London, Johannesburg, Benin,Ife... The Future Awards Season 5 springs forth

There is no excuse for bad behaviour,” said Affiong Williams of the Nigerian Youth Network in Johannesburg, “Yes, things might have been bad for Nigerians that migrated here, but what is wrong is wrong and we must condemn it and begin to project positive values wherever we go.” Ms. Williams was passionately contributing to the discussion by young Nigerians living, schooling and working in South Africa, who were part of The Future Awards Johannesburg Town Hall meeting on the 28th of November.
The international arm of the awards' town hall meetings had the aim of interacting with and inspiring young Nigerians living in countries with substantial Nigerian populations. Not only do the events have inspiring conversations and try to get widespread nominations for the awards, they also seek to spread the message for this year's campaign themed “Representing Nigeria”.
The Jo'burg event held at the Dio Bacco in Norwood and had in attendance, the MD of Lowe Lintas in Nigeria, Big Brother host IK Osakioduwa (who is a two time winner of the awards) and was held in conjunction with SA company Naijaborn.com.

The Future Awards, in conjunction with HITV, which is sponsoring all the town hall meetings, also stormed the United Kingdom. The London Town Hall Meeting held at the University of East London, and was held with support from Oloja.com, MakeImpact led by former nominee Dayo Isreal, Godwin Odusanwo of the Nigerian Students Association and Joseph Britus of the International Students Association.
Held on Wednesday, the 18th of November, it was an evening of brilliant discussions, music and comedy, and had in attendance the Ogun State Commissioner for Sports, who is an alumni of the school, amongst others.
The Future Awards team also visited other organisations and events whilst in the UK, especially in London and Manchester, including the 1st Nigeria-Ghana Networking Summit in the UK, where they made presentations, and then they honoured invitations to speak with congregations at the World Evangelism Bible Church, RCCG Victory house; RCCG Freedom of Christ Church, RCCG Freedom House and YADA ministries. They were also hosted by the wife to the Nigerian Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Mrs. Rose Nwanna.
“It was a fantastic time,” according to Adebola Williams, Operations Director for the awards, who was in the UK. “Usually most of what we hear about young people in the UK is, fairly or unfairly, negative; so to get such a fantastic reception, such passion, such engagement and such positivity, was such a blessing. It was also great to encounter huge name recognition for The Future Awards and its parent body, The Future Project. Change really is coming!”
The Future Awards also visited Osun State, where it had a town hall meeting at the Obafemi Awolowo University. It held at the Health Sciences Lecture Theatre. Speaking at that event were the Marketing Director for the awards, Emilia Asim-Ita and one of its Resource Group members, Kemi Lala Akindoju. The event also discovered Ile-Ife music talents, one of whom will be joining other talents identified in other states to feature on a Nigeria@50 commemorative CD called “I represent Nigeria”.

The town hall meetings for The Future Awards Season 5 officially wrapped up on Sunday, the 29th of November, with the Benin Town Hall meeting, which held in conjunction with the Benin-based Christian Fellowship International. The major speaker was The Future Awards Business Owner of the Year Winner, Mosunmola Umoru.
At the end of the day, The Future Awards visited every single state that it promised - going to ten states of Nigeria (Rivers, Cross River, Edo, Adamawa, Kaduna, Benue, Enugu, Osun, Abuja and Lagos) and three countries, and met and interacted practically and successfully with thousands of young Nigerians.
“We're grateful to God,” Mr. Williams said. “And immensely grateful to our partners like HiTV who made this possible. We can't wait to release the Nominees List of the brightest and best young Nigerians in the past year - because that is what it is all about, inspiring and supporting young Nigerians; and that makes all this hard work worth



...The Nominees
Actor of the Year

Omoni Oboli
Gideon Okeke
Mercy Johnson
Kemi Lala Akindoju
Tonto Dikeh
Ali Nuhu
Mercy Aigbe
Nonso Diobi

Best Use of Advocacy

Tunde David (YGC Africa)
Stephen Oguntoyinbo (Talk Village International)
Onodi Daniel Chinedu (Nigerian Youth Association, Benin Republic)
Ndubude Matthew Ekene (Nigeria Youth Fight Against Malaria)
Emmanuel Odiase (Smokefree Foundation)
Chuks Etuka (Will to Survive)
Isoke Aikpitanyi (Casa de Isoke)
Light Up Nigeria

Best Use of Science

• Oteri Ogoghorie (0.1 Seconds Automatic Changeover)
• Akintunde Babatunde (Novel tidal-flow constructed wetland system for wastewater treatment)
• Ify Aniebo (Research in malaria)
• Bade Adesemowo (Power Back Alarm)
• Tosin Ogunrinde (Invention in robotics)
• Okelola Mayokun (Research in climate change)
• Godspower Oboide (Magnetic safety bumpers)
• Kamal Olaleye (Power inverter innovation)

Best Use of Technology

• Bode Pedro (Veda Technologies)
• Ike Orizu (mytruspot.com)
• Olufemi Akande (iWorks)
• Temi Kolawole (Antigravity)
• Uche Eze (bellanaija.com)
• Saheed Adejuwon (DigiWorks)
• GobbleAbba Studios
• Jay Aloysius-Chukwuemeka (Bluelabs LLC)

Businesss Owner of the Year

• Oghenekaro Agono (Tremor Perfect)
• Erefe Fynecountry (Deheney Services)
• Debola Lewis (Yvent Couture)
• Ayo Arigbagbu (Dada Books)
• Hassan Rilwan (Focal Point Publishing)
• Henry Oraika (Motomedia)
• Uyi Omokaro (DM2)
• Sylvester Olusola Adade (Pearl Creations)

