2023 Top 30 Nominees

Alamu Azeez

Alamu Azeez is a social entrepreneur and volunteer with over 7 years of experience in community development, public life, education, and communication. He began his academic journey as the best pupil in his primary school, earning him a tuition-free and feeding-covered scholarship for three consecutive sessions. Azeez went on to earn a National Diploma Certificate in Public Administration in 2017, emerging as the best student in his department at The Polytechnic, Ibadan. He continued his education at the University of Ilorin, where he became the first student in over 40 years to graduate with a first-class grade from the Department of Political Science.

Azeez is passionate about using academic research to address public issues, and he volunteers as a Research Assistant with Brain Builders Youth Development Initiatives (BBYDI). He is also a renowned educational consultant who has helped hundreds of students gain admission to their tertiary institution of choice through academic tutelage, guidance, and mentorship. He founded Community Development Initiatives (CDI), a social organization that retraces the lost value system in teenagers and youths to enhance academic career development and caution deviant behaviors.

Azeez has held several leadership positions in different student and development organizations, including JCI Nigeria Collegiate and DSA, among others. He is currently a Senior Editor with Team Plato Reports and has led the production of different magazines as editor-in-chief. He is also a lead tutor at the Department of Political Science and Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ilorin, where he consistently tutors students in courses related to political science, administrative management, and public policy.

Alamu Azeez’s achievements have been recognized by several media outlets, including Tribune Newspaper and Legit.NG. He is known as “Mr. Nigeria” due to his patriotic attachment to his country. Azeez is a man of great virtues and excellence, and he is trustworthy, honest, and passionate about making a positive impact on his community and beyond.

Roseline Adewuyi

Roseline Adewuyi is a Nigerian scholar and academic who has made significant achievements in French literature with a focus on feminist theory. She has consistently been committed to academic excellence since her childhood and holds a first-class honors Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in French language from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife and a Master’s of Arts degree in French language with distinction from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Currently, she is a PhD student in French literature with a graduate concentration in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Purdue University in the USA.

Throughout her academic career, Roseline has won several awards, including the Outstanding Graduate Student Impact Award and the Student of the Year Award, among others. She has also been recognized for her active engagement in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme, where she was awarded for her contributions to education and as an ambassador of academic excellence. Roseline has a passion for advocating gender equality and served as a translator and interpreter with the African Union from 2019 to 2020.

Apart from being a full-time student, Roseline is also a graduate student supervisor and has contributed significantly to her university. Her patriotism and active nation-building efforts have been commendable, and she has been recognized for her leadership and voluntary services, including various literary competitions and seminars across secondary schools in Kwara state. Roseline personifies the Sustainable Development Goals, especially on education and gender equality. Detailed proofs of her stellar academic records can be found on her LinkedIn profile.

Brenda Okorogba

Brenda Okorogba is a dedicated and passionate advocate for equitable education, economic dignity, gender equity, and social inclusion, committed to promoting holistic development, educational equity, collective prosperity, and an emotionally agile community. As the Founder of Momentswithbren Consulting, she has expertise in training and development, community building, nonprofit program development and delivery, grantsmanship, service and learning experience design, college and career success coaching, and positive psychology. She has provided college and career readiness coaching to diverse students across the world, and individuals who have benefited from her services have recorded academic and career success rates by 98%, launched profitable businesses, and transitioned into new careers in the past five years.

Brenda has trained 16K+ professionals and students from 30+ countries across 5 continents on college readiness, vocational and personal development, mental health, business strategy, and leadership. She offers grantsmanship services to startups, SMEs, and NGOs who have successfully secured funding worth over $40 million in grants, research awards, and investor funds. Brenda has also designed critical power skills training materials, job-creation workshops, job aids, personal development kits, Train the Trainer sessions, instructor guides, and end-user presentation solutions with multiple development tools in a 6-year period.

Brenda’s dedication and work have earned her recognition as a finalist for the JCI Nigeria TOYP award. She is a committed educator and advocate who is passionate about creating and delivering effective learning experiences that promote access to inclusive education and job opportunities. Brenda believes in equipping people with the tools required to develop innovative solutions to the world’s greatest problems.

Ayo-Bankole Akintujoye

Ayo-Bankole Akintujoye is a leading strategy and transformation professional with over 14 years of experience. He has held leadership roles as the Head of Strategy Groups in the capital markets, insurance, and oil & gas industries, and has worked for KPMG, PwC, Phillips Consulting, and C2G Consulting, leading strategy projects across sub-Saharan Africa. Ayo has advised over 130 companies, governments, and development institutions, including the AfDB, World Bank, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Bristow Group, Actis, Axa, and many other large and SME organizations with a transaction value of over $120 million. He has also provided advice on strategy and execution, change management, process improvement, due diligence, and mergers and acquisitions.

Ayo is also a serial entrepreneur and founder, as well as an advocate for good governance and the growth of MSMEs. He founded the Caladium Lagos SME Bootcamp, a non-profit platform that has helped enhance the business management skills of MSMEs and contributed to SDG8. He has directly supported over 6,000 SMEs and by extension over 22,000 employees of the SMEs via the Bootcamp and through Caladium Consulting, a firm he founded to provide MSMEs with access to first-class professional services. Ayo also leads the team at FedhaGap, a company that leverages technology tools to provide solutions to the challenges MSMEs face with working capital adequacy and inventory turnover.

Ayo is a thought leader in strategy, economy, MSMEs, governance, and responsible citizenship. He has a certificate in disruptive strategy from Harvard Business School and a master’s degree in political science. His thoughts are regularly featured on global and local media, including BBC, Al-Jazeera, DW Germany, South African Business Radio, Spice FM Kenya, Channels, Arise TV, AIT, Punch Newspapers, and more. Ayo has received and been nominated for numerous awards, including the BusinessDay Newspapers Awards for Top 100 SMEs and SME Enablers 2023, Hajia Gambo Sawaba Award for Community Action 2022, The Ooni of Ife Royal Youth Fellowship Awards, 2020; and The National Quality Order of Merit Awards, 2023.

