Science and Technology Category

SHOLA AKINLADE

Shola was born in Lagos and went to St. Gregory’s College for his secondary education. He proceeded to Babcock University, where he bagged a degree in Computer Science in 2006. After his university education, he worked at Heineken as a Management Trainee, specialising in database management from 2007 and left in 2009.

Shortly after that, he spent the next 5 years working on a software called Precurio, an open source collaboration platform like Dropbox, which was used by over 200,000 organisations. While working on the software, a few banks reached out to him to help them build software, this was when he realised that he could take a stab at figuring out how to make payments easier for businesses in Africa. Shola Akinlade, co-founder and CEO of Paystack, one of such disrupters making a bold move to revive the Nigerian payment system. Paystack is a modern payments platform that allows Nigerian merchants to receive funds from anyone, anywhere in the world.

Equipped with the technical skills to take on the challenge, and together with his co-founder, Ezra, they both started to build the Paystack platform and today, the platform serves over 17,000 businesses, and process over 15% of all online payments in Nigeria. He is the winner of the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Person Award in the Science and Technology Category for 2021

Moral and Environmental Leadership Category

OLALEKAN SIPASI

Olalekan Sipasi is a Nigerian farmer, entrepreneur and community development rooter with a focus onSustainable agriculture practice.

He foundedProtectOzone in 2015 in Nigeria to set in motion citizen awareness in protecting the ozone layer, andtrain indigent children, women, farmers and youths in sustainable agricultural practices to improve their living subsistence.

Prior to setting up ProtectOzone, Sipasi had volunteered and still in the act of volunteering with different NGOs. Notable among them are: Food4All Ghana, Education Concern for Hunger Organization (East and West Africa), ONE in Africa, Voluntary Service Overseas Nigeria, etc

Sipasi worked under the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria on the National Livestock Transformation Plan and National Home-Grown School Feeding Program as an N-Power Agro volunteer.

Sipasi is currently working on United States Consulate sponsored project (Farming for Empowerment & Entrepreneurship Development) where he trains local youths from the rural parts of Lagos on Sustainable Smart urban Agriculture to improve their living conditions.

He is the Country Coordinator of African Youth Employment Initiatives, Nigeria. And also coordinator of National Youth Service Corps, Social Development Goals

Sipasi is a recipient of the following awards:United States Consular General’s Award; The Nigerian-American Partnership award; President Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative Ambassador to Nigeria, 2013; Hidden Eco-hero Award 2015, Samsung Engineering’s Tunza Eco-generation, Seoul, South Korea; Top 10 Go Green in the City Ambassador of the Schneider Electric, 2016; Lion’s Awards, as the most influential participant of Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), West Africa Cohort 3, West Africa Centre for Cooperate Social Responsibility, Africa Youth Award for Agriculture; Civil Society Award for Sustainable Environment, 2017; ONE Champion 2017; Africa LEADGo Green in the city; Social Innovators Program & Award SIPA, LEAP Africa.

Sipasi is currently a PhD student and a Graduate Research Assistant at the department of Horticulture and Natural Resources at Kansas State University.

He is the winner of the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Person Award in the Moral and environmental leadership Category for 2021

Medical Innovation Category

OLIVIA ONYEMAOBI

Olivia Onyemaobi is a social entrepreneur and health advocate with focus on girls/women’s reproductive/sexual health. She is the founder of 3 different companies, including Pad-Up Creations Limited, a social company in Nigeria that produces Nigeria’s first certified reusable sanitary pads as sustainable solution for rural and low income girls/women in Africa. With over 2.5million distributed through over 15,000 women sales agents, her company currently employs 123 permanent staff with products distribution across 16 African countries. Her products won the 2021 African quality achievement award for reusable pads.

She studied business and entrepreneurship at University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA. She also has an M.Sc. in Business Administration and currently a Ph.D. student in business administration at Texila American University, Guyana. She was a 2016 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur, 2016 Woman of the year by Radiant health Magazine, 2018 British council “grow it” grant awardee, 2018 Global pitch crowd vote winner, 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow, 2018 most impactful entrepreneur of the year by Tony Elumelu foundation, 2019 Act foundation change innovator, 2019 Oxfam work-in – progress recipient, 2019 entrepreneur of the year by Feeni, 2021 Acumen fellow, 2021 Oxfam green impact grant awardee, 2021 Next Health Accelerator grant awardee, 2021 Challenge for youth employment awardee.

