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PAGE 16—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 20, 2022
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Nigeria’s Alex Okosi shines
at UK Powerlist 2023
A
frican tech leader, Alex Okosi, has been Estate).
honoured as a member of the UK Powerlist Okosi was first selected for The Powerlist in
2023. Okosi, who is Managing Director, October 2021 after joining YouTube in 2020,
Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA, received following a long and illustrious career at
the honour for the second year running at the Viacom International Media Networks Africa
Black Excellence Awards held at the Savoy (now Paramount International Networks),
Hotel in London.
where he introduced powerhouse
Awarded annually since 2007, The Powerlist, entertainment brands like MTV Base,
in partnership with J.P. Morgan, honours Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and BET to the
incredible men and women across a wide range African continent.
of industries including business, science, A staunch champion of African creativity,
technology and the arts. Each year it recognizes culture and empowerment, Okosi was
and celebrates 100 of Britain’s most influential instrumental in persuading Viacom to
black people and showcases black role models introduce localized channel brands in Africa,
to young people. Open to Black Britons starting with MTV Base in 2005. After moving
wherever they live in the world and to anyone to YouTube, he has continued to support
in the UK who is black, The Powerlist is initiatives that empower African creators and
regarded as the leading authority on issues of businesses via initiatives such as the Black
black influence in the UK.
Voices Fund. He is a regular speaker on
Commenting
diversity and
on The Powerlist,
inclusion, and is an
Okosi said,
Executive member
“Growing up
of the Google and
first in Nigeria
Y o u T u b e
and later in the
committees that
USA in the mid-
drive and deliver the
1980s, I found
brands’ racial equity
black role
commitments
models were few
across Europe, the
and far between;
Middle East and
I chose my role
Africa.
models from
This year’s
sports people
Powerlist was
and entertainers
headed by Dame
because those
Sharon White,
were the only
Chair, John Lewis
black faces I saw
Partnership. Other
in the media, in
•Alex Okosi
well-known names
films, and on TV.
on the list include
“Fast forward
actors Idris Elba
to now, and I am
(OBE), and David
beyond thrilled to see the incredible range of
Kaluuya, grime
representation and diversity highlighted by the artist and philanthropist Stormzy, politician
UK Powerlist 2023.
and activist Lord Simon Wooley, and Royal
“Recognizing extraordinary leaders of ballet soloist Precious Adams.
African, Afro-Caribbean and African-
American heritage, the list goes beyond sports
and entertainment to encompass
Management, Retail, the Arts, Finance, Tech,
History, Academia, Fashion, Design, Politics,
Law, Entrepreneurship, Social Investment and
much more.
“While the goal of equal representation is
still a way off, I am thankful that my kids and
your kids and their kids after them will have
these shining role models and many more to
inspire and lead them.
“Kudos to Michael Eboda, the Powerful
honoured
Media team, J.P. Morgan and judges Dame
Linda Dobbs, Tim Campbell, Dr Heather
Melville, Ijeoma Okoli, Cecil Peters, Nicola
Rollock, Matthew Ryder, Alwin Swales and
O
Daniel Taylor for their involvement in this
oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan
important initiative and for considering me
Ogunwusi, and the founder, Group
worthy to be on the Powerlist for the second
Managing Director of Gtext Holdings, Dr.
year running.”
Stephen Akintayo, have added more feathers to
Okosi is one of multiple black tech leaders
their colorful caps. The two were honoured at
making the Powerlist 2023, including Apple’s
the Titans of African Golden Edition Awards held
Ije Nwokorie, Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE
in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
(CEO & Co-Founder, STEMettes), Nneka
Akintayo was honoured for his achievements
Abulokwe OBE, Founder and CEO,
in the real estate sector in the last decade and
MicroMax Consulting, Rob Pierre (CEO,
the fact that he is one of the 50 individuals of
Jellyfish), Simon Hepburn (CEO, UK Cyber
direct African descent making impact in
Security Council), Dr. Claudia Natanson MBE •Ooni Ogunwusi
Africa. Ogunwusi, on his part, was
(Chair, UK Cyber Security Council), Linda
honoured for his immense
Morant (Chief Digital Officer, The Crown
contributions to the propagation of
Another Afenmai beauty queen crowned
Miss Afenmai, Rukayat Usman, with the organizers
he ninth edition of the annual Afenmai
Tbeauty pageant held few days ago amidst
pomp.
