is a believer in the power of new and innovative technology to make possible a world where everyone has access to highest quality education for the lowest possible price. Bookneto, an exciting online platform co-founded by Aboyeji, aims to entirely redefine social learning. Basically, the platform allows people studying courses online to interact with each other while at it. They also organize and store this informal learning so that future students can go back to them when needed.
ENTERPRENEURSHIP.
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR (General)
  • Tobias and Titus Igwe (Igwe Twins) (25):
The Igwe Twins co-founded and jointly run SPEEDMEALS, a registered food delivery services company. They offer daily catering services for corporate organisations and schools, cakes for all occasions, mobile kitchen for workers on site, catering and cocktail drinks for events. SPEEDMEALS currently has a maximum daily capacity of 800 plates of food per day which they hope to increase to ten thousand plates per day when they are done with the ongoing construction of a new kitchen. Some of their clients include Samsung West Africa, Fate Foundation, MOL shipping, SDV shipping and Lagos State Television. They were nominated for the UN Sukama Africa Award in March 2011 and were selected in July 2012 among Africa’s greatest young minds by The Bridge Leadership Foundation (TBLF).
  • Ola Orekunrin (25):
Orekunrin started Flying Doctors in 2010 when she realised that one of the most fundamental problems that the Nigerian healthcare system faces is getting the right patient, to the right facility within the correct timeframe. With Flying Doctors, urgent air ambulance services are provided to leading health institutions, insurance companies and private individuals throughout West Africa. Flying Doctors has literally become a life saver, as it ensures that critically unwell patients are flown from areas where there’s an insufficient level of care available to them, to somewhere else with a more appropriate level of care. Orekunrin is a TED fellow.
  • Aisha Maina (31):
Maina founded and runs Aquarian Consult, a business development consultancy firm established to serve small and medium enterprises with comprehensive value adding services, and thus enhancing their growth. The firm is one built on a tripartite structure in fields of Business Development Services, Human Resources Consultancy and Training. Aquarian Consult has a client base which includes MRS Holdings, Pagatech, Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company and SAP, Lagos.
  • Oladipo Olakunle Delano (Ladi Delano) (30):
Delano is a entrepreneur who made his first millions at the age of 22 while living in China. He is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bakrie Delano Africa (BDA) – a $1 billion joint venture with the Bakrie Group of Indonesia, which is that country’s leading conglomerate. BDA is responsible for identifying investment opportunities and executing them in Nigeria. In the past year Delano has served as IPO consultant/Project Leader for Indonesian oil company, Ramba Energy, as well as become a founding shareholder in Perx (alongside the famous co-founder of facebook, Eduardo Saverin.)
  • Kola Oyeneyin (32):
Oyeneyin is the founder of Venia Business Hub, which makes doing business in Nigeria practical, affordable and flexible for start-ups, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporate organizations and multinationals. They organize trainings, seminars, networking sessions and offer business advisory services. Oyeneyin’s Venia Hub also helps link young and growing businesses to angel investors and venture capital firms for financial support as and when required. Venia Hub was featured in 2012 among BBC’s Hubs in Africa.

Entrepreneur of the Year (Agriculture):
  • Olukayode Adeoye (32):
Adeoye’s Whales and Chase Farm is located in Ikire, Osun State and specializes in large scale farming with emphasis on maize, pepper and cassava cultivation. At Ikire, Whales and Scales has access to about 500 hectares of land, one of the largest in the area, to support their farming operations. Whales and Chase emerged as runner-up in the Harambe Nigeria agribusiness competition.
  • Ikpegbu Tochukwu (31):
In 2010, Ikpegbu came first in the Harambe Nigeria agri-business competition, winning up to N7.5 million in prizes and training with the EDS, Fate Foundation and Ideabuilders. His winning entry which focused on expanding his piggery farm called Emmanuel farms is one which he has continued to build and grow. Starting with just 20 piglets in a small room in 2006, Emmanuel Farms has expanded to four big pens housing over 300 pigs and producing at least 100 piglets every month.
  • Fawolu Taiwo (28):
Taiwo runs Abivict farms with specialty in livestock. His poultry has about1500 birds. He also has about 50 pigs in his piggery and 15 rams. His Abivict farms have a 3000 capacity pen which houses everything from day old chicks to end of lay. It also has a 3000 galvanised cage capacity; and 2 acres of land for piggery and ramry.
