The Future Awards Africa 2015 Winners’ List

The 10th year anniversary edition of The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) which held today at the prestigious Intercontinental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, lived up to its billing as Africa’s biggest youth event.

The awards hosted by multi-talented singer and producer, Dare Art-Alade and South Africa’s leading OAP, Bonang Matheba saw 11 outstanding young achievers rewarded for their excellent work across the continent in different fields ranging from science and technology, business, entertainment, politics, to education.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of awards to deserving winners from all across Africa with Nigeria’s Philip Obaji Jnr. taking home The Future Awards Africa Prize for Young Person of the Year.

The event was attended by high-profile personalities including the Kaduna state governor, Nasir el-Rufai, Oby Ezekwesili, Mo Abudu, Tara Fela-Durotoye, and more.

See below the full list of winners and their profiles:

The Future Awards Africa Prize in Advocacy & Activism
Queen Baboloki (Botswana)
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Education
Lily Kudzro (Ghana)
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Enterprise Support
Olufunbi Falayi (Nigeria)

The Future Awards Africa Prize in Community Action
Kelvin Mutize (Zimbabwe)
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Technology
Rasheeda Mandeeya Yehuza (Ghana)
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Entertainment
Olamide “Badoo” Ayodeji (Nigeria)

The Future Awards Africa Prize in Agriculture
David Asiamah (Ghana)
The Tony O. Elumelu Prize in Business
Samuel Malinga (Uganda)
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Public Service
Emmanuel N. B. Flomo (Liberia)

The Future Awards Africa Prize for Young Person of the Year
Philip Obaji Jnr. (Nigeria)

Ford Foundation Prize for Youth Employment Category
Ukinebo Dare

The Future Awards Africa 2015 – celebrating 10 years! – was powered by RED and UBA.
The award is held in partnership with the British High Commission, Ford Foundation, Microsoft, the US Consulate, the Canadian High Commission, Sterling Bank and The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Profiles of the winners of The Future Awards Africa.

The Future Awards Africa Prize in Advocacy & Activism, Queen Baboloki (Botswana) Winner | 25 years, Botswana

In her native Botswana, Baboloki has made significant strides in the field of gender equality. She works at the vanguard of a movement to stop gender violence in Botswana. Starting in 2009, Queen began mentoring vulnerable students through the Face the Nation Program in Botswana. Stationed at Good Hope Senior Secondary School, Baboloki saw firsthand the impact of gender-based violence. As a counselor, she helped young girls cope with violence experienced in the home. She taught those vulnerable students life-skills and reinforced their value as people.
Building on that work, Baboloki became a University of Botswana Peer Counselor focusing on young women who had experienced violence. Her work combines counseling with educational guidance, mentorship and career decision-making. By integrating these concepts together, battered young women become psychologically as well as financially independent.

Realizing that no serious national organization is committed to the goal of eradicating gender-based violence in Botswana, Baboloki set up the Dream Hub Project, to take the kind of counseling she developed at the University of Botswana to rural areas to the most vulnerable women and girls. She has attracted the attention of the Moremi Initiative for Leadership, Empowerment and Development in Africa (MILEAD), and was invited to become a 2013 MILEAD Fellow. She was also selected as a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow- President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative; 2015 VV Lead Fellow and 2015 Global Laureate Fellow.

The Dream Hub Project, through Baboloki’s direction, has developed partnerships with law enforcement agencies, local resource and advocacy groups, and University groups to promote a comprehensive and coordinated response to tackling gender based violence at the individual, community, and societal levels.

The Future Awards Africa Prize in Education, Lily Kudzro (Ghana) Winner | 29years, Ghana

Lily Kudzro is the CEO of Devio Arts Center. A social entrepreneur, Kudzro believes that children and young people can create and inspire their own future and can become change-makers in their communities. She makes use of creative and imaginative ways to introduce students and schools to practical visual arts application. A strong advocate for attitude and policy change towards improving the overall quality of STEAM education in African schools, Kudzro hopes to impact 100,000 African students within the next 5 years.

With a passion for creative arts, Kudzro recognized the sincere gap in the educational structures of Ghana for children to explore and realize their artistic potential.

The Devio Arts Centre, a social enterprise initiative, uses creative and digital art as a catalyst, to stimulate constructive learning and creative thinking in Ghanaian children. The center tackles creativity in communities and helps to build creative life skills through programs that bring experts from the working field, and makes use of technology to engage and train students on current trends.

Devio Arts through its programs has provided transformational impact by providing infrastructure, resources and inclusive access to children from disadvantaged backgrounds to engage in creative and digital arts, reaching over 1700 children since 2014.