At the event held in Auchi, headquarters of
Etsako West local government area, Rakiya
Usman emerged
winner with the star
prize of a car.
The initiator of
the event, Mrs
Amidat Ilegar
Okoh, urged young
girls to shun drug
and prostitution as
the competition has
now been thrown
open and, from next
year, entry would be
free while hoping to
get partners and
sponsors to make it
more elaborate.
She said she was
motivated to
organize the annual show because of her
experience as a young girl who had a child
early and passed through tough times growing
up and taking care of the child.
The event, according to her, was preceded by
visits to widows and giving them
Ooni Ogunwusi,
Stephen Akintayo
empowerment and selected children who also
enjoy some benefits from the organizers.
“We want them to leave prostitution and
other vices but we have to think, what other
enabling environment are we going to give
to them? When we are preaching, we should
start listing out the opportunities that we can
drive down for them that are devoid of them
debasing themselves and have high morals.”
Speaking on her plans for the annual event,
Okoh said, “I want to work with big brands.
I want to put Afenmai in the world map. I
want everybody to know Afenmai that when
you talk about intelligence, beauty, poise,
Afenmai will be there where you will know
that women who come from this pageant
are determined, are selfless, are empowered
to take on life’s challenges without fear, I want
it to get to a level that when you say ‘I am
Miss Afenmai’, you will be respected.
“There is a former fee but we intend
making it absolutely free from the next
edition. We are looking to see major brands
as our sponsors”.
African culture and
heritage since he
ascended the Ife throne.
He was also described as
one of the individuals of
direct African descent
making impact in Africa.
Akintayo, who received
his award in person,
praised the organizers for
recognizing and
rewarding Africa
entrepreneurs and thereby
encouraging them to do
more. A coffee table book,
which captures the
journey of 50 titans of
direct African descent
who are currently making
impacts in their
communities and Africa
as a whole, was presented
during the ceremony by
the United Arab Emirates
African Networking
Group, the organizers of
the Titan Award.
Pastor Adeb
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the Gen
Redeemed Christian Church o
grandfather again.
The latest addition to the revered man of
his last child, Leke, and his wife,Titilope
Leke, who is a Pastor in RCCG, apart fr
the General Overseer fondly called Dad
father’s Personal Assistant.
An excited Leke, who clocked 40 few m
good news and his wife’s pregnancy pict
page as he expressed thanks to God for
•Akintayo
•The new
Adejoke Adefulire
agos State hosted the movers and
Lpolitical circles last weekend as Pr
Adefulire, SSA to the President on SDG
deputy governor of the state, staged a clas
her daughter, Oluwabukun
The glamorous holy matri
the bride and her
Onyedikachim Arinze, wa
Church of Resurrection
Victoria Island, Lagos.
Bukola Sara
prayers for
Former Senate President
his siblings, Gbemi, Mi
Development, Tope Edu
late patriarch, Dr. Olusola S
Aside family members, oth
•Dr
Ex-Emir of K
hese are the best of mo
TKano, Sanusi Lamido San
girl with his fourth wife, Sa’ad
The baby girl has been nam
The former monarch had m
daughter of Barkindo Aliyu
Adamawa, in a low-key cerem
2015. The ex- Emir of Kano,
officially received her as his fo
from a university in the Uni
received at the Kano First Clas
away for four years. Her Quran
also held as well as her traditi
Sanusi’s other wives includ
Emir of Kano, Dr. Ado Abdu
Rakiya.
The former royal father and
child together on May 5, 2020