As always, it’s the most anticipated list this year! The Future Awards, described by the World Bank as “The Nobel Prize for Young Africans”, after unveiling its spectacular Young Person of the Year nominees earlier this week, has now released the full Nominees List for all 21 categories.

Voting begins immediately! The voting numbers are 33120 (All networks) for Nigeria, and 1523 (Expresso & MTN), 1910 (Airtel) for Ghana. You can also vote on www.thefuturenigeria.com. According to the organisers, voting takes only 50% of the second stage of judging, so winners are not selected by voting popularity – there is a 4-stage judging process involving a Board of Judges and an Independent Audit Committee. There is also a one-week period for members of the public to make complaints about any of the nominees to the awards Central Working Committee (CWC). Please send complaints to [email protected].

All the nominees will be celebrated at an invitation-only media and VIP Nominees Reception on Saturday, 4 August 2012 – where they will also be inducted into the elite The Future Alumni Network. The Reception is also a yearly charity fundraiser – and this year, the event will be raising money for the Down Syndrome Association of Nigeria, a pioneering advocacy platform for children with Down’s Syndrome.

“Though there were remarkable difficulties in getting young leaders and entrepreneurs closer to 20 than 30, but we are excited to have yet arrived at an inspiring run-down of young Nigerians,” said Chude Jideonwo, who is executive director of The Future Project. “We gave ourselves the tough task of finding innovators, entrepreneurs and the kinds of young people you don’t always hear about, which is the essence of The Future Awards and we are as always, incredibly proud of the nominees we have.”

Profiles of the nominees will be published on the official website www.thefuturenigeria.com and on www.facebook.com/thefutureawards by July 31, 2012. Let the race begin!

THE FUTURE AWARDS 2012 NOMINEES LIST

*Note that, due to the adjusted The Future Awards calendar (it was moved from its traditional January to August, the period in review is October 2010 – May 2012. Nominees who were still 31 years as at March 2011 (six months into the period in review) are therefore eligible.

CHANGE

Best Use of Advocacy

  1. Ferdinand Adimefe (Interface Foundation)                     28
  2. Olumide Makanjuola (The Initiative for Equal Rights) 25
  3. Orode Jade Uduaghan (Pink Pearl Cancer Foundation) 22
  4. Adamma Umeofia            (WeBuilt: Nigeria)                                   20
  5. Chizoba Imoka (Unveiling Africa Foundation)                 25
  6. Esther Agbarakwe (Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition) 28
  7. Priscilla Usiobaifo            (Brave Heart Initiative)                                    28
  8. Babafemi Oyediran (Rural Enterprise Development

Project)                                                                                            29

Best Use of New Media

  1. Japheth Omojuwa                                                                                    28
  2. Gidi Traffic                                                                                      22
  3. Ediong Umoh                                                                                 25
  4. #OccupyNigeria                                                                            26
  5. #SaveOke                                                                                        28
  6. Beacons                                                                                           29
  7. Nmachi Jidenma                                                                           24
  8. Wale Adetula                                                                                 27

CREATIVITY

Creative Artist Of The Year

  1. Obi Somto (Photographer)                                                       23
  2. Bayo Omoboriowo (Photographer)                                      25
  3. Chibundo Onuzo (Writer)                                                        21
  4. Bobo Omotayo (Writer)                                                                        29
  5. Imole Balogun (Photographer)                                              23
  6. Remi Adegbite       (Photographer)                                        30
  7. Onyeka Nwelue (Writer)                                                          30
  8. Mohammed Abbagana   (Painter)                                          26

Designer of the Year

  1. Adebisi Anita (Ms Makor)                                                         23
  2. Kola Kudus (Kola Kudus)                                                         30
  3. Olorunyomi Omoniyi Makun (Yomi Casuals)                   27
  4. Toluwaloju Olowofoyeku (Toju Foyeh)                              23
  5. Osakwe Amaka (Maki Oh)                                                        26
  6. Rukky Ladoja/Obi Obi/Tola Ayanwale (Grey)                 27/29/27
  7. Ugonna Omeruo (House of Nwocha)                                               28
  8. Akpos Okudu (Akpos Okudu)                                                 25

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE

Public

  1. Akin Rotimi            (Ekiti State Governor’s Office)                        31
  2. Banks Omisore (National Assembly)                                                29
  3. Chime Asonye (The Presidency)                                           26
  4. Ohimai Amaize (Ministry of Sports)                                     31
  5. John Gomiluk Otokwala (Securities and Exchange

Commission)                                                                                28