Ayo mentors over 60 youths in 9 African countries, USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He can be reached via @AyoBankole on Twitter or @AyoBankolee on Instagram, as well as through @LagosSMEbootcamp or Caladium Lagos SME Bootcamp on all social media platforms.

Femi Bakre

Femi Bakre is an accomplished engineer, entrepreneur, content creator, and the CEO of Kraks Media, a digital marketing agency renowned in Nigeria. With over eight years of experience in startup leadership and content creation, Femi is an expert in IT, digital marketing, branding, and content creation. His entrepreneurial journey began in 2014 when he co-founded KraksTV, a viral content aggregator, with just a smartphone and a dream. Within three years, it had grown into a multi-million Naira digital business, with bespoke content tailored to target markets and online communities. Femi’s hard work, dedication, creativity, and exemplary leadership resulted in his winning the Future Awards Africa Prize for New Media in 2017.

Under Femi’s leadership, Kraks Media has expanded its service offerings and clientele, becoming a top choice for top brands and SMEs seeking content creation, digital marketing, and branding services. The company has diversified its business by establishing subsidiaries focused on events, video production, eSports, and talent management. Femi’s impact in the Nigerian entertainment space is noteworthy, as he has used KraksTV to support and promote upcoming talent in the industry, with many of these talents gaining national recognition and fame through Kraks online platforms.

Femi is committed to philanthropy, partnering with numerous charitable organisations such as Aurora International Charity Foundation, Dabma Sickle Cell Foundation, and Lend A Hand of Hope. Kraks Media is not only a proud employer of labor but also a compliant company with all federal and state tax authorities. The company’s relaxed work culture, growth prospects, and emphasis on talent have made it a top choice amongst young Nigerian creatives.

Femi’s entrepreneurial journey, leadership, innovation, and impact in the media and entertainment space make him a deserving recipient of the award. You can find Kraks Media online through their various platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and the Kraks Media website. Femi has also been featured in various media outlets such as The Future Awards Africa, YNaija, Punch, Techpoint Africa, and Pulse.ng.

Freda Anyanwu

Freda Anyanwu is an advocate for human capital and economic development in Africa through entrepreneurship. With a strong commitment to youth development and economic growth through enterprise development and entrepreneurship education, she founded EBH Africa, a tech-enabled social enterprise that focuses on entrepreneurship education and development in Africa. EBH Africa provides entrepreneurs with access to resources and opportunities for growth, such as capacity building, community, business support, and funding. In just three years, the organization has impacted over 2,000 entrepreneurs from ten countries globally.

In 2021, Freda led the Entrepreneurship Development unit to drive economic growth in the state by providing support to over 20,000 small businesses through various initiatives and programs such as the EdoJobs Business Community, Transforming Nigerian Youth Program with Enterprise Development Centre and MasterCard Foundation, Edo Online Marketplace, and more.

Freda’s impressive credentials include a certification in Business and Entrepreneurship from Clark Atlanta University, a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Education from Benson Idahosa University, and a program license on Negotiation from Harvard Law School. She is also a 2022 Mandela Washington Fellow and a global speaker on issues relating to youth development, entrepreneurship, and economic development in Africa. She has spoken on various platforms, including TEDx and the Africa Business Convention.

Freda has received numerous awards, including the Superwoman 30 under 30 award for entrepreneurship, 2020 Young Entrepreneur of the year by The Entrepreneur Africa Awards, Entrepreneurship award by the Ladies of Honour Organization, Young Event Professional of the year 2021 by the BusyBee Excellence Award, award nomination for the 25 under 25 awards by SME100 Africa in 2019, and Nigeria’s 30 under 30 influential young people by ANALAWGY Magazine. She has also been featured in various platforms, including Business Day, Vanguard, Independent Newspaper, among others, as one of Nigeria’s enterprising young people.

With her expertise and dedication, Freda Anyanwu is making a significant impact in the field of entrepreneurship and youth development in Africa.

Blessing Okojie Eze

Blessing Okojie Eze is a renowned human rights activist, children’s advocate, and conflict resolution specialist. She is the founder of Women of Inestimable Values Foundation, a registered NGO that is dedicated to fighting against gender inequality, injustice, and abuse of human rights. Blessing holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Ibadan and a Master’s degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. She is also a fellow at the Organisation of Economists and Business Analysts of Nigeria and the Institute of Managerial Economists of Nigeria.

Blessing is a well-known author of two best-selling books, “Curbing Domestic Violence in Africa” and “Living Above Poverty.” Her impact has been felt in many spheres, and she has been recognized with numerous awards. She was nominated as one of the women making an impact in Africa by We for Good Organisation in 2022 and was selected as a reader for the Mandela Washington Fellowship, organized by the US government.

Blessing’s passion for fighting against human rights abuse has been the driving force behind her foundation, Women of Inestimable Values. She has consistently volunteered her time, money, and professionalism, providing succor for children, teenagers, and youths in low-income and underserved communities. Through her foundation, she provides free legal services for victims of abuse, empowerment through skill development, and shelter for street children.

Blessing’s advocacy and defense of human rights, especially the rights of children and the abused in the society, has yielded positive results. Beyond providing free legal services, she creates community awareness about child abuse and educates people about their fundamental human rights through various platforms, including local and international newspapers and television talk shows.

Blessing is a voice for the voiceless, always ready to fight for victims of human rights abuse. Her unwavering dedication and hard work have earned her the recognition and admiration of many. She is indeed a true inspiration to young people everywhere.

Noel Ifeanyi Alumona

Noel Ifeanyi Alumona is the founder and director of Boys Champions, a Nigerian-based social development organization that aims to provide social alternatives to violence for young people in Nigeria through sports, education, and mentorship programs. Alumona is a master’s student studying special education at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. He has been nominated in the Contribution to Children, World Peace and/or Human Rights category for the JCI Nigeria TOYP award.

