BY DAYO ADESULU
The list of the finalists for the 2021 Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) Award of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria, has been released by the local planning committee.
Speaking on the list of the finalists on Thursday, the Chairperson, 2021 JCI Nigeria TOYP Award Planning Committee, Oluwakemi Irinoye disclosed that the finalists were selected by the Award Panel of Judges out of the shortlisted 50 from the initial total of 1027 entries received for the 2021 edition of the global award.
“The process of determining the final honourees is rigorous because of the commitment of JCI Nigeria to sustain the integrity of the TOYP Award. Some of the successful nominees also stood a chance of emerging as honorees at the global JCI TOYP event in Johannesburg, South Africa in November 2021.”
Irinoye noted that the finalists would now go into the voting phase by the general public for honours in the 10 categories of the award.
According to the list, Olumide Adeleye and Mariam Akpaokagi were shortlisted in the Cultural Achievement category; the trio of Samirah Isa Modibbo, Zuriel Oduwole and Gideon Olanrewaju were shortlisted for the Contribution to Children, World Peace and Human Right category while Alexander Ezenagu was the only nominee for the Academic Accomplishment category.
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For the Business, Economic or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment, Uche Eze will contend with Abiodun Adereni and Sijibomi Ogundele. Omotola Fawunmi, Arinze Madueke and Amina Yahaya will vie for honour in the Humanitarian and Voluntary Leadership while Adereti Francis, Olivia Onyemaobi and Osahon Micheal will contest in the Medical Innovation category.
In the Moral and Environmental Leadership category, Olalekan Sipasi, Kelo Uchendu and Olufunto Boroffice will compete. Nigeria’s female football superstar, Asisat Oshoala is up against her fellow teammate Desire Oparanozie and Eyitayo Ogunmola in the Personal Achievement category while Hamzat Bala Lawal, Joana Nnazua Kolo and Ayotunde Adenuga are the finalists in the Political, Legal and Government. In the Scientific and/ or Technical Development, Amanda Obidike, Shola Akinlade and Oreoluwa Shomolu Lesi will battle for honour.
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The judges for the 2021 JCI Nigeria TOYP include; JCI Senator Jokotade Odebunmi, CEO Aqualib Limited; Dr Mukhtar Abdulkadir, Past JCI Nigeria TOYP Honoree, Associate Professor and Head of Chemical Engineering Department, School of Infrastructure, Process Engineering and Technology (SIPET) the Federal University Of Technology, Minna; Prof. Gloria Chukwudebe, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Dr Gloria Udoh, Social Performance/Investment Manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd., Port Harcourt; Aisha Augie-Kuta, Special Adviser on Digital communications strategy to the Federal Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Mr. Akin Oyebode, Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Ekiti State.
According to Irinoye, voting will begin on Monday, May 3, 2021 and end on Sunday, May 30, 2021. She explained that voting will take place online on the official website of the award, www.toyp.jci.ng. She added that the voting process and collation of votes would be managed by UHY Maaji, a leading auditing firm in Nigeria.
She announced that the eventual 10 Honourees of the 2021 Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) Award of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria would be presented with their award at a Gala Event to be held on Thursday, August 12, 2021, in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in partnership with Oyo State Government as the host state.
