PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria/PRNewswire/ --

The names of the 15 winners of this year's 'The Future Awards Africa' 2013 were formally announced last night, at an annual awards ceremony held in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Chude Jideonwo, executive director of The Future Project and co-founder of The Future Awards Africa, commented, "I am delighted to announce the winners of this year's The Future Awards Africa. This year has been the most difficult year to judge to date, with so many compelling and inspiring stories of young Africans, all of who deserve to be recognised and rewarded. The winners of this year's Awards will go on to inspire a new generation of leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs across Africa and we're looking forward to seeing the winners go on to touch thousands of lives across our great continent, leaving behind a legacy that will be recognised for years to come."

The Future Awards Africa, described by the World Bank as 'The Nobel Prize for young Africans', recognise and reward the success and achievements of young people aged between 18 and 31 living inAfrica. They have been awarded in 15 separate categories, including: advocacy and activism, business, agriculture, education and fashion.

In just eight years, the Awards have produced over 120 winners and 1,200 nominees in Nigeria. This year the awards became pan-African for the first time with 85 young Africans from countries including Nigeria,Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Liberia all nominated to receive awards. The Awards were presented in partnership with Microsoft, the British Council, Nigeria'sFederal Ministry of Youth Development, the Tony Elumelu Foundation and Access Bank.

The winners of this year's Awards are:

• THE FUTURE AWARDS YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR: Ashish J. Thakkar, age 24 fromUganda.
• THE FUTURE AWARDS PRIZE IN ADVOCACY & ACTIVISM: Orode Uduaghan-Okpu, age 24 from Nigeria.
• THE FUTURE AWARDS PRIZE IN COMMUNITY ACTION: Ife Adebayo, age 30 from Nigeria.
• THE FUTURE AWARDS PRIZE IN NEW MEDIA: Kingsley Ezeani, age 23 from Nigeria.
• THE FUTURE AWARDS PRIZE IN JOURNALISM: Toyosi Ogunsey, age 29 years from Nigeria.
• THE FUTURE AWARDS PRIZE IN BUSINESS: Saeed Jumah, age 28 from Nigeria.
• THE FUTURE AWARDS PRIZE IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE: Kayode Temenu, age 29 fromNigeria.
• THE FUTURE AWARDS PRIZE IN AGRICULTURE: Precious Peter Nweke, age 31 from Nigeria.
• THE FUTURE AWARDS PRIZE IN FASHION & STYLE: Aisha Bello, age 24 from Nigeria.
• THE FUTURE AWARDS PRIZE IN ARTS & CULTURE: Kenneth Gyang age 27 from Nigeria.
• THE FUTURE AWARDS PRIZE IN ENTERPRISE SUPPORT: Ayodeji Adewunnmi, Opeyemi Awoyemi and Olalekan Olude, ages 29, 25 and 29 from Nigeria.
• THE FUTURE AWARDS PRIZE IN EDUCATION: Ottoh Oroondam, age 26 from Nigeria
• THE FUTURE PRIZE YOUNG MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR: Uche Pedro, age 32 from Nigeria
• THE FUTURE PRIZE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Hugo Obi age 32 from Nigeria.
• THE FUTURE PRIZE IN ENTERTAINMENT AND TALENT: O.C Ukeje age 32 from Nigeria

Full details of the award categories and profiles of the winners are available on request.

Contact:

David Bass

+44 20 7861 3812 / +44 7887 051 683

dbass@bell-pottinger.com

Notes to Editors:

For more information, visit http://www.thefutureafrica.com/awards and follow @TFAAfrica on Twitter.

Media partners include: Africa Magic, Y!/YNaija and Ventures Africa.

About The Future Project

The Future Project (TFP) is a Nigerian social enterprise and change communication firm affiliated to Red Media Africa set up based on a strong, practical commitment to human and capital development.

Red Media Africa is a Lagos based media content and communication Company. The company is structured into two businesses, the content side of the business, which manages the Y! Brands and The Future Awards Africa and communications side of the business, which offers a full-service suite of communications services to its clients including: public relations, new media, youth marketing, editorial consultancy and perception management. The company was first founded by Chude Jideonwo andAdebola Williams in 2004.

For more information, visit http://www.redmediaafrica.com