Boys Champions has been internationally and locally recognized for their work in ending violence against women and girls in Nigeria by educating and empowering young boys and men, who are often the perpetrators and victims of gender-based violence, to be part of the process of ending violence against women and girls in schools and communities. Alumona’s personal experience of watching his mother being raped to death by a gang of young men at the age of 9 inspired him to do this work.

Alumona has a background in leading teams, managing people, and creating experiences that change how the world views social-emotional learning. He is a Graduate Research Assistant to the Chair of the Department at Peabody College, where he initiated and spearheaded the research on academic interventions for young children/students and youths with emotional/behavioral disorders, leading to the advancement of trauma-informed schools in Nashville’s (MNPS) public schools.

As the Program Director and Founder of Boys Champions and Hope for African Children, Alumona has demonstrated his ability to lead and manage successful and impactful programs for non-profits that have advanced world peace, child development, and human rights. His mentorship program at Boys Champions has impacted more than 10,000 young boys as change agents, who now respect and protect women more and are taking action to end gender-based violence in their communities in Nigeria.

Alumona is also the Convener of Shaping the Future Conference in Nigeria, where he designs the programs, corporate narratives, communications, and strategies that give high visibility to the program. The conference has become an internationally-standard conference hosted in Nigeria, attracting speakers and delegates from across the world. At Shaping the Future, Alumona led the community organizing team, rallying more than 300 young people and community leaders to take action and hold their representatives in government accountable.

Ikechukwu Okolo

Ikechukwu Okolo is the founder and executive director of Milecent Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to sensitizing teenagers and children on teenage pregnancy in schools, churches, mosques, and social gatherings. Through his efforts, over 13,631 children and teens have been sensitized since 2018.

Okolo’s dedication to children has won his organization a partnership with J.HOLZER & A.JASPER FOUNDATION, a Germany-based organization, to construct a primary school for autistic and less privileged children in Ngwogwo Nike, Enugu state. The Milecent Foundation school for autism and less privileged (MISALEP) aims to provide free education to children in the Ngwogwo Nike community and other villages.

Okolo is a social change maker, a problem solver, and a teen coach. His commitment to making a difference has earned him both local and international fellowships and awards. Some of his notable awards, fellowships, and honors include the Carrington Fellowship 2022/2023, MIDES Charitable Trust Fund UK winner 2020, BUDGIT Foundation Sub grantee 2021, Global Changemakers Fellowship 2022/2023, Nigeria’s Active Citizenship Award 2021, African Changemakers Fellowship 2022, Yunus & Youth Global Fellow 2021/2022 class, Savvy Fellow 2021, Active Citizenship Fellow 2021, and Capital Fellowship semi-finalist.

In addition to his philanthropic efforts, Okolo is also an author. He wrote “A Thousand Reflection,” which was published in 2020. Okolo’s article “Teenage Pregnancy: An Epidemic” was published in the 2018 issue of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice’s SecurityFirst magazine.

Okolo has been invited to several radio and television stations as well as talk shows to discuss health-related issues and the effects of teenage pregnancy in Nigeria. Links to his works and ongoing construction of the primary school can be found on the Milecent Foundation website and Facebook page.

Abdullahi Otaki

Abdullahi Otaki is an accomplished Nigerian entrepreneur and social media influencer who has been recognized for his contributions to promoting Nigerian culture and unity. He is the founder and CEO of Arewa Twitter, an online community that connects people from Northern Nigeria, promotes Nigerian culture and values, and advocates for positive social and political change. With Arewa Twitter, Abdullahi Otaki has been able to raise awareness and drive conversations around issues affecting the Northern region of Nigeria, promoting cultural diversity and encouraging youth involvement in community development.

In addition to his work with Arewa Twitter, Abdullahi Otaki is also the founder and CEO of Vinsighte Limited, a technology and digital marketing company that provides website development, search engine optimization, social media marketing, and other related services to clients. He has been named one of the “50 Most Influential Northern Nigerians” by Daily Trust newspaper and received recognition as a “Young Nigerian Leader” by the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria.

Abdullahi Otaki has received numerous nominations and awards for his work, including being nominated for the FORCES of Twitter Trendupp award sponsored by Pepsi in 2021 and currently nominated for the JCI Nigeria TOYP award in the category of Cultural Achievement. He has been featured in various media outlets, including the BBC, Al Jazeera, and The Guardian. Abdullahi Otaki’s dedication to promoting Nigerian culture and unity has made him an inspiration to many, and his work with Arewa Twitter continues to make a significant impact in Nigeria and beyond.

Eden Benibo

Eden Benibo is a Nigerian writer, cultural influencer, digital journalist, and content strategist with a passion for positively influencing a new generation of creatives who combine their art with a heart for impact. Eden believes in impacting local communities for global change, and thanks to the digital world, she has been able to reach even nations she has never been to.

As the founder and Editorial Director of Hello ICON Magazine, Eden leads a team of 30 African creatives and uses art as a tool to correct faulty orientations, harness human capital for socio-economic development, and create global connections beyond racial, gender, age, and ideological differences. She has secured both digital marketing partners and a founding partner from the USA.

Eden has over 15 awards and nominations across local and international platforms for her outstanding works, including her time as an Author at She Leads Africa where she reached over 20,000 female entrepreneurs from West, East, Central, and North Africa, helping them create a more balanced life managing family, business, and career.

She is also the first RoundTable Global Youth/Change Ambassador in Nigeria, leading the Nigeria team, organizing various workshops for secondary school students, and serving as a judge for four consecutive years at the RoundTable Global Youth Awards. Eden served as a mentor at ‘For Creative Girls,’ a social enterprise championing creative women via mentorship, community, and contents, and worked with Etu Odi Communications as a research writer on a Mental Health Campaign that reached over 1000 youths in the Creative Industry and beyond.

In 2022, Eden served as a judge at the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, a reader at the Mandela Washington Fellowship, and a session host, leading a panel at the AfricaNXT 2022 and 2023. She will be speaking at the World Literacy Summit, University of Oxford, in April 2023. Eden’s work is geared towards real-time impact, and she continues to inspire and influence young creatives with her mantra of raising better people to create a better world.

