It’s An Assembly of Heavyweights Judging The Future… Awards 2008!

In a matter of days, the three-month journey towards Nigeria’s biggest youth event “The Future…” Awards 2008 (holding on the 13th of January 2008), in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, will formally kick off - a journey that many across the nation and beyond are certainly looking forward to with excitement.

But before the formal launch at an exclusive media and vip event on the 1st of October, the organizers can reveal the names of the distinguished Nigerians who have made the list of the Independent Audit Committee, judging the awards.
As has become the tradition, TFA prides itself on having perhaps the most transparent and rigorous Nigerian awards process, where nominees go through four stages that span 12 weeks - and the Audit Committee is the most important arm in this process. Therefore, it is understandable that, each year, part of the excitement of the awards is to see who would make the committee.

Yet committed to making the process even more fool-proof, the committee has been enlarged to a membership of 30, drawn from across every sector of the Nigerian society, through an elaborate selection process by the Central Working Committee.

From the corporate environment, there is Dr. Yemi Osindero, COO of Virgin Nigeria, Mrs. Funmi Omogbenigun who heads corporate communications in MTN and Siene Alwell-Brown of the NLNG – who is engaging in her first public/media activity after a long hiatus from the public space.

From the media there is Mr. Seye Kehinde, publisher of City people, Mr. Simon Kolawole, editor of Thisday, Mrs. Eugenia Abu of the NTA, Tajudeen Adepetu, who runs Soundcity amongst others in his massive TV network and Dr. Reuben Abati who is also the Chairman of the Audit Committee and has so been for three years now.

Iconic entrepreneurs, Tosan Jemide of Cakes by Tosan, Mrs. Mo Abudu of Vic Lawrence & Associates and Bolanle Austen-Peters of Terra Kulture also make the list.

Advocacy sees Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Costello, Dr. Judith Burdin Asuni, Ms. Nike Awoyinka of Common Ground Productions and Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli of LEAP Africa, and from government there’s Hon. Abike Dabiri and Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, Chief of Staff in the EFCC.

In fashion, there are two doyennes, Ms. Ruth Osime who sits atop Thisday Style and Mrs. Data Okorodudu, Creative Director of JD7; and from entertainment there’s the legendary Onyeka Onwenu (MON), ace comedian, Ali Baba, and AMAA Awards chief, Peace Fiberesima.

And to top off the list are Ms. Bennie Uche from the US Consulate, human resource guru Fela Durotoye, Mr. Tunde Soyinka, Creative Director of IMS, sports icon Chief Segun Odegbami (MON), Dr. Emman Shehu Usman, Farafina publisher Muhtar Bakare, and Mrs. Funke Aboyade who is managing partner with Babalakin and Associates.

The Board of Trustees also sees new heavyweight additions including Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, and Chief Olusegun Osoba, who are joining the likes of Prof. Jadesola Akande, Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Dr. Reuben Abati, Mr. John Momoh and Hon. Nduka Irabor. Further information on the event can be gotten on www.thefuturenigeria.com

There’s no doubt about it, this 2008 edition, “The Future…” Awards is set to take the nation by storm!


The List

 Dr. Reuben Abati (Chairman, The Guardian Editorial Board)
 Dr. Yemi Osindero (COO, Virgin Nigeria)
 Mrs. Sienne Alwell-Brown (Head, Corporate Communications, NLNG)
 Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi (Chief of Staff, EFCC)
 Mr. Seye Kehinde (Publisher, City People)
 Ms. Onyeka Onwenu (MON)
 Mr. Tosan Jemide (CEO, Cakes by Tosan)
 Hon Abike Dabiri (Member, House of Representatives)
 Mrs. Mo Abudu – (CEO, Vic Lawrence & Associates/ Inspire Africa)
 Chief Segun Odegbami (MON)
 Dr. Judith Asuni (Executive Director, AAPW)
 Mr. Simon Kolawole (Editor, Thisday Newspapers)
 Mr. Fela Durotoye (CEO, VIP Consulting)
 Mr. Tajudeen Adepetu (CEO, Consolidated Media Associates)
 Mrs. Funmi Omogbenigun (Head, Corporate Communications, MTN)
 Ms. Ruth Osime (Editor, Thisday Style)
 Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Costello (Executive Director, KIND)
 Mrs. Funke Aboyade (Managing Partner, Babalakin & Associates)
 Ms. Bennie Uche (Information Officer, US Consulate)
 Mrs. Eugenia Abu (Head of Presentation, NTA News)
 Ms Nike Awoyinka (Publicist, Common Ground Productions)
 Dr. Emman Usman Shehu (The Presidency)
 Mrs. Peace Fiberesima (CEO, AMAA Awards)
 Mrs. Data Okorodudu (Creative Director, JD7)
 Mr. Alleluya Atuyota Akporobomeriere (CEO, XQZMOI)
 Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli (Executive Director, LEAP Africa)
 Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters (CEO, Terra Kulture)
 Mr. Muhtar Bakare (Publisher, Farafina)
 Mr. Tunde Soyinka (Creative Director, IMS)