The Future Awards Africa Prize in Enterprise Support, Olufunbi Falayi (Nigeria) Winner | 29 years, Nigeria

Falayi is a Computer Science & Economics graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria who has previously worked as the Project Lead in the CSR department of Mit-Glauben Engineering Ltd (IT section). Olufunbi, has since helped launch a privately owned and managed vocational training institution, Southern Business Academy Lagos. Olufunbi is a co-founder of Project 4 (an education non-profit organization).

Passion Incubator provides immense support to focused individuals by helping young technology entrepreneurs build their businesses from scratch. In the one year Passion Incubator has been in existence, it has helped different dreams become established businesses.

As co-founder of Passion Incubator, Falayi is very driven to help his people and his country thrive in the technology and business sector. One of his main goals is to help his clients turn their business ideas into successful results. Recent successes with clients include Warra Cakes and Talking Books. With Warra Cakes, he helped developed a middle-ware platform for consumers to order sweets and bakeries from different suppliers of bakers. And with Talking Books, he is turning all Nigerian literature and books into audio books.

The Future Awards Africa Prize in Community Action, Kelvin Mutize (Zimbabwe) Winner | 27 years, Zimbabwe

Kelvin Mutize volunteers in the world’s largest psychosocial programme for children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, Champions for Life started in 2005 in Harare, Zimbabwe by Tom and Bonnie Deuschle and spear headed by physician Dr Andrew Reid. The programme has had more than 15,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa receive the emotional, moral and physical support required.

Kelvin Mutize, a young leader who has travelled to more than six of these sub-Saharan nations to see the programme launched all at his own expense has served Champions for Life for close to eight years now as an unpaid volunteer and is one of the key leaders in the organization.

Mutize has travelled and set up Champions for Life programmes in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland and Uganda. He has started his own organization called Tehillah Media that seeks to empower youths living with HIV/AIDS with internet based skills that will enable them to generate income. To date he has successfully built a team of four key leaders who develop websites and have started their own Youtube channels to tutor others.

Mutize’s community building efforts were recognized by President Barack Obama when he was invited to attend the Mandela-Washington Young Leaders six week programme in the USA in June/Aug 2015.

The Future Awards Africa Prize in Technology, Rasheeda Mandeeya Yehuza (Ghana) Winner | 25 years, Ghana

25 year-old Rasheeda Mandeeya Yehuza is passionate about technology and how society can apply it to improve development in Ghana and Africa at-large. Yehuza currently works as a software engineer at VOTO Mobile, which provides a platform to amplify the voice of the under-heard and under-represented via a mobile phone notification and survey platform.

In 2013, Rasheeda founded Nasara Tech Ltd, a technology-focused company that creates solutions to problems identified in local communities, and accordingly can be applied worldwide. She has led and managed the development of Nasara Tech’s two in-house products, Nasara Mobile and The Nasara Voting System, as well as custom application projects for specific client needs. With her keen knowledge of technology and programming, she has also built computer games such as Buju Hunt and Sphere Attack and has developed desktop applications, including the snapso shutdown manager and web browser as freewares which can be found on softpedia.

Rasheeda is very passionate about youth development and as a result, is an active member and organizer of the GhanaThink Foundation programs; Barcamp Kumasi and ‘Kumasi Konnect’, both of which bring together young Ghanaians to learn about the issues that affect them, generate ideas for development, network and partner with others who have similar interests to improve or create businesses and projects.

As part of her commitment to social entrepreneurship, Rasheeda co-founded Tech Needs Girls Ghana, an interactive workshop for girls in Ghana. The workshop involves a hands-on session where girls learn to develop mobile and web applications, interact with software that teaches them more about STEM, and provides mentoring for female technologists. Rasheeda has instructed and mentored at several Tech Needs Girls events and has spoken at youth and girl education camps around Ghana to help raise the awareness for females in information technology.

The Future Awards Africa Prize in Entertainment, Olamide “Badoo” Ayodeji (Nigeria) Winner | 26 years, Nigeria

Olamide’s road to fame is one for the history books. Not too long ago, he was a regular kid growing up in Bariga, at the Heart of Lagos Mainland. His talent and doggedness got him the right notices and in 2010, he hit the ground running with his first hit single, Eni duro. He has gone on to release 4 commercially successful studio albums as well as a collaborative record with fellow indigenous rapper Phyno.

Olamide raps in a unique blend of Yoruba and English with lyrics that are at once playful and punchy. He has emerged in the last five decades as one of the most prolific and commercially viable artistes on the continent. With numerous hit singles and albums, Olamide has been able to crossover into mainstream circles.