Bakare Mubarak

Bakare Mubarak is a towering figure in the fashion industry, both figuratively and literally. At 6ft 9in (2.06m), he is the tallest model in Sub-Saharan Africa, and one of the most recognizable faces in the Nigerian modeling scene. Beyond modeling, Bakare is also an actor, influencer, entrepreneur, and beauty pageant titleholder. He was crowned Mr. Kwara International in 2015/2016, and has since used his unique status to promote African culture and art while incorporating humanitarianism, tourism, lifestyle, and fashion.

Bakare’s career has taken him across the world, working with renowned brands such as Fashion TV, MTN, African Fashion Week London and Nigeria, Sustainable Fashion Week New York, and Femi Aina New York, among others. He was appointed as the 6th Region Global Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of Business Liason and Education/Culture Worldwide, leveraging his position to promote African culture and art on a global scale.

Bakare is also an articulate public speaker and has spoken at various youth engagement platforms and symposiums, including the Africa NXT, where he spoke about “Telling the Africa Travel Story” and reshaping narratives. He was recently appointed the Goodwill Ambassador to the World Fashion Exhibition (Africa is Now) in Los Angeles in June 2022 and Paris in October 2022. Bakare was also appointed a member of the International Preparatory Committee for the World Fashion Week Macau China 2024.

Bakare’s impact extends beyond the modeling and fashion industry, as he was invited as a special guest by the USA Consulate to a reception in honor of the participants of the International Visitor Leadership Program on Promoting Economic Growth & Trade in the Fashion Industry. He was also invited to the Italian Consulate for the Art in Climate Change Global Exhibition and the launch of the first Virtual Gallery.

Bakare Mubarak is a trailblazer and a cultural ambassador who uses his height to elevate the African culture and art on the world stage. His impact on the youth and populace at large is immeasurable, and his work continues to inspire and motivate the next generation of African creatives.

AFOLAYAN Taiwo Ibrahim

AFOLAYAN Taiwo Ibrahim, also known as ATI, is a renowned award-winning Art & IT Consultant, Humanitarian, and Senior Analytics Delivery Specialist for Ernst & Young – Nigeria. Taiwo is the Co-Founder of Argitech Limited and the Editor-in-Chief of The Fashionistar Africa, with a focus on achieving SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). He is of Igbomina-Yoruba descent and hails from Irepodun Local Government in Kwara State, Nigeria.

Taiwo has received training from various prestigious institutions, including Huawei University, Quantic School of Business and Technology, Scholars International Institute of Technology, and Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency. He is a member of the African Data Engineering and Science Association (ADESA), the Data Science Network (DSN), and a Certified Management Consultant.

Taiwo is a member of several organizations such as Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network, Global Goodwill Ambassador, YouthLead, Internet Society, Amnesty International, United African Organization for Literacy Development, African Youth Union Commission, African CleanUp Initiative, Small Business Network of Nigeria, Lagos State Volunteer Corp, Global Entrepreneurship Network, World Youth Forum, World Business Angels Investment Forum, YALI Alumni of the US Department of State, and Young Business Leaders of Nigeria.

Taiwo’s humanitarian work has been extensive. He has volunteered for organizations such as United Nations Volunteers, ROTA Volunteers, and Junior Chamber International (JCI) where he contributes his quota to national growth and global development. He is the Founder of Volunteers Edge, initiated Skills4Youth towards achieving United Nations Global Goals on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 4 (Quality Education) in Nigeria and beyond. Taiwo has trained over 500 youths on Digital Marketing for Personal Branding and tutored over 400 pupils on Information Communication Technology (ICT) at Itolo Girls’ Secondary School, Surulere, Lagos-Nigeria. He also trained over 50 youths in graphic design as the Lead Instructor at Argitech Academy, to support entrepreneurship in the Surulere community (Orile-Iganmu, Coker, and Aguda) of Lagos, Nigeria.

Taiwo has received several awards and nominations for his exemplary work, including the 2019 The Entrepreneur Africa Awards Prize for Youth Empowerment in Lagos, Nigeria, and the 2021 Humanitarian Awards Global for Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year in Accra, Ghana. Taiwo enjoys focusing on the topics of entrepreneurship, self-development, and has a strong passion for youth empowerment.

Uche Kenneth Udekwe

Uche Kenneth Udekwe is a Social Entrepreneur, CEO/Founder of NATAL CARES, and an SDG Advocate with a passion for Public health and ICT4D. He has a Master’s Degree in ICT4-DEVELOPMENT and is a Lagos Business School (EDC) Fellow, YALI Fellow, Tony Elumelu Foundation Fellow, Ashoka CHANGEMAKERS Fellow, GRATITDE Network Fellow, ONE Champion Fellow, Donors for Africa Fellow, World Merit Fellow, FATE Foundation Fellow, and LEAP AFRICA Fellow. He is also a Certified Classical Pianist and an accomplished Trombonist in The Apostolic Faith Choir and Orchestra since 2005.

In 2016, Uche lost his sister-in-law/Childhood friend (Dorcas Edeani) due to complications during childbirth, which drove him to create Natal Cares. Natal Cares is a social enterprise that leverages Mobile Technology, Machine Learning, and Low-Cost Innovation to combat maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria. It provides life-saving healthcare information, mental and emotional healthcare support, medical monitoring, and emergency services to at-risk pregnant women, vulnerable children, and nursing mothers. Natal Cares’ solutions have so far reached more than 85,000 Pregnant Women and Nursing Mothers and helped to prevent maternal and child deaths in more than 78 rural communities in Nigeria.

Uche’s work in combating maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria through Natal Cares has received national and international recognition. He has been awarded the Future Awards Africa on Health Advocacy, The YALI Leadership Award in Health and Well-Being, The Africa 35.35 Award, The ACT FOUNDATION ChangeMakers Innovation Award, and The United Nations World Summit Award (WSA). In 2021, he was awarded The Active Citizen Award (Health Category) and The 2022 Goshen Impact Award.