  • Omoteso Ayodele (27):
Omoteso is a man with deep love for agriculture. His agricultural endeavours include piggery, fishery, poultry, crop production and vegetable production.
  • Ajo John (29):
Ajo is into Animal Husbandry.

Entrepreneur of the Year (Communication and Media)
  • Adeshola Komolafe (30):
At 30, Komolafe already has valuable experience and expertise in consulting for both public and private firms. His Media Insight company is an integrated marketing communications firm located in Abuja. He worked as media consultant to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in the 2011 Nigerian presidential elections, and was the Director of Communications for Team Ribadu. He has also worked as marketing and Promotion Consultant to PATHS2, a DFID funded project, amongst others.
  • Funmilade Alalade (28):
Alalade runs Elev8 Nigeria Ltd, an innovative out of home media company that specializes inON-THE-GO media advertising. As Nigerians spend more and more of their timeoutdoors, Elev8 is poised to capture their attention by helping companies project their products or services swiftly, efficiently and professionally. Alalade is in charge of new business development for the operation of mobile TV on the Lagos State Government operated bus services, LAGBUS. She is the youngest registered outdoor practitioner in Nigeria.
  • Uyioghosa David Omokaro (30):
Omokaro is head of DM2 advertising agency with a clients’ base ranging from Coca-Cola to Sprite to Tetmosol and Interswitch. His biggest project in the past year is the Coca-Cola Open and Win promo which opened new vistas of opportunities for him.
  • Julie Odia (32):
Odia has worked with True Tale Publication as Group Editor Hints magazine and worked as editor-in-chief with Simply Woman Magazine for four years. She is the Editor of WOW Magazine, a celebrity lifestyle magazine conceived as a resource material for relaxation, information, and education. One of her achievements in the past one year is being able to add to WOW, a professional fashion styling firm, Bluloft, based in the United States of America. WOW, under her watch, has produced some remarkable covers in the past year (like the Tonto Dikeh and Uche Jombo covers,) some of which have been the most exquisite in the industry. WOW is distributed nationwide and internationally in countries like Ghana, Kenya, and five states in the United States.
  • Samuel Olatunji (30):
Olatunji runs Big Sam media, a PR and Publicity firm which has an impressive client base including Nollywood star Funke Akindele as well as Genesis Deluxe. Olatunji also writes for The Sun Newspapers. Samuel has also worked on PR for Hennesy Artistry, Anchor Baby, Transcorp Hotel, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Dagrin, Basketmouth and Van Vicker.

Entrepreneur of the Year (Entertainment):
  • Davido (20):
The fresh, young and talented singer Davido runs a record label, HKN. The label has signed under it acts like B-red, Shina Rambo and Davido himself. Davido who is gradually becoming the toast of the entertainment industry, recently released his album OBO in one of the most well attended album launches the entertainment industry has witnessed.
  • Keke Hammond (30):
Together with her husband, Keke runs one of Nigeria’s most recognised entertainment solutions providers, Flytime Promotions. She is an award winning producer who has worked on Moments with Mo. This past year, her Flytime Entertainment teamed up with Nigerian playwright and stage director Wole Oguntokun to bring to the Nigerian stage the critically acclaimed play For Coloured Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow is Enuf.
  • Michael Collins Enebeli (Don Jazzy) (30):
After the dissolution of the successful Mo Hits Records, Don Jazzy is building again with his new label, Mavin Records which continues to bear his signature of dishing fresh and innovative tunes. Mavin Records has some of Nigeria’s hottest stars signed onto it, including Wande Coal, Tiwa Savage, Dr Sid and D Prince. Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records gave music lovers the surprise of their lives when it released ‘Solar Plexus,’ a compilation of songs by its stars, just 24 hours after the record label was announced to the world.
  • Cobhams Emanuel Asuquo (31):
Cobhams Asuquo runs a CAMP, which produces for acts like Bez and Omolara. CAMP has also done commercials for clients like Tom Tom and Skye Bank. Asuquo is a song writer and music producer per excellence. He is currently signed onto Sony ATV (Sony Publishing) London as a songwriter and has won awards in music as well as his other fields of interest.
