As The World Comes To Abuja, Nigeria; The Future Awards Africa 2014 Is Launched At SHAPE Africa ... Nominations End On June 12

The Future Africa Awards & Summit 2014 has been formally launched - it was launched at the closing gala for SHAPE Africa 2014 in Abuja on Tuesday, 7 May, just before the World Economic Forum on Africa begins. This will be the 9th season of the awards.

"As the world focuses on Africa, with global leaders weighing in on our most pressing solutions; we are excited to launch yet another season of the premier event for Africa's young leaders," said Adebola Williams, who is co-founder of the awards.

"The Future Africa Awards & Summit (TFAAS) has, this year, fully expanded its mission across the continent, to identify exceptional young leaders, celebrate their achievements, and present them as leading the new set of young Africans who will be shaping the future of Africa and the world.'

Nominations have now opened. Below are the categories:

The Future Awards Prize in Advocacy

The Future Awards Prize in Agriculture

The Tony O. Elumelu Prize in Business

The Future Awards Prize in Community Action

The Future Awards Prize in Education

The Future Awards Prize in Enterprise Support

The Future Awards Prize in Entertainment

The Future Awards Prize in Public Service

The Future Awards Prize in Technology

The Future Awards Prize for African Young Person of the Year

Nominees must be of African origin, and be aged 18 - 31. To nominate, go to thefutureafrica.com/awards or send an email to [email protected]. If Internet access is a problem, send an SMS to +234 802 222 6712.

The awards has also been expanded to The Future Africa Awards & Summit, a 2-day ideas-fest, where the continent's most influential leaders and institutions with portfolios on youth will gather to chart immediate action-points for expansion of jobs and opportunities, as well as good governance and citizen engagement.

"This is the largest home-grown network of policy-makers, business people, and other stakeholders in Young Africa," said Williams.

The official media campaign for the season will be unveiled at noon on Monday, 12 May. The Board of Judges and Independent Audit Committee selecting the award winners will be unveiled shortly after.

The Future Africa Awards 2014 is supported by Microsoft, the US Consulate and the Tony Elumelu Foundation. Official Media Partners are EbonyLife TV, AfricaMagic, Cool FM and Y! Africa. Official Online Partners are MemeBurn, BellaNaija, and LIB. The official bloggers for 2014 are Omojuwa, Olorisupergal and Ameyaw.com. Channels Television is the host station for Nigeria.

For more information, visit @TFAAfrica on Twitter or the website http://www.thefutureafrica.com/awards. The official hashtags for 2014 are #TFAAS2014 and #TheFutureAfrica.

About The Future Awards Africa

In seven years, The Future Awards Africa has produced over 120 winners and 1,200 nominees across the world. Our mission at The Future Awards Africa is to inspire leadership and build enterprise. With its umbrella The Future Project, it has been in the forefront of inspiring a new generation of leaders/leadership and entrepreneurs for Nigeria, working with the Africa Union, the US Government, the British Council, the Ministry of Youth Development, the Nigerian Presidency amongst other organs. Winners of the awards over the years include: D¹banj, Don Jazzy, Mercy Johnson, Tolu Ogunlesi, Banky W, Seyi Law, Bridget Awosika, Ify Aniebo, Debola Lewis, Matse, Jesse Jagz, M.I, Linda Ikeji, Toolz,Cobhams Asuquo, Onye Obanatu, Lamide Akintobi, Mosumola Umoru, Toyosi Akerele, Funke AkindeleUche Nnaji, Banke Meshida-Lawal, Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche and others.

About Red Media Africa

Red Media Africa is a PR & Communication firm under the parent company, RED. An innovative media company focused on Africa, RED's vision is to excite and empower an evolving generation through the media¹s limitless possibilities. Built across tools and platforms, its Communication Division holds Red Media, Red Marketing and Red Media-SME Support; and its Content Division holds the Y! brands, including Y! TV, Y! TV, Y! Magazine, YNaija.com, Teen Y!, TeenYNaija.com, Y! 2015, YNaija2015.com and the Y! Annual Black Ball/Y! 100Most Influential List. It also anchors a development firm, The Future Project Africa, which presents Africa¹s leading youth platform, The Future Awards Africa, and other projects including the Nigeria Symposium for Young & Emerging Leaders and The Future Enterprise Support Scheme.