Hamzat Lawal (32)

Hamzat Lawal is a colossus when it comes to social advocacy in Africa, driving activism with vigorous intensity even in the most remote area especially in northern Nigeria where transparency and accountability is almost a myth. As an activist, Hamzi, as he is fondly called, has successfully led grassroots campaigns in over 40 countries and specializes in practical issues related with Climate change, Open data, advocacy campaigns, and development policies as it affects rural and deprived grassroots communities

Hamzat Is also the founder of FollowTheMoney, Pan-African grassroots data-driven movement and leads a team of technology & innovation driven campaigners to amplify voices of marginalized communities in promoting accountability and transparency. The organization advocates visualizes and tracks government spending and international aid, amplifying their findings using the media. Follow the money has directly impacted 26811 lives

He is currently the Founder/Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE), under his leadership CODE won the ONE Africa 2016 Award which recognizes, rewards, and advances the exceptional work of Africa based organizations dedicated to helping the continent achieve the SDG goals. In 2018 alone, Hamzi’s connected development reached 1.2 million people through 71 campaigns across 69 grassroots communities in 21 states, tracking an estimate of N1, 289,579,737 (USD3.6 MILLION).

Holding base in Nigeria, the movement runs dynamic chapters in The Gambia and Kenya, implementing life-transforming campaigns across rural communities in the continent. Notable amongst CODE’s successful campaign are #SaveBagega: remediation (environmental clean-up) of the lead poisoned Bagega – a population of about 7,535 where 1,500 children were victims of lead poisoning and who needed urgent medical intervention in Zamfara state.

Bright Jaja (29)

Bright Jaja is the chief operating officer and founder of iCreate Africa, his driving force is to reduce Nigeria’s high youth unemployment rate. Through his annual skills competition, Bright established a platform that identifies creative youths and empowers them with the relevant entrepreneurial skills, mentorship and finance to kick-start their businesses. Bright began iCreate Africa in 2017 with a big vision of re-engineering the employment ecosystem on the continent. He conducted research and he discovered there was a huge skills gap in the country, while about 30 million jobs are actually available in technical skill trades. His business is promoting skills and driving investments in technical and vocational training through public – private partnerships. The business currently has five full-time employees, four part-time staff members and over one thousand volunteers across the country.

ICreate Africa is empowering young people with the necessary skills required to solve the problem while preparing the next generation for the 21st century skills. He says that iCreate Africa plans to create five million jobs within the next four years. His business trains youths on artificial intelligence, block chain technology, drone, nanotechnology and digital farming, among others, to equip them with the skills for the future workplace. They have achieved this through their various projects in partnership with international partners focused on capacity-building and human capital development. On the company’s long-run plans. Bright was recently listed as one of the Forbes Africa 120 game changers in 2019.

Uchechi ‘Ucy’ Rochas (27)

Ucy Rochas is a humanitarian, international relations specialist, entrepreneur and an advocate of free and qualitative education for the African child. She is the Director General of Rochas Foundation and serves on the board of the Rochas Foundation Inc, a non-profit organisation which has 12 colleges in Nigeria and has educated over 21,000 less privileged children within 21years. She is also the CEO of Walsh Blanc, a property management company.

In 2014, Ucy started the Rochas Foundation College of Africa (“ROFOCA”) under the Rochas Foundation. ROFOCA was established with the goal of providing free high school education to less privileged children across Africa, while promoting Unity in Diversity. In 2016, ROFOCA started working with Heads of States and several local foundations to select 5 children from each African Country. Currently, Ucy has covered 21 African Countries, selecting children who were displaced and disadvantaged by natural disasters, diseases, death of parents and social ills. Presently, 140 African children are being rehabilitated with access to free education, shelter, food and clothing, while building strong bonds across Africa, defying all boarders and barriers.

Since inception, the Foundation has hosted and partnered with several international dignitaries such as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President Julius Maada Bio, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, President Nana Akufo Addo, Deputy Prime Minister Paul Dlamini, Deputy Prime Minister Monyane Moleleki, International Ambassadors, African Union and United Nations Representatives.

She is ardently dedicated to humanity, the fight for every child’s right to comprehensive education and the unity27

Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti (30)

Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti is the founder of AGS Tribe, a social enterprise created to democratize opportunities for entrepreneurs and non-profits in Africa, especially with women.

Its three-focus areas are: Promoting youth entrepreneurship as a tool to reduce youth unemployment and promote economic growth; Women Empowerment through AGS Impact Fund and AGS Enterprise Challenge; Capacity building for entrepreneurs and non-profits and support with applications. The AGS Impact Fund is a Fund created to empower female led businesses that are contributing to the development of Nigeria. This fund awards grants to women through the AGS Enterprise Challenge—a program designed to promote the birth of more businesses that can end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This challenge also bridges the gender gap through socio-economic empowerment of women through funding, training and mentorship.

Her work has reached over 2,000 women in 2019 via trainings offline and online and awarded a grant support of 7,000,000 between in the last one year (2018/2019) from personal support, individuals and corporate organizations. In August 2019, Ifedayo launched a $1,000,000 Women Empowerment Fund to train, mentor and invest in female led and female focused businesses. Investment cycle will start next year

Funke Adeoye (27)

Funke Adeoye founded Hope Behind Bars Advocacy which aims to restore the past glory of the Nigerian criminal justice system especially the prison service. Funke believes that Nigeria will be a more peaceful, safer and secure society when the anomalies in the prison system is eradicated making it hard for ex-prisoners to go back into re-offending or recidivism. So far, they have assisted in offering free legal services to over 50 awaiting trial inmates and their welfare interventions have reached over 1000 inmates at Suleja and Keffi Prison. The organization’s potential for growth is massive as they constantly churn out innovative products and interventions to achieve their goals. One of such is the connect lawyer web-based app which connects lawyers to indigent inmates and vice versa.

Funke hopes to restore hope to those who have been wrongfully incarcerated without a shot at getting a fair hearing.