Nine Nigerians have emerged recipients of the 2020 The Diana Award, which celebrates outstanding young people selflessly creating and sustaining positive social change.
The Diana Award was established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales for young persons aged 9-25 years for their social action or humanitarian work through a retrospective nomination process only.
Young people as recipients of the 2020 The Diana Award do not work towards the award, rather they demonstrate their suitability through their actions, without any expectation of reward.
Nine Nigerians Emerge Recipients Of 2020 The Diana Award
SANDRA AJAJA (23 YEARS OLD) | FEMPOWER AFRICA INITIATIVE, LAGOS.
Sandra is an author and speaker who is advocating and amplifying women’s roles in economic and social development, female participation in leadership and politics in Africa. She set up Fempower Africa after experiencing gender inequality whilst studying electrical engineering where she was one of four women in a class of 120 men. Sandra suffered discrimination and lack of support, as well as having to walk miles to class each day simply because there was no female accommodation on campus. In just three years Fempower has changed the lives of thousands of women across Africa through mentoring and training, facilitating internships and helping women resource and set up tech businesses.
OLUMIDE AREO (25 YEARS OLD) | ENACTUS BAYERO UNIVERSITY KANO, KANO.
Olumide is a dedicated leader across the Enactus programme and other initiatives at Bayero University, Nigeria. His far-reaching efforts have supported student innovators to solve challenges of sustainable development in communities, bringing the attention of investors to their projects and improving access to resources, mentorship and start-up funding. As team leader he has directed visits, workshops and surveys of communities to better understand the issues facing Nigeria, whilst serving as a role model for new leaders and young people. He is widely known as a vibrant and intelligent young person, who constantly demonstrates his dedication to working for the good and development of others.
BOLUWATIFE AROWOSAFE (14 YEARS OLD) | OLASHORE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, ILOKO.
In January 2019, 14-year old student Bolu supported the project ‘Our Voices Have to be Heard’, an initiative by a classmate to raise awareness of children’s rights and abuse. Their project, which started in their school Olashore International, has now expanded into the local community through the initiative ‘Healing Every Living Person’, which aims to combat poverty and lack of opportunities by equipping 16 to 21 year olds with life skills and entrepreneurial training. The ‘H.E.L.P’ initiative has already offered hope to more than 100 young people, with its free skills training and education reaching those who may have turned to crime as a way out of poverty.
ADJWOA AWE (15 YEARS OLD) |OLASHORE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, LAGOS.
Adjwoa had an active role in the development of several new projects in her community. Her activism began with the development of ‘Our Voices Have To Be Heard’, an initiative committed to raising awareness of child rights and prevent abuse. Recognising the further needs of her community, she and her schoolmates followed this project with ‘Healing Every Living Person’, to combat poverty by equipping young people with skills through entrepreneurial training. This brought a tremendous impact in Adjwoa’s community with 100 new subscribers to the programme. Adjwoa’s kindness and leadership have provided essential skills for her community and inspired others to take similar positive action.
WONAH MARTIN ODEY (24 YEARS OLD)| DNEO AGENCY, CALABAR.
To help survivors of rape recover from their depression, Wonah co-founded Dneo Agency, a community of young people campaigning against rape. Over four years, his leadership and commitment has supported 500 people in Nigeria with mentoring to ensure that they maintain their pledges against rape. He has also collaborated with counsellors to provide free support to survivors of sexual abuse. Wonah’s outreach activities and writings have reached over 5,000 people, and in 2018 he attended the ‘Young African Leaders Initiative’ which promotes peace and security across Sub-Saharan Africa. Wonah gives hope to those experiencing depression, and prevents more pain from being caused by sexual violence.
BAYODE OKE (25 YEARS OLD) | MENTORS IN NIGERIA INITIATIVE, LAGOS.
Bayode is the co-founder of ‘Mentors in Nigeria Initiative’ a community of mentors who support young people to make empowered decisions and believe in their own potential. Growing up in an underserved community, Bayode experienced the profound impact of mentoring himself and wants other young people to have this opportunity too. His organisation has 100 committed volunteer mentors who provide support to young people. Many mentees are resistant at first but soon see the potential. In fact, 50 of the young people who have been mentored through the programme have gone on to become mentors themselves. Bayode is a role model to hundreds of young people across Nigeria.
FUNMBI OKOYA (24 YEARS OLD) | PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF NIGERIA, YOUNG PHARMACISTS GROUP, LAGOS.
Funmbi is a passionate activist and leader in Nigeria’s fight against the drug abuse epidemic. Funmbi has led campaigns which have educated thousands of students, youths, parents and sportspersons about the dangers of drug abuse, as well as breaking down the stigmatisation of mental health disorders. As a pharmacist, he facilitated the training of over 50 young pharmacists on mental health and suicide prevention to ensure they can act as first responders. Funmbi was the 2019 Lagos State Coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Young Pharmacists Group and he used this role to reach a wide range of individuals through educational talks.
OLUWAFUNMILAYO ONI (25 YEARS OLD) | IRANWO FOUNDATION, LAGOS.
Oluwafunmilayo founded the Iranwo Foundation to advance the role of disadvantaged women in her native country of Nigeria by helping them to build small scale businesses and to provide access to education for their children. Thanks to her commitment, hard work and the coordination of 76 volunteers, over 2,000 women and girls have been economically empowered. Through fundraising initiatives and by partnering with local and international organisations, Oluwafunmilayo has ensured access to education for 154 girls at risk of child marriage, trained women in vocational skills such as textile design resulting in an increase in their standard of living and trained young people to be advocates for girls’ education, amongst others.
TOLUWALASHE SOYEMI (20 YEARS OLD) | PROTOSTAR INITIATIVE, LAGOS.
After losing his friend to suicide, Tolu co-founded Protostar Initiative, a youth-led social venture committed to providing mental health education in communities whilst advocating for the destigmatisation mental health conditions. As the Team Lead, Tolu works with local communities to train young people in mental health first aid and raise awareness in schools and other youth organisations. These training sessions dispel common myths and help people to recognise symptoms and access support mechanisms for mental health conditions. Tolu is campaigning for a world in which everyone is educated on mental health and where every person with a mental health condition can access the support they need.
2020 The Diana Award. The Diana Award is a registered charity (1117288 / SC041916) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales number 5739137.
