By Stephen V. Lansana
The Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone (USL), Professor Aiah Lebbie has on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 officially launched the 2024 African Genius Awards (AGA)which will be hosted by Fourah Bay College (FBC) on Saturday, September 7th, 2024, making it the first college outside South Africa to host the prestigious awards, at the Multi Purpose Building, FBC Campus in Freetown, Western Area of Sierra Leone.
The launching ceremony was well attended by senior staff of the University, AGA Planning Committee members including AGA students’ ambassadors who are tasked to increase visibility of the event.
Launching the AGA, Prof. Lebbie said, “On this very rich campus, FBC, with a history of 197 , I want to make it known to the world that we are ready to host the AGA and we are going to offer the best to the world because we have competent people.”
Giving the overview of the AGA, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) of FBC, Prof. Kelleh Gbawuru Mansaray, said that AGA was launched in 2021 by a company called “Priority Performance Projects” in collaboration with the University of Pretoria to celebrate and recognize outstanding achievements in Science, Education, Technology, Politics, Social Work, Media, Arts and culture across the African Continent.
He said that the awards seek to promote and inspire excellence and creativity among Africans, and to showcase the talent and ingenuity of the continent’s people.
“It’s high time we started to recognize exceptional Africans that have contributed towards the realization of African self determination, dignity and exceptionalism,” the DVC said, adding that since its establishment, eight Africans have won the AGA including Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe (posthumously), Aliko Dangote and Stephen Biko (posthumously).
He added that the award ceremony is a special event not only for FBC and USL but also for the country as a whole.
He explained that they have set up AGA planning committee to ensure alignment with the event’s goals and messaging, and also appointed students’ ambassadors to assist with the dissemination of the event through social media, email campaigns and on campus promotions.
He disclosed that AGA committee in South Africa have released the official list of nominees for the 2024 AGA with a total of 47 incredible Africans shortlisted including two Sierra Leoneans, Ibrahim Parizco Dainkeh, a young Sierra Leonean self-taught innovator, investor and engineer. He built the world’s first peace robot using scrap materials, and Dr Yakama Manty Jones, a Sierra Leonean economist, researcher, consultant and philanthropist.
He added that the awards are for Africans of all generations and cover both historic times and the present.
He said, according to the founder, Dr Sifiso Falala, “When all is said and done, a genius should have a net positive contribution to society.”
Giving an update on the planning, Chair of AGA Planning Committee at FBC, Dr. Solomon Tucker said that the award will require: Identification, Nomination, screening, investigation and validation of the geniuses, noting that the nomination starts from August to January every year.
The nominees will be investigated to determine that these people are indeed geniuses.
He said that the screening starts immediately after the nomination in January.
The Representative of African Genius Awards, the Public Relations representative of AGA Mr. Abu Bakarr Jalloh said that AGA is one of the biggest events in Africa that takes place annually, adding that the awards is to recognize, appreciate, and celebrate African geniuses whose extraordinary display of brilliance had helped solved pressing issues in their countries and communities.
He said that unlike other awards, the winner of the AGA is not determined by voting, but rather a team of South Africans, and added that in 2023, the AGA introduced the outstanding achievers’ awards.
He disclosed that Sierra Leone is the first country to host the awards in person.
The 47 shortlisted nominees for the 2024 awards are:
Ibrahim Parizco Dainkeh (Sierra Leone), Berthold Kobby Winkler Ackon (Ghana), Siyamthanda Kolisi (South Africa), John Amanam (Nigeria), Hamis Kiggundu (Uganda), Dr. Yakama Manty Jones (Sierra Leone), Dr. Thakgalo Thibela (South Africa), Dr. Rufaro Nyakatawa (South Africa), Kin Kariisa (Uganda), Dr Oluyinka Olutoye (Nigeria), Dr Imtiaz Sooliman (South Africa), Claude Ake (Nigeria), Graça Machel (Mozambique), Joseph Lumbahe (South Africa), Dr. Nokugcina Elsie Mhlophe (South Africa), Nolitha Fakude (South Africa), Nomfundo Tshazibana (South Africa), Patrick Awuah Jr. (Ghana), Patrick Epaphra Ngowi (Tanzania), Precious Moloi-Motsepe (South Africa), Professor Mashudu Tshifularo (South Africa), Professor Mark Nasila (South Africa), Saray Khumalo (Zambia/South Africa), Dr Sizwe Mabizela (South Africa), Stephen Wamukota (Kenya), Tembeka Nicholas Ngcukaitobi (South Africa), Theo Baloyi (South Africa), Angélique Kidjo (Benin), Aya Chebbi (Tunisia), David ‘Qadasi’ Jenkins (South Africa), Dr. Charles Awuzie (Nigeria), Dr. Nahid Toubia (Sudan), Dr. Amany Asfour (Egypt) Gugu Khumalo (South Africa), Hajer Sharief (Libya), Letta Mbulu (South Africa), Mwangala Maunga (Zambia), Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo (South Africa),Phakamile Mazibuko (South Africa),Pitika Ntuli (South Africa), Professor Mohamed Hag Ali Hassan (Sudan), Professor Nashwa Eassa (Sudan), Theresa Kachindamoto (Malawi), Waris Dirie (Somalia): Wendy Yvonne Nomathemba Luhabe (South Africa),Professor Wiseman Lumkile Nkuhlu (South Africa), and Professor Abdon Atangana (Cameroon).