A businessman and label boss, Olamide’s YBNL label and artiste management outfit manages his career and has introduced fast rising acts such as Lil Kesh, Viktoh, Chinko Ekun and Adekunle Gold.

The Future Awards Africa Prize in Agriculture, David Asiamah (Ghana) Winner | 27 years, Ghana

David Asare Asiamah is extremely passionate about the development of a new generation of African youth with the requisite capacity to exploit the diverse opportunities in Agriculture as an avenue for sustainable employment and food security.

Agro Mindset which was created while David was in his 3rd Year on campus has imparted positively in the lives of over 7000 young students both in Ghana and beyond through its innovative and creative programmes like agribusiness outreach programmes, field trainings, farm business development, entrepreneurial workshops and symposia.

David’s understanding of agribusiness and entrepreneurship has earned him the opportunity to speak on several platforms in Ghana and other African countries like Nigeria. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to youth involvement in Agriculture, Agro Mindset won the 2013 edition of the Ghana UK Based Award (GUBA) on Invest in Africa Sustainable Business Award.

The project kicked off with the Farm, which has so far sold over a million eggs to the Ghanaian populace. This farm has also generated employment to people and families even as Asiamah continues to challenge a generation of people to go into agriculture.

The Tony O. Elumelu Prize in Business, Samuel Malinga (Uganda) Winner | 26 years, Uganda

Samuel Malinga’s team has developed a mechanism to address the entire faecal sludge management chain. They have developed a new modular latrine called DuraSan (made up of durable, interlocking, precast concrete blocks), a low-cost pit emptying pump called a Rammer, primary transportation devices (Grappler, handcart & Shlifter), and a Decentralized Faecal Sludge Treatment System (DFSTS).

The modular toilet is usually constructed in 2-3 days depending on the number of stances. It is long-lasting, and avoids the common problems of other latrines arising from poor workmanship, delays by masons and over-charging. The Rammer makes it possible for full pits (both lined and unlined) in informal settlements to be emptied in an acceptable sanitary manner.

The DFSTS is made up of rota-mould plastic tanks for treatment of faecal sludge in areas lacking treatment plants. Together, this suite of technologies provides affordable quality sanitation services to different communities / individuals, improving hygiene and reducing faecal-related diseases.

Malinga was shortlisted for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation and in Kampala, other entrepreneurs have entered into the pit emptying business using the technology pioneered by Malinga and his team.

The Future Awards Africa Prize in Public Service, Emmanuel N. B. Flomo (Liberia) Winner | 27 years, Liberia

Emmanuel Flomo is a member of the President’s Young Professional Program, the flagship program of the Liberian President, Madame Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a youth capacity and public service program.

He was selected by the President based on his accomplishment at the Cuttington University while serving as a student leader. Flomo was assigned to the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning as a Budget Analyst working in the Economic Services Sector. In that department, he worked on preparing budget for other ministries and agencies in Government, work plans, spending plans and managing the execution of the budgets.

Based on his performance, Flomo was appointed by the Finance Minister of Liberia as Budget Director for the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to help in their formulation and preparation of the ministry’s budget while also providing guidance on the execution.

In April 2015, he was honored by the President of the Republic of Liberia for his outstanding performance at the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning.

Besides serving in the Government or in Public Service, Flomo was elected in February 2015 as the Vice President for International Affairs of the Liberia National Student Union (LINSU), the umbrella organization for all students in Liberia.

The Future Awards Africa Prize for Young Person of the Year, Philip Obaji Jnr. (Nigeria) Winner, 29 years, Nigeria

A winner of The Future Awards Africa Prize in Education 2014, Philip Obaji Jnr has shown extraordinary courage and commitment in advocating for basic primary education for street children popularly called Almajiris in North-East Nigeria, a region where Islamist militant group, Boko Haram forbids western education and attacks those in support of it. Philip who once escaped Boko Haram attack has defied their threats and continues to make huge contributions to improve access to school for Almajiris, many of whom have been recruited into the deadly sect.

In 2014, the 1 GAME Campaign which he founded four years earlier with an objective to fight violence and ignorance through education, met with nearly 100 community leaders in North-East states of Borno, Yobe and Gombe on raising a volunteering team to move house to house, encouraging parents to send their children to tuition-free public primary schools rather than to Almajiri Mallams. Collectively, they have reached out to nearly 1,000 families.