  1. Adaeze Nnamani (Ministry of National Planning)          31
  2. The Corper (National Youth Service Corps)                      All ages
  3. Hadiza Abdullahi (The Presidency)                                      31

Journalism

  1. Chiemelie Ezeobi  (Thisday)                                                    24
  2. Tolu Ogunlesi (NEXT/Forbes Africa)                                   29
  3. Alkasim Abdulkadir (CNN)                                                      31
  4. Toyosi Ogunseye  (The Punch)                                               29
  5. Oluyinka Ezekiel Adeparusi (National Mirror)                30
  6. Tomi Oladipo (BBC)                                                                    27
  7. Barnabas Hunjo (Radio Nigeria)                                            28
  8. Elo Nkereuwem (NEXT/Premium Times)                         31

Corporate

  1. Adim Isiakpona (Marketing Manager, HP)                                    27
  2. Seyi Ogunro (Associate, Banwo & Ighodalo)                     29
  3. Aneto Okonkwo (Manager, Google)                                      27
  4. Ngozi Nkwoji (Senior Brand Manager, NB Plc)                30
  5. Tomiwa Adesida (Head of CSR, Sahara Group)                32
  6. Tomijogun Ogunlesi (Campus Brand Manager, Reckitt

Benckiser)                                                                                      28

  1. Kayode Jegede       (General Manager/Head of Facility

Management, Deux Project)                                                    30

  1. Tokini Peterside (Communication Manager, Moet

Hennessy)                                                                                       24

INNOVATION

Science and Technology

  1. Ahmed Mukoshy (Yrn.me)                                                      23
  2. Nnoduka Eruchalu (Ploggin.com)                                         22
  3. Olumide Adewunmi (Gidilounge)                                         27
  4. Zubair Abubakar  (Nigerian Constitution BlackBerry

App)                                                                                                  32

  1. Chinwe Njokwu (Novel designs for microwave antennas using

Nanomaterials)                                                                                         27

  1. Seun Onigbinde (BudgIT)                                                         26
  2. Femi Alade  (Pliris Mobile)                                                       30
  3. Raheem Temitope Bello            (geoUtil, a solution for 70%

current household energy consumption)                          19

Education

  1. Gossy Ukanwoke  (Beni Online University)                       24
  2. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji (Bookneto)                                               21
  3. Tosin Jegede (One Child, One Book)                                     31
  4. Adebayo Adegbembo (ASA)                                                     29
  5. Otto Orondaam (Slum to School Project)                            26
  6. Desiree Craig (Efiko)                                                                  23
  7. Tolulope Sangosanya (Love on the Streets)                       30
  8. Obinna Okwodu (Robotic teaching in secondary

schools)                                                                                           21

ENTERPRENEURSHIP

General

  1. Oyigoye Doyle (Nylahs Catering)                                           30
  2. Kola Oyeneyin (Venia Business Hub)                                  31
  3. Titus and Tobias Igwe (Speadmeals Mobile Kitchen)    24
  4. Aisha Maina (Aquarian Consult)                                            31
  5. Ayodele Arigbagbu (Dada Books)                                         32
  6. Osaru Alile & Lape Caxton-Onakoya (Caxton-Alile)        30
  7. Ola Orekunri (Flying Doctors Nigeria)                                 26
  8. Ladi Delano            (Bakrie Delano Africa)                                     30

Agriculture

  1. Ajo Kunnuho John (Animal husbandry)                            29
  2. Omoteso Sogo Ayodele (Piggery/Fishery/Poultry)        27
  3. Tochukwu Onyemelukwe (Jaeet Nigeria Limited)          30
  4. Olukayode Adeoye (Whails and Chase)                              32
  5. Ayodeji Adeyinka Adeoye (Irewolede Farms)                 30
  6. Fawolu Taiwo (Abivict Farms)                                               28
  7. Olusola Amusan (Olusola Amusan Company)                  22
  8. Zechariah Obasola (Crop farming)                                        30

Media/Communication

  1. Julie Odia (WOW)                                                                                    31
  2. Adaora Mbelu (Innovation Factory)                                     26
  3. Uyi Omokaro (DM2)                                                                   30
  4. Bobby Taylor (Bobby Taylor Consulting)                          30
  5. Komolafe Adesola            (Media Insight)                                        30
  6. Samuel Olatunji (Big Sam Media)                                          30
  7. Uche Eze (BainStone)                                                                 29
  8. Funmilade Alalade (Elev8)                                                      28

