A Year of Bold Beginnings
Discover the 2021 winners — visionary young founders who redefined innovation, resilience, and purpose despite a year filled with global challenges.
ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP & GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT
OLALEKAN SAMUEL AJAYI
Olalekan Samuel Ajayi’s work surrounds the uncovering and utmost utilization of Africa’s most potent resource; her young people. As a big believer in young people and their capacity to deliver transformative change, he founded Project Africa Now (PAN) a youth-led organization using media among other tools to drive and inspire young Africans towards creating positive change.
He is a graduate of Law from the University of Lagos and a United People Global Sustainability Leader. Olalekan is a continental bridge builder with his works recording impact across 6 African countries.
A multi-award winning public speaker, he was the only African delegate at the 2021 United People Global Sustainability Leadership Programme at the Hurricane Island Centre for Science and Leadership, Maine, United States.
He is committed to building a youth-focused media space gathering voices and connecting brands with youths and converting target markets into long term admirers.
AGRICULTURE
AKANDE FEYISAYO
Feyisayo Priscilla Akande founder of Cillabel, an Agri-food tech company in Nigeria, from Inputs to table. Cillabel is into supplying agricultural Input to Farmers especially the rural farmers who find it difficult to get improved seeds, this has been done digitally and it has also helped in reaching large targeted farmers. We are also into crop production, processing and packaging of organic vegetables, dried Ewedu, plantain flour and Okra.
My aim is to solve several problems found in the Agricultural value chain which includes post harvesting loss, pricing, low yield, farmers education and many more, with the use of technology. I’m an advocate for Agriculture by focusing my efforts towards solving problems in the agricultural industry for real change and attaining Zero hunger (SDG2).
ARTS, CRAFT & CULTURE
AGALI DEBORAH CHINONSO
Deborah chinomso Agali, popularly known as DEBBIE’S ART is a 19 year old pencil sketch artist from ukala okpunor, Delta state, Nigeria.
Debbie’s love for arts started as a child when it was discovered that she was always the best in fine art in school. It was with great difficulty she was allowed to pursue a career in fine arts, being that it’s basically a male dominated one.
Pencil sketch has made Debbie meet notable celebrities in Nigeria and even the popular Cardi B when she visited Nigeria.
BEAUTY & MAKEUP
OVO DERBY ESE
A graduate of Covenant university (Bsc. Psychology , 2017). She is the Creative director of Aces & Dabs creatives. This business is sub branched into an urban fashion /streetwear brand plus a beauty brand. (Rujee by Aces & dabs). The collective focus is affordability of beauty products & clothing without compromising on quality , safety, texture etc… She is a volunteer therapist @mybeautifulmng ,Also a Real estate consultant at oxford international group.
She is passionate about mental health, business development & branding, personnel management , Real Estate.
She has been nominated for the 25 under 25 awards in these categories; Beauty & make up , Fashion , manufacturing & logistics.
CREATIVE WRITING & CONTENT CREATION
TOKE ADENIYI
Adeniyi Adetoke, CEO Toke Suave Company is a passionate and syndicated writer who earned a living through writing. She is inspired by people and problems and uses her analytical and problem solving skills to solve them. Because of this, she often describe herself as a business baddie. Asides that, she describes herself as a colorful mess because she reminds people that their quirks and flaws are what makes them divine and successful entrepreneurs.
E-COMMERCE
VINCENT DAVIDS
EDUCATION
SHINA AJOYE
Shina Ajoye is a certified project manager, certified product manager, personal brand strategist, leadership coach and business consultant. He has gained enormous experience from management of several high impact community projects and active volunteering and consulting for several businesses, social enterprises and Non-Governmental Organizations.
He is the MD/CEO of Difference Makers Centre. Difference Makers Centre is a personal development training centre established to inspire, train and equip responsible, effective and accountable leaders to make a significant difference in societies, corporate bodies and nations. Her services include Branding, Professional Trainings, Corporate strategy sessions,
Product Management, Project Management, Business Development and Analytics, Financial Analysis.
Innovation Management and Value Innovation in products.