To make learning easy and affordable, Philip’s 1 GAME Campaign provided 100,000 exercise books and pens to about the same number of children in Borno and Gombe States with virtually every recipient attending school for the first time. 1 GAME also established a book centre in Maiduguri, the Borno State, where poor school children who are in need can get writing material.

Through 1 GAME Campaign, Obaji Jnr has brought together, hundreds of former child soldiers in a movement to end the conscription of children by local vigilantes fighting Boko Haram. He has told the stories of hundreds of children affected by the insurgency, published on foreign journals, and helped get foreign aid to thousands of displaced children particularly in Borno State.

Through his ‘Off The Streets’ project, Philip supports these children by catering for them through the provision of food and clothing and at the same time prepares them for western education through a mentoring program.
Off The Street Project Van goes out every last weekend of the month in Maiduguri to Almajiri centers, delivering food stuffs, beverages and clothing to children in need. It reaches out to about 10 major centers with a near total of 20,000 children every month.

Now backed by various global humanitarian agencies including Compassion It and UNICEF, Philip’s 1 GAME Campaign will be reaching out to most of the 800,000 children displaced by the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria through the recently launched #BringBackOurChildhood campaign.

Samuel Malinga (Uganda) Winner | 26 years, Uganda

Samuel Malinga’s team has developed a mechanism to address the entire faecal sludge management chain. They have developed a new modular latrine called DuraSan (made up of durable, interlocking, precast concrete blocks), a low-cost pit emptying pump called a Rammer, primary transportation devices (Grappler, handcart & Shlifter), and a Decentralized Faecal Sludge Treatment System (DFSTS).

The modular toilet is usually constructed in 2-3 days depending on the number of stances. It is long-lasting, and avoids the common problems of other latrines arising from poor workmanship, delays by masons and over-charging. The Rammer makes it possible for full pits (both lined and unlined) in informal settlements to be emptied in an acceptable sanitary manner.

The DFSTS is made up of rota-mould plastic tanks for treatment of faecal sludge in areas lacking treatment plants. Together, this suite of technologies provides affordable quality sanitation services to different communities / individuals, improving hygiene and reducing faecal-related diseases.

Malinga was shortlisted for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation and in Kampala, other entrepreneurs have entered into the pit emptying business using the technology pioneered by Malinga and his team.

About The Future Awards Africa

The Future Awards Africa has been called the ‘Nobel Prize for Young Africans’, and the ‘most important youth awards’ by Forbes. It is a set of prizes given annually to celebrate and accelerate innovation, creativity and enterprise amongst young Africans aged 18 – 31. It has produced over 150 winners and over 1550 nominees since its first edition in 2006.

It is presented in conjunction with The Future Project, which has a mandate to build empowered citizens across Africa, through (inclusive) enterprise and (active) citizenship. This focus on Human Capital Development is informed by our value proposition: Africa’s growth needs a generation of young people who are gainfully employed and able to demand and secure better leadership.

Our projects include Aiki.ng, an employability portal presented with Microsoft; the Nigeria Symposium for Young & Emerging Leaders, #StartupsAfrica, Intern4Jobs, The m-Hub, The Future Enterprise Support Scheme and The Future Africa Awards & Summit, described as ‘The Nobel Prize for Young Africans’.

With a network of funders and partners including the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Ford Foundation, the US Government, First Bank, MTN, The Canadian Embassy, HP, the Nigerian Government and the British Council, our work has spanned Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Malawi, Cameroon, Somalia, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast and Kenya.

Founded by the Chude Jideonwo and Adebola Williams, TFP is supervised by a Global Board of Advisors drawn from Africa, Europe, North America and the Middle East, including the Senior Advisor at one of the world’s leading financial advisory and asset management firms, Lazard LTD, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Senior Economic Advisor with the Open Society Foundations, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili; co-founder of ONE, Jamie Drummond and the Chief of Cabinet with the Africa Development Bank, Anne Kabagambe.

About Red Communication

Red Communication is a PR & Communication firm under the parent company, RED. An innovative media group focused on Africa, RED’s vision is to excite and empower an evolving generation through the media’s limitless possibilities. Built across tools and platforms, its Communication Division holds Red Communication, Red marketing and Small & Medium, and YouthConnect; and its Content Division holds the Y! brands, including Y! TV, Y! Magazine, YNaija.com, Teen Y!, Y! 2015, the Y! Tech 100 and the Y! Annual Black Ball/Y! 100 Most Influential List. It also anchors a development firm, The Future Project Africa, which co-presents Africa’s leading youth platform, The Future Awards Africa, and other projects including the Nigeria Symposium for Young & Emerging Leaders and The Future Enterprise Support Scheme.