  • Clarence Peters (29):
Peters is a director, producer and filmmaker who owns Capital Hill Records (a record label,) and a production company called Capital Dream Pictures. He churns out amazing videos on a consistent basis through his Capital Hill Records, like 9ice’s Street Credibility, Shayo by Durella, Nobody Test Me by the Choc Squad, Only Me by 2Face Idibia and Remember by Bracket featuring 2face.
Entrepreneur of the Year (Technology)
  • Alade Oluwafemi Adeola (30):
Adeola is the founder of a technology start-up company, PlirisMobile Nigeria, which seeks to provide aplatform where information can be sourced and used to make informed decision. He has delivered several projects for the Tertiary Education Trust, UrbanSheltersNigeria, and The Commonwealth of Zion Assembly amongst others.
  • Eno-Obong Essien (30):
Rheytrack, founded and run by Essien, is a company which provides vehicle tracking and recovery services. Founded in 2007, Rheytrack has so far recovered twenty two stolen cars from various locations all over the country, a success rate which can be attributed to the effectiveness of their service being offered. Essien’s Rheytrack has garnered an enviable portfolio of clients in its short time which include Guaranty Trust Assurance, National College of Aviation & Technology, the Federal Ministry of Works etc.
  • Temi Kolawole (27):
Kolawole is a web developer, social media and internet marketing expert. His touch is behind some of the most popular blogs and websites in the country like Bella Naija, NotjustOk, Sturvs, Nigerian Entertainment Today, Haute Fashion Africa, Golden Icons and One Nigerian Boy and more. He is the Managing Partner of Antigravity LLC and CEO of Sturvs.com.
  • Jason Njokwu (31):
Recently named among the 50 Most Influential Africans by The African Report, Njokwu is at the forefront of Nigeria’s digital revolution. With his Iroko TV brand tagged the ‘Netflix of Africa’, he is the world’s largest distributor of African movies. His company raised $8 million in venture capital from Tiger Global Management; a New York based private equity and hedge fund run by billionaire Chase Coleman and has distribution deals with Daily motion, iTunes, Amazon and Vimeo. His net worth is estimated at a whopping $30 million dollars.
  • Ayodeji Adewunmi (28), Opeyemi Awoyemi (24), Olalekan Olude (28):
These are the three young men who have carefully harnessed their ideas and skills to bring the ‘Jobberman’ dream into reality. Jobberman.com has been described by Forbes as “West Africa’s most popular job search engine and aggregator,” and rated as the 8th tech start-up to watch in Africa this year. To bridge the gap between opportunity and talent, Jobberman.com basically sources jobs directly from companies and recruiting agencies and broadcasts them via the website, blog, email, partner websites and social networks. Jobberman now also has presence in Kenya and Ghana. The Jobberman trio also run www.omg.com.ng, what they call a ‘gist’ site.
ENTERTAINMENT
ON AIR PERSONALITY
OAP Radio:
  • Oladotun“DO2DTUN” Kayode (28):
Kayode is currently an OAP in one of Nigeria’s popular stations, Cool FM. He has anchored events and shows like Barcadi Airtel Show, Hennessy Raves 2012, Spice TV Fashion Show, Mid-Day Oasis, Big Brother Live Show in Nigeria and many more. In 2011 he was named the Broadcaster of the year by the Dynamic All Youth Award 2011 and the Society Award Radio Personality of the year.
  • Adenike Adewuyi (27):
Adewuyi, who currently works at Splash FM Ibadan has anchored the followingshows: Morning show; a radio documentary called “Bull’s Eye”; Entrepreneur of the Week, a weekly programme designed for young entrepreneurs and a weekend/political current affairs programme called “Voices”. She also does voiceovers, event compere and mentoring.
  • Ayenowowon Oluwatobi Kenneth (TwiTwi) (26):
Ayenowowon is currently a staff of Wazobia FM. He has anchored shows like Evening Oyoyo and Satide Flenjo.  He is popularly known for the show ‘Sabi Pikin’ which encourages children to speak their mother-tongue, as well as the show ‘Laif Mata’, a programme that brings depressed/challenged people in contact with the public for help.
