By Ogochukwu Isioma
Winners from the 2021 Future Africa Leaders Awards are the latest to benefit from President of Loveworld Incorporated, the Christ Embassy Ministry, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s generosity who has not slowed down in his quest for youth leadership and excellence across Africa.
The Future Africa Leaders Foundation, organisers of the Future Africa Leaders Awards (FALA 2021) on 31st of December 2021 held the 9th edition of the event to unveil the 2021 star prize Award winner and nine other nominees that made the Top ten. The event was part of the December 31st New Year’s Eve Service with Pastor Chris which was broadcast across over 2,000 Satellite and Terestia Stations, which included the Loveworld Networks, Internet and all available Social Platforms and Networks, and watched by billions of viewers.
With its commitment to recognize young leaders to the progress and development of the continent as 30 individuals from 20 African countries were nominated for the highly-coveted global recognition awards.
Camerounian Nervis Nzometiah Tetsop bagged the Star Award with a sum of $25,000. Tetsop is an exceptional innovator and community builder with great enthusiasm for youth leadership development.
By motivating others to be aspire for relevance through several workshops and seminars on career orientation, leadership, and impact opportunities, he is leading positive change in his nation with the use of technology.
Also, Anna Maneno Michael Milla (South Sudan – 20 years), Cesar Komi Aguidi (Togo – 23 years), Prince Funsani Zulu (Zambia – 21 years), Hillary Nakitare (Kenya – 23 years), Manzi Guevara (Rwanda – 23 years), Isaac Bitrus Nggida (Nigeria – 23 years), Deo-Gratias Meyou (Benin Republic – 24 years), Prisca Torboal (Chad – 23 years), Emmanuel Gyan Finawah (Ghana – 23 years), and Nzometiah Nervis Tetsop (Cameroon – 23 years) bagged $10,000 each.
Delivering his opening speech, the president of the future Africa leaders foundation who also doubles as the president of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome highlighted the need for Africa and Africans to look within themselves in their search and quest for solutions to their problems.
Oyakhilome further encouraged every young African who is making a difference in various spheres of their respective African communities. He encouraged them to do more and stop at nothing in making Africa the Africa of our dreams.
He also highlighted the importance of technology and technological advancements as a vital tool and ingredient in solving peculiar African problems. He applauded the dauntlessness and ruggedness of the 10 winners who were going to be presented with future Africa leaders awards later that night.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the chairman of the occasion, in his address encouraged Africans, especially young people to be relentless in the pursuit of their desire for change.
Immediate past President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who was the Special Guest of Honour praised African Youths as one of the continent’s most valuable asset.
He said: “Africa’s youthful population is one of the continent’s most valuable asset in the emerging 4th and 5th industrial eras. Our youths have demonstrated commitment and dedication to making Africa proud across the globe. On the African continent, the youths have not failed, but they can do better to end contemporary problems in the continent.”
Jonathan who announced the star winner of this year’s edition added: “I believe that African youths are critical stakeholders in our quest for socio-economic transformation as a continent. They have the strength and possess the creativity to spur innovation for production, manufacturing and technological advancement.”
In her speech President, Africa Diaspora Development Initiative (ADDI) and former African Union Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, delivered her thoughts on the enslavement of Africa by the Western world despite the mass amount of wealth present in Africa. She didn’t mince words on how Africa was being exploited, deceived and manipulated to remain at the position where they would always look up to the Western world for help. She went on to highlight the fraudulent nature of most western organizations designed to help Africa ranging from non-governmental organizations to the world trade forum and many other economical strongholds that have been settled and endorsed by most African leaders, ignorantly.
She also expressed the failure of most African unions who had come together to disengage, disapprove, and discontinue the saprophytic relationship they have with most western countries. She clearly disapproved of the idea of the black attributes imposed on the people of Africa.
“So to you leaders of tomorrow I say, we are leaving you with Africa that is not as good as it should be, we must all come together, we must unite all members of human race, inhabitants of this beautiful planet called earth. Let us tell the world once and for all that as united as African youths that we denounce world with bigotry, racism and hate; we demand a world that is free, fair, equitable and just. Let us stop following well dressed lies and now pick up the naked truth.”
The Award which was instituted in 2013 by the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International through the Future Africa Leaders Foundation is designed to form a community of likes minds Future Africa Leaders who are prepared and determined to produce the Africa of their dream. The Africa that is equitable, just, prosperous, productive and developed. The initiative has produced about 90 winners since inception.
Some of the winners focus on Gender-based, Education, Agriculture, Entrepreneurship Skills, and other sectors that can improve the Africa problem and the continent as a whole.
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