Rejoice Waithera emerges Star Prize winner at 2025 Future Africa Leaders Awards

Kenyan changemaker Rejoice Waithera has emerged as the Star Prize Winner of the 2025 Future Africa Leaders Awards (FALA), taking home a cash prize of $25,000, at a prestigious ceremony held during the Crossover Night Service at Christ Embassy.

The event, which marked the 13th edition of the Future Africa Leaders Awards, attracted a distinguished audience that included Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of Kenya, senior government officials, business leaders, clergy, and youth leaders from across the continent.

The awards ceremony was officiated by Pastor T.T. Temisan, who announced the 10 winners selected from 30 outstanding nominees across Africa, commending their exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact in their respective fields.

The 2025 FALA winners are: Rejoice Waithera – Kenya (Star Prize Winner); Yvonne Tsumbarani – Zimbabwe; Francis Nyong – Nigeria; Annette Ewusi – Cameroon; Norman Chrispin Phiri – Zambia; Ndagire Grace – Uganda and four other winners drawn from across the continent

While Rejoice Waithera received the star prize of $25,000, the remaining nine winners each received $10,000, bringing the total financial support disbursed to over $100,000, in line with the Foundation’s annual commitment to empowering young African leaders.

Announcing the star prize winner, President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was the Special Guest of Honour, praised the Future Africa Leaders Foundation for its consistency in identifying and supporting young Africans with the capacity to shape the continent’s future.

He noted that despite prevailing challenges across Africa, the quality and vision of the award recipients reaffirm hope for sustainable leadership on the continent.

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In his remarks, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo echoed similar sentiments, stressing that Africa’s future remains bright when driven by prepared, values-driven, and visionary youth.

He applauded the Foundation for investing not just in ideas, but in people capable of translating vision into nation-building action.

Founder of the Future African Leaders Foundation and President of Loveworld Incorporated, Rev. Chris Oyakhilome, DSC, DD, delivered a keynote address emphasizing that leadership, while sometimes innate, must be deliberately developed.

According to him, true leadership growth is shaped by the home, education, environment, and global exposure.

“Whether leadership is innate or learned, without development, that ability amounts to very little,” Rev. Oyakhilome said. “Africa will be built by Africans, and that conviction is why we continue to invest in our youth.”

He highlighted the growing impact of past FALA winners across Africa, citing examples from Sierra Leone, where a former star prize winner now owns one of the country’s largest farms; Togo, where a past winner plays a critical advisory role in shaping national youth policy; and Nigeria, where alumni of the programme have been actively involved in political advocacy, voter education, and election observation at presidential, governorship, and National Assembly levels.

Rev. Oyakhilome further led the presentation of awards, calling for a standing ovation for all 30 nominees, describing each of them as winners who have already demonstrated excellence and leadership in service to their communities.

In his closing remarks, the cleric reflected on the global spread of the Christian gospel, stating that every nation and city on earth has now felt its influence.

He congratulated Christians worldwide and emphasized unity among believers across denominations, noting that shared faith in Jesus Christ and love for one another have sustained the Church through generations.

The Future Africa Leaders Awards, instituted by the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, continues to stand as one of the continent’s most influential youth empowerment platforms, reinforcing the belief that Africa’s transformation will be led by visionary, courageous, and well-equipped young Africans.