  • Tolu Toolz Oniru (30):
Oniru is a presenter on the Midday show on the Beat 99.9fm. She has anchored a number of events such as The Juice on Ndani TV, Music Meets Runway Show, P-Square ‘The Invasion’ Album Launch, 2011 Channel O Music Video Awards Nominee Reveal, 2011 Hennessy Artistry Video Launch Party and many more. She has won the following awards; Nigerian Broadcasters Awards (Radio Presenter of the Year), Dynamix All Youth Awards (Radio Personality of the year), FAB Awards (On-Air Personality of the Year-Radio) and many more.
  • Mazi’no Appeal Ofoh (31):
Ofoh has anchored a number of programmes/shows like Smooth Breakfast on Smooth 98.1, Freshly Pressed, The Locker Room, Lagos Talks and Soulfully Yours. She has worked with Smooth 98.1 and Search FM Minna 92.3. She is also involved in media trainings, compere and advocacy.
OAP TV:
  • Uti Nwachukwu (30):
Nwachukwu, a past winner of the Big Brother Africa Reallity Show, has many facets. He is a TV presenter, actor, model, philanthropist, and motivational speaker. He was chosen in 2010 by the former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili as the face of Nigeria’s rebranding exercise and was part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Youth Forum also in 2010. Nwachukwu has worked as a presenter, anchor, and host of the show Jara. He was given Young Person of the Year Award in 2011 by Leadership and has just been nominated for the entertainment personality of the year at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards.
  • Olowu Bardia Adebola (27):
Olowu is the CEO of Contagious Collective. As a presenter and host, he has worked with the Nigerian Idol, Radio Outloud, and Underground. He’s had working relationships with Etisalat, Nokia, No Surprises, and Cornerstone in the past year.
  • Maupe Esther Ogun (29):
Ogun anchors one of the most popular breakfast shows in the country: The Sunrise Daily on Channels Television. The highlight of her career is being selected as a co-panelist in a presidential media chat conducted this year. She believes in the potent power of education and believes it is the only way out of the ‘poverty of the mind.’
  • Marcy Dolapo Oni (30):
Oni has worked with Mnet, Dstv, Multichoice, Flytime and others. An actress, she has starred in Jacobs Cross, For Coloured Girls and Dstv Mobile Infomercial on Dstv. She has anchored 53xtra, The Future Awards, Complete Fashion Awards and a host of others. She is also the brand ambassador for an online E-tailer called Brand Nubians. She won a Dorothy L. Sayers award for the role she played in the play ‘God is a DJ’.
  • Denrele Edun (28):
The eccentric Edun is an actor, dancer, and presenter. He’s come a long way since his days with “Kidivision 101” on NTA. Formerly with Soundcity, Edun took up appointment with Channel O as a VJ in late 2011.  His CV boasts of unrivalled interviews with Beyonce, Tyler Perry, Lil Kim, Akon, Snoop Dogg, Cuba Gooding, Amerie, LLoyd to mention but a few, has hosted major concerts in Ghana, Zambia, Dubai, Malaysia, the USA et al and was inducted into the Carribbean Fashion Hall of Fame in Barbados!

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR:
  • Davido (20):
Fresh, young, and talented, Davido who shot into limelight with his hit single “Back when” featuring Naeto C has become the toast of the entertainment industry, releasing hot singles like Dami Duro, Ekuro and Overseas. Songs from his latest album, OBO, are currently enjoying massive airplay on radio.
  • Emmanuel Bez Idakula (29):
Idakula is a recording artiste who puts a lot of premium in mentoring young artistes who aspire to reach the level of success he has so far achieved. Apart from performing, Idakula, who possesses a degree in Information Communications Technology, is also a motivational speaker. He is a Hip-hop World Awards nominee, three time NEA Awards nominee and was once a speaker at the Africa Business Conference in Harvard.
  • Panshak Henry Zamani (26):
Zamani officially began his music career in 1999. He has performed locally and abroad for events like the Rhythm Unplugged, ChannelO Awards in South Africa, Ghana Music Awards and for a BBC programme in Hackney, London. Ice Prince was featured as a promising African hip-hop artiste by the Black Entertainment Television (BET). His album, Everybody Loves IcePrince is currently receiving rave reviews. His awards include Artist of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards, Most Gifted Newcomer at Channel O Awards, and Song of the Year at the Hip-hop World Awards.