Tobi Martha Akinjayeju

Tobi Martha Akinjayeju is a social entrepreneur and advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Her passion for social impact and volunteering began in 2018 when she witnessed several young girls in her community dropping out of school due to teenage pregnancies. This sparked her interest in social change advocacy, particularly for UNSDGs Goals 4 and 5. Since then, she has volunteered with several organizations, including ENACTUS AAUA, SID Initiative, LYDA Foundation, and Girl Up Nigeria, and has implemented community-based projects that have positively impacted at least 16,360 people.

As a project management officer, Tobi has gained invaluable knowledge and skills in creativity, problem-solving, and brainstorming project ideas. Her role involves delving deep into communities, researching the issues affecting them, and devising project ideas to tackle those problems. Her passion has been to use her skills and experiences alongside NGOs and CSOs to implement impactful projects that make a difference in people’s lives and in her community.

Tobi’s notable accomplishments include leading a project that empowered 100 women with entrepreneurial skills and provided mini loans to purchase sewing machines, indirectly benefiting 500 people in five communities in Akoko, Ondo State. Additionally, she trained 12 young girls on social media advocacy for SRHR information, facilitated eight live Instagram sessions that amplified youths’ voices against gender-based harmful practices, trained and onboarded 100 girls on SRHR information as volunteers, conducted a seven-day social media advocacy campaign against sexual harassment on campus, and launched the Edu PTG Project to educate 500 teenagers about SRHR in a bid to curb the rapid rate of teenage pregnancy.

Tobi is committed to using her skills and talents to create positive change and advance gender equality in her community. Her projects and initiatives have positively impacted many lives through various means such as education, empowerment, and advocacy.

Idris Ola

Idris Ola is a medical doctor and health innovator who founded the Blue-Pink Center for Women’s Health (BPCWH). Through his cutting-edge models, he has provided breast and cervical cancer control services to over 76,000 people, with over 23,000 direct beneficiaries in the previous 3 years. His cancer control model has received global recognition and was listed among the best 100 SDG projects in 2021 by the Friends for Leadership organization and the United Nations 75.

Idris has presented his medical innovations at prestigious gatherings, including the Sustainability Research Lab, Germany, and the United States National Institute of Health’s Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research. He has received several grants to pilot his innovations, including from the USADF, Citi Foundation, USAID, and the Pollination Project.

Idris holds a degree in medicine from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria, and a master’s degree in global health from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. He has certifications in business development from Bocconi University, Italy, leadership and management in health from the University of Washington, and public management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. He is a recipient of many research grants and has been recognized by several organizations, including Mandela Washington Fellowship, YALI West Africa Fellowship, and African Changemaker Fellowship.

Olutola Vivian Awosiku

Olutola Vivian Awosiku is a digital health professional and recent graduate of the University of Ibadan, where she obtained a degree in Medical Laboratory Science. With a certification in digital health from Azubi Africa, Ghana, she has been focused on improving healthcare in Africa by leveraging technology, entrepreneurship, and healthcare data.

Olutola has been recognized for her innovative solutions to healthcare problems. She was the executive director of the winning team at the MIT Hacking Racism in Healthcare 2020 competition, where they developed a digital health mobile app to increase BIPOC participation in clinical trials. She also led her team to a 2nd runner-up position at the Inspire Africa Innovation Challenge 2020 and was the winner of the Facebook Epidemiology Designathon 2021, where her team presented a web-based disease surveillance system. Their solution has been approved by the Lagos State Government and is set to be deployed in 22 healthcare facilities to improve Nigeria’s pandemic preparedness.

In addition to her numerous achievements, Olutola is a Nawiritech Fellow, a member of the Standing Together International Advisory group, and an alumna of the Aspire Leaders Program and Young Professionals Bootcamp. She has also been appointed as Head of Operations at Digital Health Africa and currently works as the Chief Information Officer at Healthstack Solutions Limited, a digital health startup in Nigeria.

Olutola is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in healthcare innovations and has established the First African One Health Tech Community in Ibadan. Her efforts have resulted in a community of over 100 young healthtech enthusiasts and professionals working towards improving health and wellbeing in Africa.

Olutola has been recognized for her contributions to the healthtech space in Africa with an award from the Africa Healthcare Awards 2021 as the Rising Star in Health technology. She is also a passionate volunteer and has worked with Smile Builders Initiative, Global Shapers Community Ibadan Hub, Women in ICT Nigeria, and Women in Global Health Nigeria.

With her exceptional leadership skills and innovative ideas, Olutola Vivian Awosiku is a promising young leader in the healthtech community in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Kemi Olawoye

Kemi Olawoye is a visionary entrepreneur and the Co-Founder & CEO of Babymigo, a leading pregnancy and parenting community in Nigeria. With a deep passion for reducing maternal and child mortality rates in Africa, Kemi has been leveraging technology to provide expert-verified health information, education, resources, and concierge services relating to pregnancy, parenting, and childbirth.

Since its inception, Babymigo has impacted more than 200,000 users across multiple locations in Nigeria, including hard-to-reach areas, by providing a supportive online community for expectant and new mothers to ask questions and access healthcare services.

Kemi’s outstanding contributions to maternal and child health have been widely recognized, and she has received several awards, including the 16th Edition Future Awards Africa in Advocacy and Activism, 2021 Woman Entrepreneur & Spirit of GIST by US Department of State, and the 2021 Africa Choice Awards: Young Entrepreneur of the year. She is also a recipient of the prestigious AXA 50intech Female Entrepreneur Award and has been named one of Nigeria’s 100 Most Inspiring Women and a winner of the 2018 WIMBIZ Impact Investment Competition.