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY
OMOLAJA EMMANUEL
Emmanuel is an impact-oriented renewable energy enthusiast who is also passionate about nature preservation. His desire to proffer clean and affordable electricity supply across Nigeria led him to establish a clean energy company called RENERWORLD GLOBAL LIMITED with a great team passionate about impact. His team achieved a major feat with the launch of Renerlite Classic, a compact solar energy system that currently provides reliable electricity supply to remote workers and tech guys across Nigeria.
ENVIRONMENT & INTERIOR DECOR
PRISCILLA UZERO
Priscilla Uzero Is the founder and creative director of Marie-p creations, a social enterprise that uses waste, old or discarded items to create beautiful, custom made furniture and decorative products for interior spaces. she is a passionate environmentalist, intrigued by culture and loves to creatively design, beautify and use her products to add the final/missing piece in any space. At the end, her aim is not only to beautify spaces, but to find creative solutions to curb environmental pollution and also help people earn a living via waste upcycling.
EVENT PLANNING
ESTHER OYEKUNLE
Esther IbukunOluwa Oyekunle is a serial entrepreneur with over five years experience in Event and Project Management. She is the founder and creative director of E-Beracah Events. E-Beracah Events is a company that offers full professional event planning, decoration and business mentorship services. The company was established out of passion to take stress off people and the drive to bring clients’ preconceived ideas into actualisation. Like our motto says: “You imagine it, we actualise it!”
FASHION
DOYINMOLA OLAJOYE
She is the Founder, and Lead Textile Designer, Dhoney Adire and Crafts Nigeria. She is an experienced, and award-winning fashion model, African culture enthusiast, and advocate of Recycling through African arts and culture. Her dream is to see a world that embraces African Adire, while curbing the harm throwing out old clothes can cause to humans. Doyinmola is a female visibility advocate and lover of girl-child development. Her interest in helping young adults (emphasis on girls) find their feet early in life led her to start the Orange Humanity project, aimed at empowering young girls to improve the quality of their lives, and ultimately birth an economically viable society.
FINANCE & FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY
PRECIOUS OKEREKE
Precious Okereke is a Business Trainer and the Founder of AccountHub Global Institute(AGI). Precious is a global Changemaker and he is passionate about promoting financial inclusion amongst SMEs in Africa. Having contributed towards the growth of SMEs owners in Nigeria and across Africa, Precious has gain several global recognition and awards both for himself and brand.
FOOD & DRINKS
BUSAYO DAMILOLA
Busayo Damilola Egbetokun. CEO of TOKY CAKES AND MORE., In 2020, she won a seed invest grant from Biodun & Ibikunle Foundation and also won The startup of the year award organized by The Entrepreneur Africa. A graduate of Business administration from The polytechnic ilaro, currently running my 2nd degree with the university of Lagos. I have bagged 4 professional certificate in Entrepreneurship.
HEALTH & SKINCARE
JUMOKE MONSURAT
Jumoke is a flourishing entrepreneur dedicated to health and wellness that aims to enhance well-being. Monsurat is a managing director of Wholesome Naturals previously known as Azeemouhaa Enterprise which has been in existence for the past 5 years. She is a student of Entrepreneur at National Open University of Nigeria.
HOSPITALITY & TOURISM
MARYAM ARAMIDE
My name is Atolagbe Maryam, i am 21 years old and i am the founder of Machoice Integrated Services. I am a 500 level undergraduate student of university of ilorin, department of Agriculture. I am currently the president of Agbelere Practical Oriented Club(APOC) and the Vice president of Nigerian association of agricultural economics students (NAAES UNILORIN CHAPTER), I was the Public Relations officer for APOC unilorin chapter 2019/2020. I am from kwara state and my hobbies are meeting new people, travelling, writing and sewing. My favorite color is Ash. I am from a Family of 7. My 7 years working experience including working at Yaali Foods Nigeria limited and Lankhaff L. Nigeria enterprises, has made me an expert in structuring and organizing business plans, sales, pallet arrangements and marketing.
MANUFACTURING & LOGISTICS
CHIOMA UKPABI
Chioma Ukpabi is a Communication Arts graduate of Bowen University. The young creative is a Shoemaker and the Founder and Creative Director of Kahdsole Designs; a leather-works brand that deals in crafting quality & durable footwear for both male and female.