  • Okoli Chinedu Izuchukwu (29):
Izuchukwu, popularly known as Flavour, is currently signed to 2nite Entertainment Music Label and in 2010, released his second album, Uplifted, which contains some of his biggest hits including the popular track Nwa Baby (Ashawo). Flavour kicked off his solo live performance career at Bubbles Plaza, Enugu where he was given the name Flavour by his adoring fans. Flavour has toured many countries with his fresh music including the United States of America, Italy, Germany and Switzerland.
  • Wizkid (22):
In 2010, Wizkid, a bundle of talent and energy, released his first singles, “Holla at your Boy”, “Gidi Girl” and “Ori Mi” with label mate, Skales. Then there was the hit song, “Tease Me” which was just a studio freestyle that got leaked online and turned into a big hit in different parts of Nigeria and among Nigerians worldwide. His debut album, Superstar, was an instant sensation all over the country.
ACTOR OF THE YEAR
  • Ivie Aviomoh Okujaye (26):
Okujaye, a degree holder in Economics, was the winner of the Amstel Box Office 5. Ivie has starred in a number of movies ranging from Alero’s Symphony, Valour, Guilty Addict, The Volunteers and How She Left My Brother (a mockumentry).Her awards and achievements include: Best of Nollywood Nominee for Most Promising Actress 2010, African Movie Academy Award Winner (Best Young Actor) 2012.
  • Ini Edo (30):
Since 2004 when she got her breakout role in the film, ‘World Apart’, Edo has not looked back, going on to act in more than 100 films such as ‘Games women Play,’ ‘Games Men Play’ and the sequel ‘Reloaded’.
  • Tonto Dike (26):
Dikeh broke into the industry after she left the reality T.V show “The next movie star” in 2005 where she was first runner up. Since then she has acted in so many movies including her recent one: “My life, My damage”.
  • OC Ukeje (31):
Ukeje has featured in various stage plays (five in the last year alone) and television dramas honing his skills for life on the big screen.  He was in Niyi Ogunsanwo’s “What the steward saw” alongside Stella Damasus, “The Engagement” directed by Ifeoma Fafunwa and starring Joke Silva as well as “Two Brides and a Baby.” He also landed a role in the yet to be released “Half of a Yellow Sun.” On television, Ukeje has featured in BBC Trust’s “Wetin Dey”, and Peace Anyiam Osigwe’s “GRA Women”. He hosted the AMAA 2012 awards.
  • Gideon Okeke:
Okeke’s TV career started as a contestant on the Big Brother Nigeria show in 2006. Since then he’s been so many other things –a model, musician (recording Agidigba with Darey), TV presenter (hosting a show called ‘The Scoop’) and actor (beating 10,000 other people to land a leading role and his most prominent on Mnet’s soap Tinsel.) He was a nominee for Actor of the Year in Season 4 of The Future Awards. He has ambitions to one day ‘conquer’ Hollywood and become the ‘go-to’ actor in Africa.
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (Music):
  • Samuel Oguachuba/Sam Klef (27):
Oguachuba has been in music production for four years, delivering on various music projects like the Headies Theme song, End of Story with Iceprince, Jonzing World with D’Prince, Don’t Dull with Wizkid and a host of others. In 2011 he won the Nigeria Entertainment as well as City People Awards for Producer of the year. Oguachuba is presently on his second album and at is working hard to actualise his dreams of a multimedia school.
  • Ifieya Clement Kponu/DJ Klem (28):
Kponu is currently the production director of the Knighthouse Creative and has worked with acts like Sound Sultan, Wizkid andMo’Cheddah. He hput out a producer compilation album called ‘afrofunkydiscosoul’ and recently started a monthly series called ‘DJ Clem presents,’ an avenue to help upcoming talents by giving one artist every month the opportunity to work with him. He was recently featured on BET’s “106 and park.”His third album, ‘The Clark Klem EP’ is scheduled for release in September.
  • Uzezi Oniko (26) and Okiemute Oniko /Legendary Beats (23):
The duo are record producers who have continued to churn out records with stars like Brymo (Ara), Wizkid (Azonto), Sauce kid (Kitchen street), Reminisce (2Mushh), Tunde Ednut ft Dr Sid (Catching cold remix) among others. They have been known to bring new experimental concepts to their game like Brymo’s Ara and Wizkid’s Azonto videos which actually went viral online. They are currently in talks with EME Records to facilitate ways of working even more closely together.
