The 16th annual ThisDay Awards has announced its nominees for honorary awards that will be dedicated to young entrepreneurs and change makers.
MTV Africa boss, Alex Okosi as well as one of Nigeria’s biggest musical exports 2face Idibia, have been included in the ‘New Champions for an Enduring Africa’ category.
Over the last six years, Okosi has established the MTV franchise in Africa with his bright and proficient ideas on how Nigerian music should be branded. Taking on the mantel of leadership, he has showcased not only Nigerian but African artistes and their music to the world by giving them the necessary and relevant exposure.
Similarly, 2face has garnered much success across the years with chart topping singles, bestselling albums, international features and multiple awards. He has successfully carved a niche for himself as the young and old have embraced his music wholeheartedly.
Both men will square off with other similar successful Nigerian ambassadors – UK born actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, media entrepreneur Toyin Subair, award winning writer Chimamanda Adichie, and celebrated designer Deola Sagoe.
The awards’ motto this year is ‘For excellence and good governance 2011‘, and will also be giving a post humous award to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua for his ‘notable economic reforms’ and ‘amnesty programme’.
Here below is the full list nominees and lifetime achievement award recipients:
Young Global Champions
Aigboke Aig-Imokhuede and Herbert Wigwe
Philip Ihenacho and Kolawole Aluko
Ernest Azudialu of Nestoil Engineering
Ladi Balogun
Wale Tinubu and Mofe Boyo of Oando Group
Tope Sonubi, Tonye Cole and Ade Odunsi of Sahara Group
Innocent Chukuma of Innosons Group
Abdulsamad Isyaku Rabiu of BUA
Kashim Bukar Shettima of Barbedos Group
Hassan Usman of Aso Savings & Loans Plc
The Diamond Bank 5 – Emeka Onwuka, U.K Eke, Uzoma Dozie, Dele Akinyemi and Victor Ezenwoko
The GT Bank 5 – Segun Agbaje, Jide Ogundare, Titi Osuntoki and Akin George-Taylor
Sola David-Borha and Yinka Sanni of Stanbic/IBTC
ABC Orjiako of Seplat Petroleum
New Champions for an Enduring Culture
Chimamanda Adichie – Writer
Chiwetel Ejiofor – Actor
Innocent Idibia (2face) – Musician
Alex Okosi – MTV Africa President
Deola Sagoe – Designer
Toyin Subair – Media Entrepreneur
Change Makers in Social Entrepreneurship
Fola Tajudeen Adeola – Fare Foundation
Sam Adeyemi – Daystar
Tony Rapu – Freeman Foundation
Change Makers in Governance
Rotimi Amaechi – Governor, Rivers State
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi – Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria
Lifetime Achievement
Alhaji Hassan
Professor Adebayo Adedeji
Mr. Femi Adeniyi-Williams
Professor Bolaji Akinyemi
Senator Jibril Aminu
Mr. George S. Coumantaros
Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu
Professor Ben Nwabueze
Ms Francesca Emanuel
Mallam Ismaila Isa Funtua
Alhaji Shehu Malami
Mr. Alex Ibru
Mr. Faisal El-Khalil
Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu
Post Humous Lifetime Achievement
Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’dua