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS
GLORIA OLUFEKO
Gloria Olufeko is a radio presenter per excellence with over 2 years in radio presenting and media related fields. She has hosted several conferences, exhibitions, weddings and parties and she currently hosts the Afternoon belt on Africa Tech Radio which is Africa’s First Technology centered radio. Her love to impact knowledge informed her Instagram series as a diction coach called “Sounding Right with DocGlo” which airs every Monday. She is the Founder and Creative Director of “What is Radio”- a conference for Up and Coming Radio Presenters.
MUSIC
RUGER
Michael Adebayo was Born in Lagos State, Nigeria. He is a Perfect musician, rapper, and songwriter. He made many songs and record producer.
PERFORMING ARTS
FOLASHADE AYINDE
My name is Folashade Ayinde, a graduate of leadcity university where I read Performing arts and film studies.
I am from Ogun state
Ijebu ife.
I am the CEO of Ef’her Art Management, we manage theatre artiste. I am also the convener of the Theatre Students awards (TSA) which is nationally recognized amongst all students in Nigeria.
Theatre Students Awards
(TSA) awards is an annual event poised at showcasing and rewarding excellence in creative, extracurricular and leadership qualities of students in the Department of Theatre Arts in Nigerian higher institutions. TSA is conceptualized as an annual celebration of the brightest and the best in the practical aspect of Theatre art. It’s is about style, talent, creativity.
PHOTOGRAPHY
SOBOLA DEMOLA ANDREW
Ademola is a professional photographer with over 3 years experience in capturing captivating memories and ensuring client satisfaction. His professionalism and ability to learn and serve on the go has set him aside from peers in the same industry and the world at large.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
ADEDEJI FALETO
Ayodeji Faleto is a multifaceted experienced professional versed in the areas of Corporate Finance, Credit Risk Management, Anti Money Laundering, Economic Analysis, Due Diligence, Financial Modeling & Valuation, Industry Analysis and Personal Branding. He is passionate about human capital development and how it can reduce unemployment levels across Nigeria and beyond, hence he founded “Careers and Business Everything” One of Nigeria’s fast emerging human capital development businesses focusing on career development & everything business. Ayodeji holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the University of Lagos and he currently works as a Risk Management Analyst.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
HAOMA WORGWU
Haoma Worgwu is the founder of Envisage hub, Africa’s first career clinic. Envisage hub is an innovative career development hub, born out of the desire of Miss Haoma to enhance the career progression of youths in Africa and beyond. The social enterprise works tirelessly to bridge three major gaps, responsible for the slow career progression of young individuals. They include; -Skills and knowledge gap -Information gap (concerning available developmental opportunities) and – The gap between industry experts and youths. She is also the community development coordinator at Covenant University, a student manager at Hebron Startup Lab and the founder of Envisage foundation, an organization instilling the entrepreneurial mindset in youths, whilst engaging in philanthropy. Furthermore, Haoma has been recognized by other reputable organizations such as the United Nations, UNDP and Goldman Sachs, for her exceptional inputs into the social enterprise sector. Haoma is one passionate young lady that desires to see a rejuvenated Africa and will devote her resources, time and network to see this actualized. She is also passionate about God, career development and social entrepreneurship.
SOFTWARE & DESIGN
OLAMIDE OJO
Mide is a graduate of Computer Science and a young entrepreneur in Nigeria. Due to his passion for tech, He ventured into Website design and Branding after which he founded Friztech, a remote company dedicated to the same course. Via the brand, He has worked with different organizations and individuals. Based on his entrepreneurial prowess and love for Agriculture, he established Oaksfarm. Since inception, the company has embarked on massive Agric projects.
SPORTS
ESE BRUME
Brume represented Nigeria at the 2016 Olympic Games where she placed 5th in the Long Jump final with a leap of[6]6.81m[7] Brume won the bronze medal in the Long Jump event at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, with a jump of 6.91 m and at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, with a jump of 6.97 m
TECHNOLOGY
OPEMIPO DISU
Opemipo Disu is a 15-year-old Developer who is passionate about making technology more accessible to everyone. He’s currently an IBM Champion, and a Developer Advocate for Muse Inc. Opemipo is currently a world-class teenage developer.