Her circularity business model has been used thrice as case study by Enterprise development center at the Pan Atlantic university and Oxfam Novib in Netherland. She has been a speaker at the Oxfam Novib on circularity business model and the World bank on youth innovating for youth. She has severally served as national and international consultant for many international organizations, including the United Nations populations funds.

She is happily married with 3 children Michael, Michelle and Melvin.  She is committed to seeing that lack of sanitary pads does not stop girls’ education or end women’s economic involvement, irrespective of her economic class or location.

Political / Legal / Government Category

HAMZAT LAWAL

Hamzat Lawal is an activist who has successfully led grassroots campaigns in over 40 African countries with over 15 years experience in the non-profit sector. He specializes in practical issues associated with Climate Change, Open Data, advocacy campaigns and development policies as it affects rural and deprived grassroots communities.

He is also the Founder of Follow The Money, a Pan-African grassroots data-driven movement and leads a team of technology and innovation-driven campaigners to amplify the voices of marginalized grassroots communities in promoting accountability as it affects utilization of public funds focusing on specific communities across Africa. His Follow The Money initiative emerged winner of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Mobilizer 2019 Award. This announcement was made at the SDG Global Festival of Action which was held in Bonn, Germany.

He is currently the Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE),  under his leadership in 2017, CODE won the ONE Africa Award which recognizes, rewards, and advances the exceptional work of Africa based organisations; dedicated to helping the continent achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Also, CODE won The Council of Europe Democracy Innovation Award which recognizes Follow The Money as one of the leading ground- breaking initiatives in the world that are promoting democratic principles. Hamzat was honored and recognized on the 2018 list of the world’s 100 most influential people in digital government by Apolitical, a global network for government, helping public servants find the ideas, people and partners they need to solve the hardest challenges facing our societies.

Academic Leadership Category

DR. ALEXANDER EZENAGU

Dr. Alexander Ezenagu is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Law at HBKU.

He obtained his Ph.D. in international tax law from McGill University, Canada.

He is also a graduate of the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, where he obtained an LL.M. in commercial law.

He holds an LL.B. degree where he graduated with First Class from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and has been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, graduating also with a First Class degree.

Dr. Ezenagu supports countries in developing effective fiscal regimes and has worked with governments to introduce fiscal reforms. He is currently designing a course, Developmental Governance, which looks at the influences on the developmental models adopted by developing countries. Dr. Ezenagu has published in academic journals and other globally recognized platforms. He has been quoted in the Financial Times, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ Paradise Papers, Tax Notes International, International Tax Review, Quartz and other media outlets.

He is also a consultant to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CODA)- an African Union Commission body, TaxCoop Canada, among other international organizations.” He was recently appointed by the United Nations as a member of its Knowledge Network for Africa, and is a member of the International Tax Law Committee of the International Law Association (ILA).

Cultural Achievement Category

GREENE MARYAM

Greene Maryam Popularly known as Taaooma is well known on the internet as a comedian, content creator, writer, cinematographer, lifestyle & travel Enthusiast and an entrepreneur.

She graduated from Kwara State University with a B.SC in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management. She takes great pride in her ability to capture the Nigerian experience into fun comic and relatable experiences for all and has built a strong, loyal and encouraging audience that loves her content and are constantly craving new updates on her content and lifestyle.

Because of her love for food, she started her own food business called CHOP TAO which specialty is finger foods amongst others. Taaooma as won several awards and been nominated for so many, She won Best online comedian of the year, Online comic act of the year, Best online entertainer etc.

Business, Economic or Entrepreneural Accomplishment Category

DR ADERENI ABIODUN

Dr Adereni Abiodun is a young social entreprenuer who is committed to improving maternal and infant health in Nigeria.

He is the founder and CEO of HelpMum – www.helpmum.org , A social enterprise that uses the power of mobile technology and low cost innovations to ensure safe and healthy deliveries for African women in rural remote and semi-urban areas.

He is also the Founder of MumHealth- www.mumhealth.com.ng (Amazon for Mums), An Ecommerce Platform for pregnant women and new mums.

