The 8th edition of the Future Africa Leaders Awards (FALA) Foundation, an initiative of Rev. Chris Oyakhilome (PhD), founder and President of LoveWorld Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy, has been described as a beacon of hope for Africa development as it unveils star winner for 2020 FALA award.
The award has produced 80 winners overall across Africa since inception in 2013. The foundation identifies young leaders who are positively impacting and developing their communities, society across Africa.
At the media briefing for the 2020 winners, nine top winners and the Star winner for year were unveiled. The winners reel out their impactful programmes and dreams for the African continent and how they emerged winners.
The Star Award Winner, a 22-year-old social activist, Gwei Michael Wawa from Cameroon received a grand prize of $25,000 as a show of encouragement and $10,000 each for other winners.
FALA’s seeks to recognize and reward young men and women whose exemplary leadership skills have been utilized in developing solutions to issues addressed in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: no poverty, no hunger, quality healthcare, quality education, gender equality, sanitation and hygiene, renewable energy, jobs and economic growth in Africa.
According to the Coordinator of the award, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinsanya during the during the media briefing held yesterday in Lagos noted that the award
is to impact African youths all around the world through it’s mentorship programs that enable the youths to tackle prevalent challenges in Africa.
According to her, “FALA awards is notably established to encourage different endeavors of African youths and also to encourage people who are looking up to them in their communities.”
Also speaking at the briefing the head of FALA, Dave Opaka, who posits that the foundation is open to all young people between the age of 16 – 23, who are passionate about development of Africa irrespective of their religious background.
In his words, “Don’t forget, in the foundation, all Africans, irrespective of who you are, where you have your religious background is just open to all African to take responsibility, develop your immediate environment, and give back to your community”.
Dave argued that the best is coming from Africa as the foundation is modeling great African leaders for tomorrow to take responsibility from today.
“We used to wait for people to come from outside, you know from the Europe from the US to Develop Africa but now the future Africa Leaders Foundation, the young people are taking a stand now”
“they are saying we are going to build Africa for Africa, we’re going to make Africa even better. We don’t need to run out of Africa, Africa belongs to us. And with the degree and level of encouragement we are getting we are going to make Africa great” he noted.
Meanwhile, other top nine (9) winners from different countries in Africa includes; Tebogo Moroe from South Africa, Aicha Elhaj Mahamat from South Africa, Avante Susan Mafusire from Zambia, Christian Majeed Kwesi from Ghana, Mayamiko Banda from Malawi, Victor Emeka Mba from Nigeria, and Elsa Cethia Milandou from Congo.