By Doris Obinna
A Nigerian and nine other young African youths have emerged as winners of the 12th edition of the Future Africa Leaders Award (FALA) organised by Future Africa Leaders Foundation (FALF), an initiative of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
Nine of the winners went home with $10, 000 each, while the star prize winner received $35, 000.
FALA, which started in 2013, is an annual prize awarded to 10 African youth who have contributed significantly in their local communities through innovation, societal education on local and global issues, developing solutions to combat societal issues, advocacy, social education and societal awareness.
According to the organizers about $1.5 million has been disbursed to winners since inception.
The latest FALA winners are Julienne Ariori, a 23-year-old from Benin Republic (star prize winner; a 23-year-old technology innovator from Cameroon, Ntung Ngela Landon; a 19-year-old young leader from Cross River State, Nigeria, Favour Effiong; and a 23-year-old tech advocate from Benghazi, Libya, Mawada Abdalla.
Others are a 24-year-old from South Sudan, Israel Majak Yel; a 23-year-old visionary from Malawi, Anneckjiet Joan Kapomba, a 21-year-old business student from Morroco, Akram Sebai; a 25-year-old medical doctor from Guinea-Bissau, Jéssica Leonor Balde, a 23-year-old leader from Kenya, Collins Mwangi Karungo and a 21-year-old Egyptian humanitarian, Fady Atef Yousry.
Speaking in Lagos at the unveiling of the 2024 winners, Pastor Tuoyo Temisan of the Central Executive Council, Believers Loveworld, said FALF continues to build young African leaders to effectively realise their full potentials and has been identifying and mentoring young Africans in this regard
He said that FALA for African youth spread across countries and is open and free for all African youth.
Temisan said: “Over the past decade, FALF has been equipping individuals with essential skills and resources to drive change.
“For 12 years, FALF has recognized 123 recipients of the prestigious FALA for demonstrating outstanding leadership traits in solving problems in and for the continent, with grants totaling $1,340,000 to all winners from 30 African countries, spanning five regions.
“The years have been very impactful with our ambassadors who have played a leading role in providing sustainable solutions to their communities and nations through health, sanitation, agriculture, entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, technology, advocacy for justice and good governance in building the giant called Africa.
“The 10 young African entrepreneurs who were empowered, had demonstrated exemplary leadership by impacting their communities positively through education, youth empowerment and mentoring via other projects aimed at building young people and preparing them for a positive future.
“The 2024 edition awarded 10 very innovative young Africans from 10 different countries carting away $10,000 each, with the star prize winner from Benin Republic going home with an extra $25,000.”
“Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is a firm believer in the youth and he believes strongly that it is only Africans that would build Africa, which is why FALA identifies, recognises and mentors young Africans around the continent and gives them a solid foundation to do more.”
On his part, Senior Executive Officer of FALA, Dr Olajumoke Ola-Akinsanya, said that the award had transformed the winners and presented them with platforms to further show what they can do and how they have been able to impact their society.
According to him, “FALA has been able to transform the winners as they have had the opportunities to further show what they have been doing and how they have been able to impact their environment and communities.
“Winners, as the change agents, have had the opportunities to go global and have global accolades and recognition. FALA exposes winners to life-changing opportunities through invitations to global conferences and meetings.”
Also, Chief Operating Officer, Loveworld Inc, Pastor Arinze Emmanuel, who spoke on the impact of Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI), said COFI was established to help individuals, communities and nations to lead purposeful and productive lives in the service of the Lord.
“When you hear about Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, what comes to mind are his preaching, teaching, healing and the likes, but Pastor Chris is a lot more than that. FALA that is being talked about in this conference is one of the many works he is using to showcase his passion for humanity around the world,” he said.
The 2024 star prize winner, Julienne Ariori, a 23-year-old from Benin Republic, explained that she was motivated to embark on her initiatives in order to impact her people.
She pledged her commitment to creating a sustainable and self-sufficient future for Africa.