Written by Kudzayi Zvinavashe
Zimbabwe’s Kelvin Mutize, a Mandela Washington fellow has scooped an award at The 10th Future Awards Africa(TFAA) under the Prize in Community Action category making him the first ever local to win such a prestigious accolade.
The TFAA Awards were hosted by local television personality Vimbai Mutinhiri and South Africa’s Bonang Matema with music star D’Banj performing at the ceremony held at Intercontinental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria earlier this month.
Mutize’s accolade comes in recognition of the work he does in Champions For Life working with HIV positive children.
Speaking in an Interview with Spiked, Mutize said, “It’s an honour to be able to to win this award to be able to represent Zimbabwe at such a stage and being the first Zimbabwean to win such an award it makes it more worthwhile”he said.
The awards which the World Bank and Forbes termed the ‘Nobel Prize for Young Africans’ and the ‘most important youth awards’ only recognized one other winner from the region; Botswana national Queen Kgeresi. This was in recognition of her works to curb Gender Based Violence in her country.
TFAA Awards seek to inspire leadership and build enterprise in young Africans (between the ages of 18 and 31). They celebrate and recognise hard work and contributions made by these young people to the development of our society. Since its inception in 2004, the Awards have created and connected a new elite set of change makers and nation builders across sectors, from causes to businesses, in creativity and innovation.
Other nominees were Trevor Noah, Anne Kansiime, Casper Nyovest just to mention but a few.
Full list of winners at The Future Awards Africa 2015
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Advocacy & Activism
Queen Baboloki (Botswana)
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Education
Lily Kudzro (Ghana)
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Enterprise Support
Olufunbi Falayi (Nigeria)
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Community Action
Kelvin Mutize (Zimbabwe)
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Technology
Rasheeda Mandeeya Yehuza (Ghana)
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Entertainment
Olamide “Badoo” Ayodeji (Nigeria)
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Agriculture
David Asiamah (Ghana)
The Tony O. Elumelu Prize in Business
Samuel Malinga (Uganda)
The Future Awards Africa Prize in Public Service
Emmanuel N. B. Flomo (Liberia)
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Young Person of the Year
Philip Obaji Jnr. (Nigeria)
Ford Foundation Prize for Youth Employment Category
Ukinebo Dare