NGOs
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.
New Era Educational and Charitable Support Foundation
Registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with Registration Number 24571 in 2007, New Era Educational and Charitable Support Foundation is a non-profit organization that is well known for having a well known international recognition. The organization also helps in turning drug-influenced individuals into agents of change and peace in society. In general, the New Era Educational and Charitable Support Foundation is known to help increase peace and conflict mediation, health, capacity building in youths, etc. Some of the programs organized by the foundation include the interfaith academy, peace education, leadership, and governance, etc. The foundation has gotten numerous awards including Best Planning and Education Leadership of the Year Award, Winner of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Youth Solidarity Fund.
Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI)
Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) was registered as a non-governmental organization on March 3, 2011. The organization is committed to promoting and protecting the fundamental rights of children in Nigeria by providing free legal and support services to children who have been abused and through advocacy at all levels in order to reduce incidences of child abuse in the Nigerian society. Currently, the organization has rescued 518 abused children, empowered 114 women, and passed 2 bills into law.
Mai Atafo
Mai Atafo is the founder and creative director of fashion brand, ATAFO, which specialises in bespoke menswear, womenswear alongside bridal and evening couture. The dynamic brand is also known for their stylish approach to traditional Nigerian wear, testament to Mai’s deep connection to his heritage and his own roots. ATAFO, formerly known as Mai Atafo, is a multidisciplinary fashion brand which creates menswear, womenswear and bridal collections. Over the years, Mai Atafo has received various recognitions and awards such as Menswear Fashion Brand of the Year in 2018 and Outstanding Contribution to Nigerian Fashion in 2019.
PHILANTHROPISTS
Tony Elumelu
Tony Elumelu is a Nigerian entrepreneur and the pioneer of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship program under The Tony Elumelu Foundation. Tony worked in making Standard Trust Bank into a top player in Nigeria and when they merged with UBA, he was the chairman until his retirement. Following his retirement from UBA in 2010, Tony Elumelu founded Heirs Holding. He also founded The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) which is a leading philanthropic initiative in Africa championing entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs across the continent. He has received several recognitions and awards such as ESI most influential figures in African power and Leadership Award in Business and Philanthropy from the AAI.
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.
Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaurah
More commonly known as AA Zaurah, He is a philanthropist and one of the youngest grassroot politicians in Northern Nigeria. He is also the founder of the AA Zaurah foundation. The foundation has empowered over 4,000 women and children with resources to earn a living and also created rehabilitation programs to fight the increasing rate of drugs and substance abuse in Northern Nigeria.
Mai Atafo
Mai Atafo is the founder and creative director of fashion brand, ATAFO, which specialises in bespoke menswear, womenswear alongside bridal and evening couture. The dynamic brand is also known for their stylish approach to traditional Nigerian wear, testament to Mai’s deep connection to his heritage and his own roots. ATAFO, formerly known as Mai Atafo, is a multidisciplinary fashion brand which creates menswear, womenswear and bridal collections. Over the years, Mai Atafo has received various recognitions and awards such as Menswear Fashion Brand of the Year in 2018 and Outstanding Contribution to Nigerian Fashion in 2019.
MOST INFLUENTIAL RELIGIOUS LEADER
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).
Pastor Enoch 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.
Dr Paul Enenche
Dr. Paul Enenche is a dynamic Pentecostal Nigerian Pastor and founder of Dunamis International Gospel Center, headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria. He was born June 4, 1968, in Otukpo, to the family of Chief D.E Eneche the paramount ruler of Orokam District in Ogbadibo Local Government Area in Benue State, Nigeria, West Africa.
MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG POLITICIAN
Dr. Ahmed Adamu
Ahmed Adamu is a petroleum economist and lecturer, he was elected on November 12, 2013 as the first-ever global chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council. Adamu served as the CYC chairperson until March 2016.
Amb. Elijah Onyeagba
Elijah Chinezim Onyeagba is a Nigerian economist, banker and politician who is the ambassador of the federal republic of Nigeria to the republic of Burundi. Onyeagba is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under which he contested for the Federal House of Representatives Anaocha, Dunukofia and Njikoka federal constituency in Anambra state in the 2019 general elections, which was won by the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). In 2021, Onyeagba was named among Nigeria’s “Under 50 Leaders in Public Service” by Blueprint and Vanguard.
Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaurah
More commonly known as AA Zaurah, He is a philanthropist and one of the youngest grassroot politicians in Northern Nigeria. He is also the founder of the AA Zaurah foundation. The foundation has empowered over 4,000 women and children with resources to earn a living and also created rehabilitation programs to fight the increasing rate of drugs and substance abuse in Northern Nigeria.
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.
Umar Mohammed Umar Galadima
Umar is a Peace Ambassador with the Commonwealth Youth Council YCAEV Programme in Nigeria since 2015, an ex-National Education Officer DfiD ENGINE II Programme 2018 to 2020, and a growing developmental, humanitarian and government sector professional with vast experience in Educational, Youth, Gender and Conflict Sensitive Programmes in various capacities for almost a decade. Umar is an award winner of the Youth Impact Award by Obafemi Awolowo University 2017. He is a recipient of Youth Excellence Award in Youth Leadership at Merit House 2017, a recipient of Gender Advocacy in Girls Education Challenge by DfiD/ENGINE II 2020 and has been identified by Federal and State Ministry of Education among the young people adding value to the Educational Sector in Nigeria. Ambassador Umar Galadima has been a member of Bring Back Our Girls campaign since 2014 who went beyond Civic Engagement commitments of demanding the return of the kidnapped Chibok Girls in 2014 to Public Policy Advocacy of safe schools declaration by building the capacity and confidence of vulnerable communities and affected schools for the safety of school children in Nigeria.
Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaurah
More commonly known as AA Zaurah, He is a philanthropist and one of the youngest grassroot politicians in Northern Nigeria. He is also the founder of the AA Zaurah foundation. The foundation has empowered over 4,000 women and children with resources to earn a living and also created rehabilitation programs to fight the increasing rate of drugs and substance abuse in Northern Nigeria.
Contact us
251 Herbert Macaulay way, Millennium Builders Plaza 2nd floor, opposite NNPC Towers, Central Business District, Abuja
Phone: 0703 885 1322
Email: nigeriancitizensawards@gmail.com
