The award was initiated in 2008 to recognize and reward exemplary Africans for their extra-ordinary contributions to human development in any part of the continent. The general public can nominate any individual they feel has made an impact on the lives of Africans.
Nominations are made online at www.award.dailytrust.com.
The prize committee is chaired by the former Prime Minister of Tanzania and erstwhile Secretary-General of African Union, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim. The committee meets early November in Addis Ababa to select winner of the prize sum of US$50,000 donated by UBA Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading commercial banks with a pan-African network.
The maiden award, in 2008, went to a Congolese humanitarian Surgeon, Dr. Denis Mukwege who shared the prize sum of US$50,000 with two runners-up, namely, Dr. Christiana Thorpe, former Chairperson of Sierra Leone Electoral Commission and Mr. Salif Keita, Malian singer and albino rights activist.
Subsequent editions of the award have been won by the former Director of UN Millennium Office for Africa, late Dr. Tajudeen Abdulraheem (2009); the Chief Executive of Local Organising Committee for the 19th FIFA/Coca Cola World Cup, Mr. Danny Jordaan (2010); the former Judge and Head of Constitutional Court of Niger Republic, Mrs. Fatimata Bazeye (2011) and the former President of South Africa, Mr. Thabo Mbeki (2012).
Aside Dr. Salim, other members of the Advisory Board/Selection Committee are Prof. Tandeka Nkiwane (South Africa), Mr. Kabiru Yusuf (Nigeria), Prof. Okello Oculi (Uganda), Prof. Abdoulaye Bathily (Senegal) and the secretary Ms. Muthoni Wanyeki (Kenya).
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