Entertainment

  1. David Adeleke (HKN)                                                                 20
  2. Keke Hammond (Flytime Productions)                              30
  3. Tana Adelana (Tana Adelana Productions)                       28
  4. Emmanuel Dole Onoja (Delphino Entertainment)         28
  5. Don Jazzy (Mo-Hits/Mavin Records)                                               30
  6. Cobhams Asuquo (CAMP)                                                        31
  7. Mamah Nwanchukwu (Ape Planet)                                     28
  8. Clarence Peters (CAPital Dreams Pictures)                       29

Technology

  1. Ayodeji Adewunmi/Opeyemi Awoyemi/Olalekan         28/24/28

Olude  (Jobberman)

  1. Ajibola Modupe (OTG Playa LLC)                                          29
  2. Jason Njoku (Iroko Partners)                                                  31
  3. Eno Essien (Rheycrak)                                                              30
  4. Bode Pedro (Veda Technology)                                             29
  5. Kayode Disu (IISA)                                                                      29
  6. Temi Kolawole (Antigravity)                                                   27
  7. Femi Alade (Pliris Mobile)                                                        30

ENTERTAINMENT

On Air Personality of the Year (Radio)

  1. Oladotun Kayode (Cool FM)                                                    28
  2. Twitwi (Wazobia FM)                                                                32
  3. Toke Makinwa (Rhythm FM)                                                  26
  4. Maltida Duncan (Rhythm FM, Abuja)                                  31
  5. Tolu “Toolz” Oniru (Beat FM)                                                 30
  6. Nike Adewuyi (Splash FM, Ibadan)                                      27
  7. Lorenzo Menakaya (Lion FM, Enugu)                                 26
  8. Mazino (Smooth FM)                                                                  30

On Air Personality of the Year (TV)

  1. Dolapo Oni  (Studio 53/Mnet)                                                            28
  2. Denrele Edun (Channel O)                                                       28
  3. Uti Nwanchukwu (Jara/Mnet)                                                            30
  4. Ill Rymz (Nigerian Idol)                                                             27
  5. Andre Blaze (Nigezie)                                                                29
  6. Adams Ibrahim (Soundcity)                                                    24
  7. Yvonne “Vixen” Ekwere (Silverbird TV)                             25
  8. Maupe Ogun (Channels TV)                                                    29

Musician of the Year   

  1. Davido                                                                                              19
  2. Wizkid                                                                                              22
  3. Tim Godfrey                                                                                   31
  4. Ice Prince                                                                                        26
  5. Flavour                                                                                            29
  6. Naeto C                                                                                             30
  7. MI                                                                                                       30
  8. Bez                                                                                                     29

Actor of the Year

  1. Ini Edo                                                                                              30
  2. Tonto Dike                                                                                      26
  3. OC Ukeje                                                                                          31
  4. Ivie Okujaye                                                                                   26
  5. Gideon Okeke                                                                                29
  6. Ramman Hassan                                                                          30
  7. Kabirah Mojisola Kafidipe                                                        31
  8. Lala Akindoju                                                                                25

Producer of the Year Music

  1. D’tunes                                                                                             22
  2. SamKlef                                                                                            27
  3. DJ Klem                                                                                            28
  4. Jesse Jagz                                                                                         28
  5. Ikon                                                                                                   29
  6. Fliptyce                                                                                            30
  7. Legendary Beats                                                                           23
  8. J Sleek                                                                                               24

Producer of the Year Screen

  1. Clarence Peters                                                                             29
  2. Victor Sanchez Aghahowa                                                        29
  3. Onye Ubanatu                                                                                31
  4. Ishaya Bako                                                                                    26
  5. Ladi Odebunmi                                                                             21
  6. Adeola Oloyede                                                                             32
  7. Anietie James Ekins                                                                     27
  8. Deji Adeniyi                                                                                   31

YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR

  1. Bankole Wellington [Banky W] (Musician/Entrepreneur/

Activist)                                                                                                       31

  1. Dapo Oyebanjo [D’banj] (Musician/Entertainment

Entrepreneur)                                                                                          32

  1. Jason Njoku (Media Entrepreneur)                                                  30
  2. Peter and Paul Okoye [Psquare] (Musician/Entertainment

Entrepreneur)                                                                                          31

  1. Linda Ikeji (Blogger/Media Entrepreneur)                                   31
  2. Chinwe Njoku (Scientist)                                                                      26
  3. Idris Akinbanjo (Journalist)                                                                 30
  4. Raheem Temitope Bello            (Scientist)                                                   19

*Note that, due to the adjusted The Future Awards calendar (it was moved from its traditional January to August, the period in review is October 2010 – May 2012. Nominees who were still 31 years as at March 2011 (six months into the period in review) are therefore eligible.