Pastor Chris Oyakhilome announced that 2021 would be the Year of Preparation at the New Years’ Eve Service. “2021 is the Year of Preparation. In Heaven, preparation is being made, and I look… And all over the world, angels are out preparing people, helping with the word of God all over the world. I saw them working and working and working. I saw that the things around them did not matter. They were not distracted by the activities around them. They were just busy preparing people” – he spoke to the captivated audience as 30 young nominated leaders for the FALA awards, waited to hear who had won the coveted prizes.
The LoveWorld President and founder of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has awarded 81 young Africans with the prestigious prize since the inception of this ceremony in 2013, and he stated that “no one can help Africa than Africans themselves” as he encouraged he current set of winners to continue to make Africa a continent of pride.
FALA 2020 Winner
22-year old Gwei Michael Wawa from Cameroon stood out among his peers to claim the coveted Star Prize Award at the 2020 Future Africa Leaders Awards (FALA), during the 31st New Year’s Eve Service with Pastor Chris. He demonstrated astounding leadership prowess through the organization of unique technology-based and humanitarian campaigns, bringing solutions to diverse problems in his country and beyond. The young social activist started an NGO that impacted the lives of 18,000 young people through insightful conferences, facilitated 15 new inventions, instituted projects to train teenagers in robotics, web design as well as computer literacy. Challenged by the high demand for blood in Cameroon, he was instrumental in creating a digital Health Service Platform which provides 24-hour online free consultation and support services which helped to raise over 2,400 liters of blood to various hospitals and was involved in several other humanitarian projects in Cameroon. Gwei Michael Wawa received his well-deserved award, accompanied by a 25,000USD cash prize from FALF founder, Chris Oyakhilome.
Rising to the occasion for quality leadership in Africa alongside Gwei Michael Wawa, were 9 other young leaders from different African countries who were also honored with awards at the night’s event. With different humanitarian acts including raising funds to sponsor food relief programs, contributing to quality education through conferences, organizing life-changing symposiums among others, these young leaders stood out among many as true future African leaders.
With a 10,000USD cash prize complement to further expand their sustainable projects, Tebogo Moroe from South Africa, Aicha Elhaj Mahamat from Chad, Mary Mukeba Julius from South Africa, Avante Susan Mafusire from Zimbabwe, Michelle Mumba from Zambia, Christian Majeed Kwesi from Ghana, Mayamiko Banda from Malawi, Victor Emeka Mba from Nigeria, Gwei Michael Wawa from Cameroon and Elsa Cethia Milandou from Congo, celebrated their FALA awards following astonishing feats accomplished in 2020.
Running under the auspices of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI) through the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, the Future African Leaders forum has recognized young Africans who have taken up diverse roles of leadership, resolving seemingly insurmountable challenges in academia, agriculture, and different sectors of the economy across Africa. Outstanding young leaders drawn from different countries are nominated every year for the Future Africa Leaders Awards (FALA) and after rigorous screening, the bests are chosen for the awards presented by LoveWorld President and Grand Patron of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, Reverend (Dr.) Chris Oyakhilome.
As the custom has been every year, globally respected African leaders are invited as special guests of honor to grace FALA. This year, the former President of Liberia as well as Africa’s first female President, Madame Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who was also a special guest last year, graced the occasion. In her address, Madame Sirleaf with great inspiring words spurred utter conviction in the young leaders to remain resilient in meeting social advancement and economic development needs in Africa. “The future is yours, claim it” was her charge to the young African leaders as she urged them to expend greater levels of fortitude in their exceptional ingenuity in developing the continent.
Former President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who presented this year’s Star Prize Award to the winner was another special guest of honor at the ceremony. He expressed palpable pleasure as he rained praises on the young leaders for their notable service to humanity. “Our hope for a better Africa is in Africa,” he said as he gladly obliged to be a part of the success story of this great campaign.