Creative Artist of the Year

• Olanrewaju Oluwafemi
• Onyeka Nwelue
• Andrew Esiebo
• Jumoke Verissimo
• Babadeji Ogunnubi
• Adekunle Samuel Owolabi
• Yakaa Celestine
• Richardson Oviebo

Excellence in Public Service
• Dr. Iofarfa Tor-ayin (Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi)
• Emmanuel Etim (UNFPA)
• Jerry Uchechukwu Eze (UNFPA)
• Dr. Idoko Abraham Braimah (General Hospital, Lagos)
• Fatima Zara Modibbo (Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria)
• Dr. Adedayo Osholowu (Lagos University Teaching University)
• Ngozi Iheukwumere (University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin)
• Oluwatoyin Jegede (Engineering Department, University of Lagos)

Journalist of the Year

•Toyosi Ogunseye (The Punch)
• Ruona Agbroko (NEXT)
• Rachel Ogbu (Newswatch)
• Chinedu Iroche (NEXT)
• Segun Adeoye (TELL)
• Amina Alhassan (Daily Trust)
• Afolabi Adekoya (Citypeople)
• Funke Adetutu (BusinessDay)

Magazine of the Year

• Ace
• Soundcity Blast
• The Applause
• Revealed
• Genexx
• Acada
• Dynamix
• Tripz

Model of the Year

• Aminat Ayinde
• Ibukun Jegede
• Olubunmi Ademokoya
•Tayo Ishola
• Warebi Martha
• Isi Atagamen
• Bisi Sowemimo
•Owobowale Ogunlaja

Musician of the Year

• Dare Art-Alade
• Wande Coal
• Banky W
• MI
• Omawunmi
• Rooftop MCs
• Kel
• Psquare

Music Producer of the Year

• Jesse Jagz
• DJ Clem
• JMartins
• K Solo
• Tee Y Mix
• Dokta Frabz
• Terry G
•Dekunzy

On-Air Personality of the Year (Radio)

• Tosyn Bucknor (Top Radio)
• Matse Uwatse (Wazobia FM)
• Toolz (Beat FM)
• Amake and Charles (Hot FM)
• Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi (Beat FM)
• Gbemileke Oyinsan (Inspiration FM)
• Bernie Ark (Cool FM Abuja)
• Chuks Roberts (Cosmo FM Enugu)

On-Air Personality of the Year (TV)

• Yvonne Ekwere (Silverbird TV)
• Cynthia Okpala (MTV Base)
• Adaure Achumba (Silverbird TV)
• Denrele Edun (Soundcity)
• Gloria Ebong (Channels TV)
• Veronica Onuchi (HiSoccer)
• Deji Falope (Street Dance)
• Andre Blaze (Nigezie)

Professional of the Year

• Franklin Ozekhome (Insight Communications)
• Abdularahman Aliyu (Abuja Investments Company Limited)
• Simi Dosekun (Kachifo Limited)
• Ifeanyi Ajuluchukwu (Access Bank)
• Dipo Okuribido (Banwo & Ighodalo)
•Fopefoluwa Adebayo (Goldman Sachs)
• Aneto Okonkwo (Management Consultant)
•Ifunnaya Maduka (Dean of Students, Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls)

Screen Producer of the Year

Dragon Fly Productions
Clarence Peters (Capital Productions)
Tola Odunsi (Storm Productions)
Imoh Umoren (Ultima Studios)
Chuka Ejorh (NeverMachine South Africa)
Yinka Obebe (Nigezie)
Gbenga Salu (Renders & Illusion)
Kenneth Gyang (“Finding Aisha”)

Sportsperson of the Year

• Osaze Odemwingie (Football)
• Vivian Chukwuemeka (Shotput)
• Mikel Obi (Football)
• Ikechukwu Uche (Football)
• Fatima Abinu (Lawn Tennis)
• Obafemi Martins (Football)
• Janet Dung (Athletics)
• Aruna Quadri (Table Tennis)

Style Entrepreneur of the Year

• Muyiwa Osindero (Clothesense)
• Uche Nnaji (Ouch!)
• Tobi Vincent (Alvince)
• Linda Ikeji (Blackdove Comms)
• Ugonna Umeruo (House of Nwaocha)
• Adetola Olateju (Xquizit)
• Biobelemoye Omoniyegha (Labelle’s Touch)
• Funke Ogunde (Phunk Afrique)

Team of the Year

•Africa Youth for Change
• Knighthouse Productions
• Light Up Nigeria
• Yellow Dog Productions
• Salsa Federation in Nigeria
• The Umusu Wives
• Gbagyichild Entertainment
• Glitz Youths

Young Person of the Year

• Ik Osakioduwa (On Air Personality)
• Toyosi Akerele (Youth Advocate)
• Tolu Ogunlesi (Journalist)
• Asa (Bukola Elemide) (Singer/Performer)
• Ify Aniebo (Scientist)
• Qudus Onikeku (Dance professional)
• Stephanie Okereke (Actor/Movie Producer)
• Cobhams Asuquo (Music Producer)


All nominees are Nigerian citizens aged 18-31. For the next two weeks, any complaint about any of the nominees can be sent to nominations@thefuturenigeria.com. After that, no other complaints will be entertained. The two-month judging process begins immediately. Voting, which is 50% of the first stage of the judging process, begins immediately. Voting ends December 31 2009. More information on the nominees and the judging process (including the Central Working Committee report) is on