In another big move, one of Africa’s most influential entrepreneurs,
Tony O. Elumelu, CON, has announced a 5-year endowment of The Future Africa Awards prizes.
Recognised by the World Bank last year as ‘The Nobel Prize for Young
Africans’, The Future Awards Africa, which is in its 8th season, is
presented in partnership with the African Union Commission and
Microsoft.
“The future of Africa is in the hands of brilliant young minds such
as these,” said Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Founder
of the Tony Elumelu Foundation. “Our endowment, which looks to the long
term, will not only support the sustainability of this important prize,
but also encourage up and coming young African leaders, leaders who
understand that they have aduty to stimulatethis continent’s economic and
social development with creative solutions.”
Mr. Elumelu will also host 10 honourees for the African Young Person
of the Year Prize to an exclusive reception and mentorship session at
the Heirs Holdings office, Lagos, Nigeria on Friday, 16 August 2013. The
event is scheduled to coincide with the week of the International Day
of the Youth.
The honourees are drawn from across the continent and include
Africa’s youngest billionaire, Uganda’s Ashish J. Thakkar, and Malawi’s
inventor, William Kamkwamba, as well as Nigeria’s music entrepreneurs,
Peter and Paul Okoye (Psquare).
Other nominees for The Africa Prize are Tanzanian entrepreneur,
Patrick Ngowi; Nigerian social entrepreneur Grace Ihejiamaizu;
Cameroon’s rural health worker, Foglabenchi Lily Haritu; entrepreneur
and software developer, KariukiGathitu from Kenya; clean water advocate
and social entrepreneur, Saran Kaba Jones; South Africa’s youngest
patent holder and serial inventor, LudwickMarishane; and award winning
student inventor from Burkino Faso, MoctarDembélé.
“We are excited to announce this institutional partnership as Heirs
Holdings continues to set the pace for investing in Africa,” said Chude
Jideonwo, who is Executive Director of The Future Project. “Through
hisvaried support for young African leaders, Mr Elumelu has shown his
particular interest in the next generation of Africa’s brightest and
best, and in working with The Future Awards Africa, undeniably the
leading platform on the continent for leaders, innovators, and
entrepreneurs; he has taken yet another giant step.”
The awards event – to be televised exclusively for Africa Magic – holds in September 2013.
Media Partners include Channels TV, Silverbird TV, Nigeria Info, TW,
Ventures Africa, and Guardian Life. Online Partners are BellaNaija,
LindaIkejiBlog, Information Nigeria, Premium Times, 360Nobs,
NigeriaNewsDesk, LadunLiadiBlog, and Jobberman. Official Media Partners
are Cool FM, Wazobia FM and Y!/YNaija.com, and the official television
partner is Africa Magic.
For more information, visit @TFAAfrica on Twitter or the website
www.thefutureafrica.com/awards. The official hashtag for the event is
#TFAA2013.
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