  • Doyin Joshua/D-tunes (22):
Doyin, who is the CEO of Difference Entertainment, started full time music production four years ago and has been making music from his days in the RCCG Chapel of Praise choir. In the past year, D-tunes has produced videos like Iyanya’s Kukere, 9ice’s Life is beautiful and Face’s Am Blessed. Other clients include Wizkid, Danny Krane, Skales, Reminisce, and Wande Coal. He is presently working with Iyanya on his album which will be coming out soon.
  • Jeremiah Shelika/J sleek (24):
J-sleek is presently signed with D’banj’s new record label, DB records. He produced D’banj’s newest single ‘Oyato,’ which dropped on July 14. J sleek has also scored hits with Solid Star (Omotena), Cartiair (Owo ati swagger) and 2face Idibia (Only me, Implication, Outside, Take it back, Jungle don mature, I sing)
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (Screen):
  • Labi Odebunmi (21):
Odebunmi is a director, producer, and editor who has worked with Universal Music Video Shoots in many major cities in the world. Odebunmi is the winner of the Stanley Kubrick Award for Fiction at the UH Visions Festival. He is presently working on a 5 Episode narrative music video with Tinchy Styrder’s bandmate ‘Rapid.’
  • Victor Sanchez Aghahowa (30):
Aghahowa is a brilliant writer and director who has worked with MNET’s Tinsel, writing 150 episodes and directing 200. He is the Principal Operating Officer at TatafoHQ, a content development and production company. He developed a TV Series called RSVP in partnership with The Wongfaehong Production Company starring many well-known faces like Yemisi Fajimolu, Joseph Benjamin, OrekaGodis, OC Ukeje and OAP, Toke Makinwa. He is presently working on the Season 5 of MNET’s Tinsel.
  • Onye Ubanatu (31):
Ubanatu has worked with many personalities/organisations in the industry including CNN Inside Africa’s Jill Craig, Ego Boyo of Temple Productions, the Rivers state government, Light House Media, Ed Harriman’s of Brook Lapping Productions and the Pink Pearl Foundation. The producer, director, and cinematographer is currently working on a 24Hr ER documentary geared towards reducing maternal and child mortality in conjunction with the Ondo State government. He is also putting finishing touches to a project he created called ‘The survival story of Oke.’ Ubanatu’s Tour de Niger Delta was recognized by the British Council as one of the best and inspiring content by Nigerians this year.
  • Anietie James (27):
James started production in 2007 and has worked in several video projects like Roll with Rayce, Plenty Money with Jahborne, Ariwoko with Freestyle, My Life with Durella etc. He was part of Brymo’s Good Morning video and is presently working on a documentary for the Akwa Ibom State government. Anietie, who has functioned as a scriptwriter, screenwriter, and director, has been nominated for awards such as the Niger Delta Advancement Awards.
  • Clarence Peters (29):
Peters is the most sought after director in the industry at the moment. He churns out amazing videos on a consistent basis like 9ice’s Street Credibility, Shayo by Durella, Nobody Test Me by the Choc Squad, Only Me by 2Face Idibia and Remember by Bracket featuring 2face.
YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR
Bankole Wellington (Banky W)
Profile:
  • Occupation: Musician/Entrepreneur/Activist
  • Age: 31
Known primarily as a musician, Banky W has however transcended that label; emerging not just as one of the nation’s leading talents, but also building an inspiring business with Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) that has brought out superstars like Wizkid and Skales. The EME Boss also leads the stage as an activist passionate about Nigeria – proving this with his involvements in everything from the ‘What About Us?’ youth debate to #OccupyNigeria. Banky W is not just an entertainment personality, he is a leader and a national figure representing hope and love for country.
Chinwe Njoku
Profile:
  • Occupation: Engineer
  • Age: 26
Njoku recently won the The Sir Robert Martin University Prize at the Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, which is the premier award of the University. For her efforts, she received an award of £1,500 plus a commemorative medal. Beyond that, Njoku stands out for including significant published research that has benefited society. In total she has 12 peer-reviewed publications (10 as 1st author). Her published works have appeared in the IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation Journal (the most prestigious journal in the field) and the IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters (Special Issue on Metamaterials). Her groundbreaking research will feature in a major £600,000 major interdisciplinary government grant.