Kemi is an inspiration to young entrepreneurs, and her work at Babymigo has been recognized by Yahoo, Forbes, and Time Magazine, as well as supported by Facebook and Google. To keep up with her impactful work, follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Kelo Uchendu

Kelo Uchendu is a dynamic Nigerian environmental policy leader and the founder of the Gray2Green Movement. He is also the Director of SOS-International, an international coalition that supports student and youth groups globally to lead on sustainability and social justice. Kelo has played an instrumental role in ensuring that the voices of young people are heard in UN and other multilateral decision-making processes over the last four years. He served as the Science Policy Thematic Focal point for the UNEP Major Group for Children and Youths and the Policy lead for YOUNGO, the official children and youth constituency to the UNFCCC. Kelo’s advocacy for meaningful youth engagement in UN processes resulted in the inclusion of Article 63, 64, and 65 in the Glasgow Climate Pact at COP26. The article mandates parties to ensure the inclusion of young people in the official party delegation, representing a huge win for young people globally.

Kelo is currently a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) GEO-7 fellow and a contributing author to the 7th edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) report. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nigeria, a diploma in Climate Action from Anant National University in India, and is pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. Kelo has received numerous international fellowships, including the 2022 Audi Environmental Foundation Scholarship, Anant Fellowship for Climate Action, Parent Climate Fellowship, and the Gabrielle Bacon Climate Leadership Fund Scholarship.

Kelo’s work has been recognized and featured in various international media outlets, including Al Jazeera, Euronews, The Guardian, and Global Citizen. His dedication to sustainability and youth empowerment makes him an outstanding candidate for the JCI Nigeria TOYP award.

Suunen Atsuwe

Suunen Atsuwe is a dedicated and accomplished young leader, holding several prestigious fellowships and awards. He is a Youth Fellow of the Innocent Chukwuma Social Impact Fellowship at Lagos Business School, Fellow, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Nigeria – “Open Minds, Young Voices Noble Missions – Active Citizen Fellow, and a ChangeMaker alumna of the African Leadership Institute (AFLI). Suunen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, now Joseph Sarwuan Tarkaa University (JOSTUM), Benue State.

As the Co-founder and Executive Director of DevTrain Community and Entrepreneurship Development Initiative, Suunen is leading the way for community-based development in Benue State, Nigeria. His organization is dedicated to identifying and meeting the needs of community members in Environmental and Climate Change Education Campaigns, access to safe water and sanitation, and youth capacity development programs in urban, small town, and rural communities. Through Suunen’s leadership, DevTrain has won grants and awards such as the 2021 JCI FUAM Certificate of Appreciation, and the 2019 INNOVATION AWARD of Africa Minister’s Council on Water (AMCOW) – AfricaSan5.

Suunen has initiated numerous projects to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability. One of his initiatives, the Plastic Community Project, aims to use sports as an advocacy tool to achieve social and behavioral change towards mitigating the adverse effects of climate change for a plastic-free community in Benue State. Another project, the Community-Led Climate Action Project, reached 20,000 beneficiaries, promoting awareness of mitigation and adaptation strategies to community members and school children and facilitating sustainable climate action at the grassroots level.

In addition to his extensive project work, Suunen also initiated the Climate MeetUp, a platform that brings Nigerian youths together to engage and deliberate on topical issues relating to the SDGs. Suunen’s passion for Environment and Climate Change Education, Project Management, and Youth Development is evident in his work and his involvement in organizations such as the Innocent Chukwuma Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, and African Leadership Institute. Suunen is an outstanding young leader, committed to making a positive impact in his community and beyond.

Ridwan Abdulganiyu

Ridwan Abdulganiyu is a passionate advocate for clean energy and sustainable development in Nigeria. He is the Operations Manager at Hinata Energy, a renewable energy company that is committed to promoting clean cooking solutions in Northern Nigeria.

Through his work at Hinata Energy, Ridwan is helping to combat global climate change by reducing household energy use and promoting the adoption of cleaner and more efficient cooking technologies. He is actively involved in multi-stakeholder advocacy efforts aimed at accelerating the transition from polluting fuels to cleaner energy, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas where hydrocarbon products are still widely used for cooking.

In May 2022, Ridwan played a key role in Hinata Energy’s partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to deploy 50,000 single-burner biofuel-powered cookstoves across all federal and state polytechnics in Nigeria. This agreement will not only reduce carbon emissions by over 150,000 metric tons annually, but also provide income generation opportunities for polytechnic partners through long-term leasing arrangements for students.

Ridwan’s ultimate goal is to contribute to making clean cookstoves accessible and affordable to all, especially women and children in Africa regardless of their social status and income. He is committed to creating awareness and driving national and global adoption of clean and low-emission household energy solutions that can reduce air pollution, preserve biodiversity, and help slow forest degradation.

Through his leadership and advocacy, Ridwan is helping to build a dynamic, inclusive, and financially sustainable industry that is working towards achieving universal access to clean cooking by 2030. He believes that these efforts will lead to improved human health, reduced climate change effects, empower women, and improved livelihoods, and greater urgency to address this pressing global issue.

Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim

Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim is a political and public affairs analyst, a registered nurse, a published and award-winning writer, and an advocate for good governance and sustainable development. As an outstanding and active student leader, he held various positions during his course of study and passionately volunteered for the Youth Progressive Front (YPF). Ringim has an extensive writing portfolio, with articles published in various newspapers and magazines. He has been recognized and awarded for his outstanding exploits in leadership, most notably as the youngest winner of the Campus Journalism Awards’ ‘Syndicated Writer of the Year’ award for two consecutive years.

Ringim is a passionate advocate for youth participation in politics and governance and believes in proposing policy alternatives. He currently works with the Kaduna Capital Territory Authority and coordinates the Research and Documentation Unit of the newly established Kaduna Office of Resilience. Ringim runs a blog and is pursuing a degree in Economics via the Distance Learning Center of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, where he maintains a first-class CGPA.

Ringim has been enlisted for the 38th edition of the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Nigeria Award in the Personal Improvement category, after beating over 1900 competitors. His passion for good governance, sustainable development, and youth participation in politics and governance makes him a force to be reckoned with in Nigeria’s development space.

