AWARDEES
NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO)
Sani Bello Foundation
Sani Bello foundation is a non-profit organization. It was established to impact the society positively with resource and skill acquisition to improve the general well-being of Nigerians and also to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The SDGs in focus are No poverty (SDG 1), good health and wellbeing (SDG 2), and quality education (SDG 4).
Some of their projects include providing free VVF Operation for Women In Niger State in collaboration with Dr. Amina Abubakar Sani Bello and conducting a 3-Day free Diabetes Medical Treatment in conjunction with Hajiya Safinatu Buhari Foundation.
PHILANTROPISTS
Theophilus Danjuma
The former Nigerian Defence Minister and Chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum has already donated over $100 million to charities. The TY Danjuma Foundation is considered to be one of Africa’s largest charity organizations and Theophilus Danjuma himself is regarded as Nigeria’s top philanthropist.
The TY Danjuma Foundation provides grants to some partners and non-governmental organizations in the fields of education, poverty alleviation, policy advocacy and free healthcare. TY Danjuma Foundation motivates individuals and private organizations as well to contribute to the civil society’s development. He pays a lot of attention to effective investment in the Nigerian youths as they are the future of the nation.
OUTSTANDING INFLUENTIAL RELIGIOUS LEADER
ISLAM
Abubakar Sa’ad (Sultan of Sokoto)
Sa’ad Abubakar was born on August 24 1956 in Sokoto, Abubakar was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1977 and served in the elite Armoured Corps. He also commanded a battalion of African peacekeepers in Chad during the early 1980s as part of the Organisation of African Unity’s force and was military liaison officer for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the mid 1990s. In 2006, following the death of his brother Muhammadu Maccido, Abubakar ascended the throne.
In 2014, he was named the 18th most influential Muslim leader in the world. In 2015, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar IV was listed among the 10 recipients of the maiden edition of the Global Seal of Integrity (GSOI) and in August 2019, he was appointed the Co-Moderator of the Council of Religion for Peace (CRP).
CHRISTIANITY
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye
Enoch Adeboye joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God in 1973 and served as an interpreter before he was ordained a pastor in the Church in 1975. He became General Overseer of the church in 1981.
The church, which was not well known prior to Adeboye becoming the General Overseer, has branches in about 196 nations including more than 14,000,000 in Nigeria. In 2008, Adeboye was 1 of the 50 most powerful people in the world by Newsweek and in 2019, he was one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine.
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY PACESETTER
Justina Obaoye-Ajala
Barr. Justina Ajala is a United Nations Fellow for People of People of African Descent; Member of the Parliament of the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD); Ambassador of Nigeria for International Elite Women, Canada; Ambassador of African Youth Diaspora Organization (AYDO); Global Peace Ambassador of World Youth Organization (WYO); President of African Diaspora in China Network (ADiC Net); Pioneer Acting President of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NiDO China); and Country Director World Youth Summit (WYS) among others.
She is the first and only African Legal Practitioner in China who represents suspects in Chinese courts. As a Legal practitioner, she also facilitates legal forums and serves as legal English translator to foreigners in China due to the complexity of the Chinese law and language. She provides pro-bono and legal services to people of African descent especially Nigerians; and also serves as an intermediary between prison inmates and their families among others.
During the coronavirus pandemic outbreak in China, she contributed immensely to supporting and intervening on behalf of Nigerians and Africans who were affected by the Guangzhou crisis. She was also involved in the evacuation processes and welfare of Nigerians stranded in China.