Dr Abiodun Adereni is a Google Impact Challenge Winner (250,000 dollars), Google AI for Social Goods Grantee, International Youth Foundation Grantee, Waislitz Global Citizen Covid-19 Response Awardee and Grantee, Facebook Community Accelerator Winner and Fellow, ACT Foundation Grantee, Summit Series USA Fellow, Go Global Uk Fellow, United Nations Geneva Youth Pitching competition (Startup Edition) Winner , World Connect USA Grantee, Leap Africa Outstanding Fellow, The Pollination Project Grantee, Dprize Global Ambassador , Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme Fellow, Advancing Healthcare innovation in Africa Fellow 2018, Regional finalist for Idea4Africa competition, A project sponsored by world bank and Wharton Business School, Winner- Innovate4life Hackathon powered by Amref Health Africa Kenya , Two times Western Union Chains of Better Awardee, Singularity West Africa Finalist, Youwin Semi-finalist, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship Semi- finalist and Diamond Bank BET 7 Top 50 entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

Dr Abiodun Adereni has a Certificate in Entrepreneurship Management from Enterprise Development Centre, Lagos. His vision for the continent is to see an Africa where committed leaders will help drive societal changes & sustainable economic growth & identify lasting solutions to poor health care and other endemic challenges through innovation and tech.

He is the winner of the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Person Award in the Business, Economic or Entrepreneural accomplishment Category for 2021

Personal Improvement and Accomplishment Category

ASISAT LAMINA OSHOALA

Asisat Lamina Oshoala started playing football in Mushin in total defiance to her parents. She stood her ground and pursued a career in football. Considering her achievements so far in the round leather game, it’s safe to say that the parents who refused to let Asisat play soccer, would now be proud a parents of a football star. Asisat had her primary school education at Air Force Primary School in Victoria Island before she moved to Aunty Ayo International School in Ikoyi {Also in Lagos} for her secondary school education, and graduated in 2009. But right after her Secondary school education, she started her career at Nigerian Lower Division side FC Robo, she was there from 2009 to 2013 before moving to Rivers Angels. At Rivers Angels, Asisat broke into limelight when she represented Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

She emerged as the top scorer with seven goals and was named the Player of the Tournament. Her performance helped Nigeria to finish the tournament as the runner-up. And in 2019, after a wonderful spell in China, Spanish club FC Barcelona Femení signed Oshoala on a loan deal until the end of the season. She scored her first league goal against Rayo and weeks later scored in the attendance record-breaking match against Atletico Femeni at the Wanda Metropolitano. She scored Barcelona’s only goal in a 4–1 defeat to Lyon in 2019, becoming both the first-ever Barcelona Femení player and African player to ever score in a UEFA Women’s Champions League Final, apart from being the first Nigerian to score in any UEFA Champions League final, men’s or women’s.

The Camp Nou side announced later in 2019 that Oshoala has signed the dotted lines for full transfer to the club and extension until 2022. So far, Asisat has done pretty well for herself and family both at her club side and the National team. With the support of the Lagos state government she set up the Asisat Oshoala FoundatioN to help youngsters seek after their football dream and give them the necessary chance she never had.

In 2019, Barcelona and Asisat Oshoala signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the official licensee of Barça’s Academy in Lagos, Nigeria. She facilitated the Football4girls competition in Lagos in December with the intention of bringing aspiring female players to limelight Asisat is the winner of the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Person Award in the Personal Improvement and accomplishment Category for 2021

Humanitarian and Voluntary Leadership Category

OMOTOLA FAWUNMI

Omotola Fawunmi is a Breakthrough learning facilitator with multiple channels of expression. A lifelong learner and inspiring leader committed to raise, inspire and strengthen others to fearlessly achieve their dreams and make meaningful contributions to the economic and social prosperity of Africa. A graduate of History and International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-Ife, she holds a certificate in Entrepreneurial Management from Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, Ethical Human and Social Behavioral Research Investigation from MIT, Entrepreneurship Innovation and Social Change from UN Mandated University for Peace (UPEACE), Costa Rica.

 In 2018 she qualified as a Microsoft Certified Innovative Educator Trainer. A John Maxwell Certified Leadership Trainer. She has gained experience working with UNDP, DMT Mobile Toilets, VIP Consulting (Associate Consultant) Glomobile, The John Maxwell Company Nigeria/Africa, SEEFAR, Hongkong, Positive Growth Africa, MIT GOV/LAB), Project STRETCH, Urban Promise International. She is an International development consultant working at the intersection of public, private, academic, and social sectors to accelerate profit for Africa and Africans. She serves as a Youth Representative of the Human Capital Development Policy Commission, and the Government and Institutions Policy Commission of the NESG.