Dapo Oyebanjo (D’Banj)
Profile:
  • Occupation: Musician/Entertainment Entrepreneur
  • Age: 32
D’banj is not just an artiste – he is an idea!  Having broken every single boundary in the Nigerian and African music industry through Mo’Hits Records, he has become a trailblazer for artistes reaching for an international market with his exploits with GOOD music and his newly formed D’banj Records. As he told the UK Observer, “I see what I’m doing now as the bridge that we’ve been looking for from Africa to the mainstream world. I want others to see the potential in my country, other than our oil and natural resources.” He’s on his way to achieving that.
Jason Njoku
Profile:
  • Occupation: Media Entrepreneur
  • Age:  31
Recently named among the 50 Most Influential Africans by The African Report, Njokwu is at the forefront of Nigeria’s digital revolution. With his Iroko TV brand tagged the ‘Netflix of Africa’, he is the world’s largest distributor of African movies. His company raised $8 million in venture capital from Tiger Global Management; a New York based private equity and hedge fund run by billionaire Chase Coleman and has distribution deals with Dailymotion, iTunes, Amazon and Vimeo. His net worth is estimated at a whopping $30 million dollars.
Peter & Paul Okoye (P-Square)
Profile:
  • Occupation: Musician/Entertainment Entrepreneur
  • Age: 31
This inspiring twin brothers have been tagged one of the very best in African music. That success is apparent in their high-profile shows/tours across the continent, their endorsements and the mega-launch of their last album in 2011. Their recent video “Beautiful Onyinye Remix” featuring American rap star Rick Ross continues to be a talking point across the music industry aswell as their official signing with Akon’s Konvict Muzik and also with Universal Music Group. With 25 million views, the Okoyes have the highest number of Youtube Video views for any artiste on the African continent.
Linda Ikeji
Profile:
  • Occupation: Blogger/Media Entrepreneur
  • Age: 31
She is one of the most famous bloggers in Nigeria. There are those who see her as a blogger peddling soft stories, but she has become much more than that, influencing issues, driving conversations and doing good. Linda’s influence can be seen in her spotlighting the #ABSURape, involving a young woman in Abia State; profiling #SaveOke, the young man who almost lost his leg due to complications from diabetes; and taking up the cause of Blessing Effiom. These three issues caught the attention of the nation in the past year and Linda took it more seriously than most.
Idris Akinbajo
Profile:
  • Occupation: Journalist
  • Age: 30
Starting with NEXT Newspapers and now as Head of the Investigative Desk at Premium Times, Idris has worked quietly and stealthily to reveal most of the rot in Nigeria’s politics and economy with exclusive revelations in aviation, campaign finance and more. That work has not gone unnoticed, winning him awards including African Investigative Journalist of the Year, Nigerian Investigative Journalist of the Year, Best Nigerian investigative story in print, and second best Nigerian investigative story (online). He was also a finalist for the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist Awards 2012.
Abdulraheem Temitope  Bello
Profile:
  • Occupation: Scientist
  • Age: 19
Bello has two undergraduate degrees –  in Astronomy and Physics with Special Honours and is already a doctoral student; all before he turned 19. For most of his undergraduate years, he conducted research in a condensed matter physics lab; refurbishing the thermal conductivity probe and fabricating unique thermocouples in order to measure temperature gradient. During his 2+ years of research, he has presented his work at various conferences and has given anoral presentation at the American Physical Society (APS). Presently, he is working on the development of a startup energy utility company GeoUtill. GeoUtill leverages geothermal energy to supply homes with clean, sustainable, and dependable energy. He is currently working on the development of a new type of a low cost solar panel, that may be deployed anywhere in the world without access to an energy grid. And remember he is still only 19.
Finalists and winners of each category will be unveiled at The Future Awards 2012 this weekend, where the Keynote Speaker is one of Africa’s most influential entrepreneurs, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and the Founderof the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony O. Elumelu (MFR). Elumelu was Group Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa Plc.
The Future Awards 2012 is hosted by the Rivers State Government, with support from Access Bank, Diamond Bank, Microsoft, and Notore.


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