By Obi Obumneme
The BET Award and Grammy award nominee, Damini Ogulu, a.k.a Burna Boy, on Sunday emerged winner of the 2019 Young Person of the Year Future Awards.
The ‘Dangote still dey find money’ music crooner bagged two awards during the award gala night at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The awards are, the Young Person of the Year and also the Prize for Music at the event held.
However, Forbes tagged the Future Awards Africa as the Nobel Prize for Young Africans and the most important youth awards.
Future Awards is an annual remarkable award given to outstanding youths, who are within the age bracket of 18 and 31 in a 10 category nomination.
The Future Awards has produced over 150 winners and over 1,550 nominees since its first edition in 2006.
Other award winners during the gala night are Future Prize for Agriculture that went to Uka Eje — founder of the Thrive Agric that has funded over 15, 000 farmers across Nigeria.
For the Future Award Prize for Media, Samuel Ajiboye clinched the gong as a young entrepreneur and a Country Manager, Alpha and Jam — a company that has presence in four African countries.
Mr. Israel Adesanya, Nigeria’s World Champions in the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial art, a kick boxer got the prize for Sport.
The Future Award for Education went to Olaseni Cole, who runs an empowerment programme aimed at preparing and equipping children with skills within the tech-space. The project has impacted over 3,000 children in Lagos and Ogun.
The Future Award Prize for Arts went to Ken Nwadiogu, a multidisciplinary artist and contemporealist. He founded the fast growing Artland Contemporary Ltd.
The Future Award for Acting was won by Timini Egbuson, an actor in the MTV television series Shuga.
The Prize for Advocacy was won by 32-year-old Hamsat Lawal, who led a successful campaign in over 40 countries and specialises in practical issues related to climate change and others.
The Prize for Community Action was won by Isaac Success, founder, Dreams from the Slum, an empowerment initiative to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
The Prize for On Air Personality was won by Simi Drey Adejumo, a broadcaster with Beat FM.
The Prize for Film Making was won by Dare Olaitan for his efforts in the blockbuster film, Ojukokoro (Greed) and Knockout Blessing. He also clinched the 15th Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA.
The Future Award for Photography was won by Tolani Alli, the personal photographer to the Vice President. She has featured on BBC News, World Press and other international media houses.
The Award for Journalism was won by Shola Lawal, a freelance journalist covering social justice, development and creativity.
The Future Awards for Professional Service was won by Bukky Akomolafe, the Commercial Manager at Travelsstart, Africa’s largest online travel agency.
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