FALF lists expectation for 2024 as Gendemeh shines as 2023 FALA star prize winner

The Future African Leaders Awards (FALA), hosted by the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International, says efforts will be concentrated in the area of education, Entrepreneurial skills, Agriculture, Technology and many more when mentoring African youths as it grooms more African youths in 2024.

Speaking at Press Conference in Lagos on Thursday where the 2023 FALA Star Prize winner, Mariam Gendemeh and nine other winners were presented to the world, Senior Executive Officer of Future Africa Leaders Foundation, Dr. Olajumoke Akisanya, said ensuring peace and security on the continent will be one of the main objective of the Future African Leaders Foundation.

“Ensuring we have peace and security across the African continent will be of utmost priority to us in FALF because it is important for growth to take place on the continent. Therefore, all our Ambassadors will be engaging in activities that will foster peace in their various continents.”

23-year-old Mariama Gendemeh from Sierra Leone emerged as the 2023 FALA Star Prize Winner at the just concluded epochal Global New Year’s Eve Service with Pastor Chris.

READ ALSO: FALA: Expediting Africa’s Systemic Change Through Young Leaders

Great cheers followed the recognition of young Gendemeh, whose laudable achievements throughout the year significantly contributed to improving the lives of dozens in her country and transforming their standard of living altogether.

This year, 30 individuals from 30 African countries were nominated for the highly-coveted global recognition awards, which will produce a Star Award Winner with a token of $25,000 as a show of encouragement and $10,000 each for other nominees from the founder and chief motivator of the Future Africa Leaders ‘Awards, Rev. Chris Oyakhilome.

Speaking on her emergence as the Star Prize winner, Gendemeh who was ecstatic, said she considered the award as not just an honour to her as person but also to her home country of Sierra Leone.

READ ALSO: FALF announces 30 nominees for 2023 Future Africa Leaders Awards

“It means so much to me and my country because we have suffered so much. I facilitated the distribution of food and relief items to 3,000 people in 10 communities, and also championed a “Save the malnourished kids’ ‘ project reaching 10,000 children annually.

“I also spearheaded several outreaches in 110 communities, providing essential sanitation materials and empowering over 500 girls with leadership skills in six schools.

“As a catalyst of change, my company which I founded when I was 19 years old has the largest vegetable farm in Kenema impacting over 1,300 people with ripe farm produce,” she added.

Joining the brilliant Sierra Leonean as winners of the FALA 2023 vis-a-vis their commitment to changing lives in their respective countries and the African continent were 9 other young leaders who were also honoured at the night’s event.

With several community initiatives, leadership programs, fundraising campaigns, empowerment summits, skill acquisition conferences, distribution of food and relief items and other commendable humanitarian acts, these young leaders redefined leadership across the African continent and distinguished themselves aptly as true patriots of Africa.

The Future Africa Leaders Foundation is an initiative aimed at exploring and expanding the leadership potentials in Africa and for Africa.

It is for identifying, celebrating and supporting young Africans who have demonstrated exemplary leadership by impacting their generation positively through education, youth empowerment and mentoring through other projects aimed at building young people and preparing them for a positive future.