Oladele Dada John

Oladele Dada John is a Nigerian tech entrepreneur dedicated to social responsibility, wealth creation, and empowering young people in Nigeria and Benin Republic. He co-founded Kreateng, a technology-driven and creative design company focused on digitalizing processes in Africa. Oladele holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and has completed various courses and training programs to enhance his skills and knowledge. He is recognized as one of Africa’s fastest youngest cyberpreneurs and has been featured in Business Day newspaper and several news media.

Oladele’s leadership in the tech industry has resulted in training over 1000 young people in tech skills physically and sharing resources on data science, web development, graphic design, and animation to over 20,000 people virtually in the last 12 months. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Oladele and his team built a tech solution for the World Bank Funded African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), which played a key role in mitigating the virus’s spread in Nigeria and beyond.

Oladele’s entrepreneurial skills led him to co-found Awacash, a fintech startup revolutionizing banking experiences in Nigeria. The company was recently given approval in principle by the Central Bank of Nigeria, allowing them to start a Microfinance bank in Nigeria and provide more comprehensive and secure financial services. Awacash provides access to migration loans, salary loans, and personal loans to empower individuals and help them achieve their dreams.

Oladele is a sought-after speaker at conferences and tech events, inspiring people to learn tech skills. He is also involved in several social responsibility initiatives, including partnering with organizations to tackle unemployment and training children on tech skills. Oladele’s commitment to innovation and empowering others has made him a role model in the Nigerian tech industry and beyond.

Doris Wilson

Doris Wilson is a dedicated Transformational Growth Coach, Youth Coach, Social Impact Influencer, Sexual health advocate, Addiction Recovery Therapist, and Author. With a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Accountancy from a prestigious Nigerian university, she is passionate about empowering young people to make informed decisions regarding their sexual health and well-being.

Doris is the founder of Purity Impact Foundation for Teens and Youth Enlightenment (PIFTYE), an organization that focuses on education and interventions that provide young people with the skills and information they need to prevent the incidence of rape, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases. She also established the PIFTYE Parents Hub to equip parents and caregivers with the necessary knowledge and skills to raise responsible and well-balanced young adults.

Her exceptional work has earned her various awards and recognition, including the Substance Award for promoting healthy sexual practices among young people and being recognized as one of the 50 top rising Social Impact Transformers by Gemstone Leadership Network. In 2022, she was recognized with the Teen developers Award for her outstanding and selfless service toward the development of teenagers around the world.

Doris is a certified public speaker and Purity Preacher with a message of sexual purity for teenagers and youth of the 21st century. Her book, “My Body My Rules,” teaches young people about healthy sexual health education. She convenes impactful outreaches and projects annually, including the Chastity Awareness Campaign, a yearly sexual health education project in Nigerian secondary schools and higher institutions.

Doris has granted interviews on various platforms, including National Television Authority, on world sexual health day. She also has a mentorship platform called TEENZ FLICK and D’YOUNG Hub, where she relates practically to her numerous audience.

Overall, Doris Wilson is a woman of impact, who has dedicated her life to empowering young people, educating parents and caregivers, and promoting healthy sexual practices. Her work is commendable, and she is an excellent nominee for the JCI Nigeria TOYP award.

Dr. Anthonia Opeyemi Alebiosu

Dr. Anthonia Opeyemi Alebiosu is a highly accomplished and versatile professional in the field of accounting and taxation, with over 15 years of experience. She currently serves as a Manager at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Nigeria, where she is responsible for assessing and collecting tax revenues for the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Dr. Alebiosu is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), a Master’s degree in Finance from the University of Lagos, and a Master of Philosophy and Doctoral Degree in Accounting from Babcock University. Her doctoral research focused on ethical tax behavior and tax compliance in listed deposit banks in Nigeria.

Throughout her career, Dr. Alebiosu has raised audit assessments that have yielded tax revenue amounting to over fifty billion Naira, recovering tax revenue that would have been lost to aggressive tax planning schemes by taxpayers. She is also passionate about mentoring young people to achieve academic and career excellence, and is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls.

Dr. Alebiosu has chaired various committees, including the 2022 Electoral Committee of the District Society of ICAN Ilupeju-Gbagada, the Programme Committee of Babcock Onyx Graduating Class of 2022, and the 2021 International Women’s Day conference of the Junior Chamber International, Victoria Island. She has attended several international conferences and seminars across the globe, including World Congress of Accountants (WCOA) in Mumbai, Sydney, and Italy.

Her exemplary leadership skills, dedication, and hard work have earned her numerous awards, including the FIRS Large Tax Audit Awards in 2021 and 2022, Babcock University’s Award of Appreciation in 2022, ICAN’s Award for Contributions to the 50th Annual Conference (2021), and JCI Nigeria’s Ambassadorial Award in 2021, among others.

Dr. Anthonia Alebiosu is an exceptional professional and role model to many, with a passion for learning and imparting knowledge, as well as a love for reading, traveling, meeting people, and keeping pets. She is a true asset to the accounting and taxation profession in Nigeria, and her achievements and contributions are worthy of recognition and celebration.

Olabode ‘Bode Maxwell-Akinyemi

Olabode ‘Bode Maxwell-Akinyemi is a dynamic and accomplished professional with a passion for education, technology, and social entrepreneurship. He is an IT expert, educator, and product leader, as well as a Pan-African campaigner of The New Education. Bode is the Community Manager for Utiva, winner of the BoomStartup Accelerator, and the STRT Community Award 2021 in the Education Category. He is also the 2022 TIBA Lagos Ambitious Professional of the Year, having helped over 25,000 young African professionals and people of color upskill or transition into technology.

As the Business Manager of Academy at Vatebra, Bode leads efforts to train and deploy talents for both its technology team and other corporates across different business verticals. He is the founder of Font Hall, a talent accelerator community with a mission to grow the next generation of African techies, bridging the cost of talent acquisition for startups and solving competency gaps ahead of the predicted Africa’s talent dearth. Bode is also a member of the World Economic Forum, Global Shapers Lagos Hub, TEDxOluyole Licensee, and SDGs Advocate.

