Twenty-one young Nigerian achievers including; Davido, Broda Shaggi, Asisat Oshoala, Odunayo Eweniyi, Simi, Burnaboy among others have been named 2020 Most Influential Young Africans by Avance Media and Africa Youth Awards
According to organisers of the awards, the list is curated to recognise young Africans for their outstanding contributions towards the development of Africa in a diverse range of fields with a record of 49 females and 51 males represented from 29 different African countries.
The criteria for selection included: Excellence in Leadership and Performance, Personal accomplishments, Commitment to sharing knowledge, Breaking the Status Quo and being an accomplished young African.
Nigeria recorded the highest representation while Ghana, Kenya and South Africa recorded a representation of 10 young people each.
The list features notable faces such as Davido, Peace Hyde, Bobi Wine, Aya Chebbi, Caster Semenya and climate change activists Vanessa Nakate and Nisreen Elsaim as well as 7 young ministers from across the continent, including Angola’s Finance Minister, Vera Esperança dos Santos Daves, Rwanda’s ICT Minister, Paula Ingabire, Sudan’s Minister of Youth, Wala’a Essam al-Boushi and Namibia’s deputy ICT minister, Emma Inamutila Theofelus.
The Managing Director of Avance Media, sharing insight about the list said, “the 2020 list features young people pursuing various interests intended to put the name of the continent on the globe through selfless sacrifices and spirited leadership”.
The announcement of the list precedes the African Union’s annual Africa Youth Day celebration, which will recognise young African trailblazers from across the continent for 2020.
