The inaugural The Future Awards Africa Independent (TFAAi) Oyo State Edition was held on August 29, 2026, marking the first edition of the state-based awards in Oyo State.
The Future Awards Africa has always been positioned as a platform for recognising young Africans who are creating meaningful impact through their work, leadership, creativity and service. The Independent edition takes this vision closer to the grassroots, creating an opportunity to identify and celebrate exceptional young people within their own states and communities.
Why Oyo State?
The Future Awards Africa Independent was created to expand the reach of the Future Awards beyond the national platform and recognise exceptional young people who are making a difference within their local communities.
Oyo State was one of the pilot states selected for the inaugural state editions, alongside Abia, Kano and Rivers States. The objective was to shine a light on young people whose work may not always receive national attention but whose contributions are already creating measurable impact within their communities.
How the Nominees Were Selected
The nomination process was opened to the public, allowing individuals and members of the community to nominate people they believed were deserving of recognition.
Following the nomination stage, submissions went through a rigorous selection and verification process involving the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Independent Audit Committee (IAC) and the Jury.
At each stage, nominees were assessed based on the quality and credibility of their work, their achievements and, importantly, the measurable impact they had created within their respective fields and communities.
The assessment considered factors such as the number of people reached, the scale of the nominee’s work, the problems they had helped solve and the significance of their contribution over the preceding two to three years.
The process eventually produced finalists across the ten categories, from which the final winners were selected.
This process reinforces one of the key things that differentiates the Future Awards Africa: the award is not determined by public voting or the ability to purchase recognition. It is based on demonstrated work, credibility, excellence and impact.
The Winners
The inaugural Oyo State edition celebrated ten young changemakers across ten categories:
* Agriculture: Esther Feyisetan
* Arts: Dunmade Ayegbayo
* Creative Excellence: Abdulfatai Adams
* Education: Omotoyosi Odufuye
* Fashion: Damilare Elijah
* Film: Kehinde Samuel Njoku
* Health and Wellness: Abolaji John Kalejaiye
* Literature: Rasaq Malik Gbolahan
* Public Service: Jesugbemi Olaniyan
* Technology: Ebunoluwa Arimoro
Together, the winners represent the diversity of talent and impact being created by young people across Oyo State, from agriculture and education to technology, the creative industries, public service and community development.
A Successful Pilot
As the first Oyo State edition, the 2026 event served as a pilot for what the Future Awards Africa Independent could become at the state level.
The response demonstrated a clear interest in a credible platform for recognising young changemakers in Oyo State. The edition received nominations across multiple sectors, attracted a strong pool of talented nominees and brought together nominees, jurors, partners, media and stakeholders to celebrate excellence.
The independent verification and jury process also helped maintain the integrity of the awards and ensured that the final recognition was based on the quality and impact of the nominees’ work.
What the Future Holds
The success of the inaugural Oyo State edition provides a strong foundation for future editions.
The vision is to continue building the platform, discover more exceptional young people and give them the visibility and recognition their work deserves.
Future editions will also create opportunities to build stronger partnerships with organisations, brands, institutions and media platforms that share the vision of celebrating and supporting young people making a difference in Oyo State.
The first edition has shown that there is both talent and appetite for credible recognition in Oyo State. The next step is to build on that momentum, strengthen the platform and make each edition bigger, more impactful and more representative of the young people shaping the future of the state.
The first edition was a beginning. The goal is to make the recognition of excellence an enduring part of Oyo State’s story.
