By Effiong WILLIAM
The Chief Technical Director of propellerng.com and Chief Executive of Start Innovative Hub, Mr Hanson Johnson, was among five young entrepreneurs of Akwa Ibom State honoured with award of recognition at the LEAP Africa 2016 Social Innovators Programme and Awards (SIPA) 2016 held at Emerald Events Centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Thursday, November 10, 2016.
The occasion marked the 12th edition of the programme themed “Building Communities”.
In an appreciation speech, Johnson after receiving the award said as a developer, he has worked with teams to deliver local business solutions in Nigeria especially in the media and hospitality sector where he started.
He stated further that the journey of Start Innovation Hub has been “a rough ride with smiles because we have nothing to regret about this small team we set up”.
Johnson established Start Innovation Hub in May 2014 to help startups in South-South Nigeria start up faster.
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| Johnson (2nd left) displays his award |
Johnson, who also leads a team of Google Developers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was one of the 7,000 software developers that featured at the 2016 Google I/O conference which held in California, United States of America, in May..
The occasion was also graced with the presence of various dignified guests including the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Moses Ekpo, Sam Edoho, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Marketing and Brand Management, Meflyn Anwana, Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, and Olaleje Olubade among others.
In his welcome address, the LEAP’s Board Director and MD, SO&U, Udeme Ufot, who opened the Awards, acknowledged the organization’s impact through SIPA and extensive reach through its youth programmes.
Mr Ufot mentioned that thus far a hundred and twenty-five (125) change makers have been recognized who are already building communities to inspire other young people to break boundaries and effect change in their communities.
Being a native of Akwa Ibom state, Udeme Ufot also spoke of the Dakaada dream of the State government and declared his hope that the programme would be an inspiration to the Akwa Ibom youth to arise to the faith of greatness as demonstrated by the creed.
Akwa Ibom State Government lent support to the Awards with the Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo (MFR) challenging the innovative ingenuity of youth in the State through the LEAP Africa 2016 Social Innovators Programme and Awards to think of and provide to solutions to the pertinent problems facing the lives of citizens.
Ekpo buttressed the state’s philosophy aligning with LEAP’s through other programmes such as Leadership, Ethics and Civics Programme offered to 420 students in seven government schools in the State.
Nineteen Fellows graduated at the awards for successfully completing the 2015/2016 Fellowship programme.
These young graduates have been noted to have recorded visible growths and achievement in their various organisations.
One of the most exciting part of the Awards was prize awards to three Fellows, Buba Imrana– Founder, My TV My School Initiative, AdeloyeOlarenwaju – Founder, SaferMom,Okocha Nkem – Founder, Mamamoni were all awarded with the sum of ₦1,000,000.00 each from Union Bank – for having the most impactful social driven initiative in the last year.
Tobore Edema, the founder of The Gladies, speaking on behalf the graduating class, stated that being one the awardees at the occasion was the fruition of a dream she had birthed five to six years ago after watching an award ceremony by LEAP Africa.
Tobore highlighted that in spite of the various challenges their initiatives were faced with, passion, enthusiasm, vision, their role as custodians of change in Nigeria and being equipped by LEAP to inspire change in Africa has kept them going strong.
She admitted that LEAP Africa has given them global feasibility and credibility which has led to more global recognitions such as the Queen Young Leadership Awards, US. IVLP, Mandela Fellowship amongst others.
Other awardees at the occasion include Eddie Brendan of Ed Creative Studios, Utoye Imoiyo the CEO Latunya Signatures, Donald Bassey, CEO Shade Cover Limited, and Tony & Francis Ono, co-founders of the RootHub.
Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa is a non-profit organization, committed to developing dynamic innovative and principled African leaders.
Among many programs that LEAP Africa organizes, the SIPA is an annual ceremony organized to recognise and reward the creative and innovative ideas of individuals that have concluded the one year Fellowship, thus providing solutions and tackling pressing community social needs and promoting social inclusion.
Source: propellerng.com, Additional report culled from bellanaija.com
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