Bode’s achievements include being an alum of Junior Achievement Nigeria, receiving an award of 100 Exceptional Nigerian Youth to study at Lagos Business School (ViMP), being an Ex-Ambassador for Theirworld, UK, and volunteering for various community works. He is dedicated to seeing Africa set a global position of unflinching relevance in education, technology, business, and leadership. Through his various roles, he has impacted the lives of many young Africans, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s fast-paced digital world.

Hadji Kwame Ahmed

Meet Hadji Kwame Ahmed, a pan-African multiple award-winning youth advocate, social and community development enthusiast, child protection thinker, serial entrepreneur, career mentorship coach, and culinary expert with over 15 years of experience. He is the founder of Agents of Change Africa, an advocacy network aimed at addressing the challenges of poverty, quality education, and decent work and economic growth in low-income and vulnerable communities across Africa.

Through his Street2School project, he has sent over 390 street children from low-income and vulnerable communities to school and distributed school materials to over 1000 children. During the coronavirus pandemic, he initiated a massive awareness campaign in low-income and vulnerable communities across Lagos to educate them on the precautionary measures against the spread of the virus. His Relief/No Hungry Project has gone on to feed over 2700 families and over 4000 individuals, and his Operation Feed the 5000 project shares already prepared meals at strategic locations across Lagos to ease the effects of the lockdown.

In addition, his organization has organized impactful communication campaigns on drug abuse, mental health, unplanned parenthood, and urban literacy. They have also provided free ICT training for youths in low-income and vulnerable communities in Africa, organized vocational training with internship opportunities, and are preparing to set up an ICT hub in slums to help youths tap into opportunities embedded in information technology.

Hadji Kwame Ahmed is a member of several international organizations, including the International Youth Society, UN Youth Assembly, and Global Peace Ambassador. With a projection of helping 150,000 youths in Africa by 2025, his goal is to work in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, and Kenya.

Follow Agents of Change Africa on Twitter @AOCNIG and Instagram @aocafrica to stay updated on their activities. Remember, the change we crave starts with you and I.

Benjamin Mike

Benjamin Mike is a dedicated educator and digital literacy advocate based in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. With over a decade of experience in the field, he has made a significant impact in the lives of hundreds of youths and teachers in the region through his various training programs.

His journey began in 2013 when he organized a six-month training program for 43 youths on Microsoft Office Suites. Since then, he has continued to expand his impact, training 56 youths in Professional Graphic Design, 33 holiday children on Basic Computer Skills and Coding, and 44 women and youth on Programming and Coding.

In November 2016, Ben initiated a comprehensive program that trained 133 youths, Corp Members, and women in e-marketing, Mini Importation, Graphic Design, and Software Engineering. More recently, he has focused on training teachers, organizing programs that have equipped hundreds of educators with digital literacy skills, multimedia technologies, and cyber security in e-learning.

Ben is dedicated to empowering young people with the skills they need to succeed in the digital age. Through his passion and dedication, he has become a leading voice in the field of digital literacy education in Nigeria. If you would like to learn more about his work, you can visit his LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmike.

Confidence Staveley

Confidence Staveley is a cybersecurity expert and the founder of CyberSafe Foundation, a non-profit organization that is committed to making the internet a safer place for vulnerable individuals and organizations in Nigeria and Africa. Staveley has raised over one million dollars to fund several digital upskilling projects in Nigeria that are designed to enhance the capacity of vulnerable individuals and organizations, ensuring they are better equipped to safeguard themselves against cyber-attacks.

Staveley is also the author of “NoGoFallMaga – The Handbook,” Africa’s first fully storified cybersecurity awareness handbook, which educates readers on the importance of cybersecurity hygiene and provides practical tips for protecting themselves against cyber threats. The handbook has been well-received by audiences across Africa, including an adoption of the book by the Nigerian Police Force, and has had a significant impact in promoting a safer digital community.

Under Staveley’s leadership, CyberSafe Foundation has made a significant impact in Africa by establishing CyberGirls, the continent’s largest free cybersecurity training and mentorship program designed exclusively for women. The program caters to young women between the ages of 18 and 28 from 22 African countries, providing them with an avenue to transition from cybersecurity novices to professionals.

Staveley also spearheaded the SDCDC-19 project, which sought to equip SMEs with the necessary knowledge and skills to identify, protect, detect, defend, and respond to cyber threats during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together with a team of cybersecurity experts, they provided cybersecurity upskilling training to over 10,000+ employees of 4528 Small & Medium scale Enterprises across 36 states in Nigeria, enabling them to be better prepared to face the cybersecurity challenges of the COVID-19 era.

Staveley’s efforts in promoting cybersecurity awareness and building cyber-resilience among vulnerable individuals and organizations have had a transformative impact on Nigerian society, and she continues to be a driving force in the fight against cybercrime.

Bisola Alabi

Bisola Alabi is a highly motivated and passionate entrepreneur with a strong focus on using technology to empower women and close the gender gap. She is the founder of Heels & Tech, a revolutionary platform that provides high-quality tech courses to women and men all over the world, helping them to increase their income and achieve their career goals. With a mission to change the world through technology, Bisola has trained over 10,000 women from 100+ countries in various technical courses in both paid and unpaid classes. These courses have resulted in a total increase of $10.05 million in earnings for her students, which demonstrates the transformative power of education.

At Heels & Tech, Bisola is committed to creating a brighter future for women and families everywhere. She has helped to close the gender gap in tech by upskilling women with high-quality tech courses, giving them the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Her platform has transformed the lives of thousands of women, giving them the skills and knowledge they need to achieve their full potential.

Bisola’s passion for empowering women has been recognized both locally and internationally. She has received numerous awards and accolades, including being named one of the “Top 25 Women in Tech in Africa” by TechCabal. Her work has also been featured in major news outlets such as Forbes, CNN, and BBC.

Through her tireless work and dedication, Bisola Alabi is creating a world where women are equal partners in the technology industry, and where everyone has the opportunity to learn, earn and grow. She is an inspiration to all those who aspire to make a difference in the world, and her vision for a brighter future is one that we should all strive to achieve.