Her nonprofit organization STRETCHCenter, serves youth, women, and girls in low-income communities connecting them to opportunities, resources, and leadership development pathways for economic and social prosperity. It provides a community resource center. Omotola works to end modern slavery through The RebirthHub . It Rescues, Returns, Rehabilitates and Reintegrates, victims of modern slavery across Africa from the Middle East. Since 2019 the organisation has safely returned 451 ladies from Lebanon, Oman, Cote d’Ivoire, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Iraq, Gambia, Kenya. Successfully collaborated with various organizations including the Ooni of Ife, Queen Moremi Ajasoro Foundation, Make Me Elegant Foundation, Entrepreneurial Empowerment Initiatives, IOM, HealthyMinds Foundation amongst others to Rehabilitate and Reintegrate Victims She leads, Community Intercessors for Africa, where they pray for the expansion of God’s Kingdom Agenda and prosperity in Africa.

 In 2020 She was nominated a Crans Montana Forum New Leader for Tomorrow in Morocco. In 2020, she was inducted as a Board Member, 6th Region Global Chamber of Commerce, Florida where she serves as the International Liason and Envoy of the Chamber. A member of the Business Process Management Institute Nigeria, she believes in the ability of businesses to scale by building their systems and structures for growth. She is currently a graduate student of Organizational Leadership at the Center for Business Leadership, Eastern University Pennsylvania.

She is a member of Ladies Breaking Boundaries in Nigeria, Wilmington Trust Toastmasters, Wilmington Delaware, JCI Wilmington Delaware and invests time and resources connecting people to opportunities. Omotola serves on the Delaware African Caribbean Commission in Delaware and works to build Community and memberships for the commission. He is the winner of the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Person Award in the Humanitarian and Voluntary leadership Category for 2021

Contribution to Children, World Peace & Human Right Category

GIDEON OLANREWAJU

Gideon Olanrewaju is an Educational Development Practitioner and EdTech Policy researcher renowned for championing impact-focused interventions equitable educational opportunities and sustainable learning outcomes for millions of disadvantaged Nigerian children, through innovation, collaboration and technology.

Gideon currently serves as the Chief Executive Director of Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAi) (www.areai4africa.org ), a non-profit organization he founded in 2014 which has grown across the nation, impacting over 25,047 beneficiaries across 42 schools in 33 communities across 15 states through quality alternative formal and non-formal educational programs focused on literacy skills development, girls’ education, teacher quality and digital equity.

During the COVID19 pandemic, Gideon led the development of Nigeria’s first SMS-based learning solution- DigiLearns, enabling over 50,000 marginalized Nigerian children to access instantly delivered and contextually relevant educational content via SMS and USSD on basic feature phones, which also facilitating continuous formative assessment and gamified learning.

The intervention attracted over 15,000 USD investments from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, One Young World, and the Queens Commonwealth Trust and was recently named one of African Union Top 50 Education Innovations for 2020. Under Gideon’s leadership, AREAi was recently awarded over 180,000 pounds by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office under its Digital Access Program to implement the Education Digital Equity Initiative, an information-based project that supported 9028 students, teachers, school administrators and education stakeholders from 24 rural Nigerian primary and secondary schools across Kano, Adamawa, Kwara, Ekiti, Bayelsa and Ebonyi states with online resources to enable them to leverage low-cost technological tools and digital learning opportunities for educational access, provision and delivery in remote communities and other low-connectivity contexts. 

Gideon’s contributions to the advancement of children’s right to education and proven impact record in global youth advocacy has been deservingly recognised. At 28, Gideon is a 2019 One Young World Ambassador, 2019 Deloitte Scholar, 2019 Crans Montana New Leader of Tomorrow, 2018 UNESCO Young Leader in Africa, a Teaching Fellow/Certified Entrepreneurial Leadership Educator at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa, and A Global Youth Ambassador with the Global A World at School International Campaign on Education. He is also a 2017 recipient of the United Kingdom Chevening Scholarship Award, a 2018 nominee of the Future Award Africa Award Prize for Education, a 2019 nominee of SMS 100 25 under 25 Award, Education Category, a 2019 and 2020 recipient of 100 most Influential Young Nigerians Award, a 2019 recipient of Zenith Bank Heroes of our Time Award and a 2020 recipient of the Ooni of Ife’s Royal African Youth Leadership Awards.

Gideon holds a Bachelors in Biochemistry from Ladoke Akintola University Ogbomoso Nigeria. He also holds a Masters of Art (MA) degree in International Education and Development from the Center of International Education (CIE), University of Sussex, United Kingdom and Certificate in Entrepreneurial Leadership and Non-profit Management from African Leadership Academy, South Africa and Lagos Business School respectively.