The beneficiaries are among 112 persons under 40 years of
age, selected as Young Global Leaders by WEF, from across 56 countries.
The two Nigerians, Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong, founder, 54gene and
Obi Ozor, the founder of Kobo360, joined the ranks of past Nigerian winners,
Ambassador Debo Adesina, former Editor-in Chief of the Guardian Newspapers and
current Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, and Mr. Simon Kolawole, CEO of Cable
Newspapers Ltd.
While announcing the winners, the WEF confirmed that the
African YGLs will benefit from the Aliko Dangote Fellowship, made possible by
the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF). Till date, 73 Young Leaders from Africa
have benefitted from the fellowship.
The aim of the fellowship is to increase the quality and
quantity of young African leaders by supporting the engagement of African YGLs
in the community, such as those from small enterprises or the non-business
sector. The fellowship, WEF added, supports YGLs from Africa to participate in
global YGL and Forum events.
The YGL award, according to WEF, “is to recognise and create
a platform for a dynamic community of exceptional people with the vision,
courage, and influence to drive positive change in the world.”
“We are excited to welcome 112 Young Global Leaders for the
Class of 2021. From a gender justice and human rights activist to a multi-award
winning artist and advocate for indigenous literacy, to a celebrated leader
from the world’s youngest country as well as leaders from business, civil
society, healthcare and government.”
Giving a breakdown analysis of the winners, the WEF said
among the 56 countries represented in the award, eleven leaders hail from
Africa and their work brings the promise of a brighter outlook at a difficult
time. “They join a group of Nobel Prize recipients, Pulitzer winners, Heads of
state and chief executive officers committed to improving the state of the
world”, it noted.
Chief Executive of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), Zouera
Youssoufou, congratulated Ene-Obong and Ozor for this accomplishment and urged
them to continue raising the Nigerian and African flags.
She said ADF was pleased to have worked with 54gene and
Kobo360 at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when CACOVID partnered
various organisations for collaborative efforts to complement the government’s
intervention to fight the pandemic.
“We are very pleased to see Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong and Obi Ozor
recognised in this way given the remarkable work they and their young team have
been able to accomplish recently and especially in this past year. 54Gene and
Kobo360, have been integral part of the national rapid response to the COVID-19
pandemic displaying exemplary professionalism, efficiency, dedication, and
patriotism. Truly inspirational and further proof that Nigerian and African youth
are capable of anything given the right opportunities”, Zouera enthused.
Many of the past winners have gone ahead to prove their
leadership and enterprising ability in their various fields of endeavour to
justify the essence of the award and the genuineness of their nomination.
A past recipient, Ambassador Debo Adesina said, “I am
delighted to have two more Nigerians on the Young Global Leaders list of the
World Economic Forum. This is a great honour and I trust that my compatriots
appreciate the responsibility this laurel carries as well as the duties that
come with it. Of course, it is a recognition that challenges them to be better
at whatever they do, given the illustrious cast of honourees before them.
“In my 2005/2006 class of YGLs were accomplished young men
and women who, afterward, went to greater heights by expanding the frontiers of
excellence in public service, academia, the professions, innovations and all
sorts of fields. I was inducted on the same day with Daron Acemoglu, the
cerebral economist-academic who co-wrote the best-selling book, ‘Why Nations
are Poor,’ Sergei Brin and Larry Page who both founded Google, Ndidi Nwuneli of
LEAP Africa, Brian Molefe in South Africa and Prince Harkon of Norway. Gavin
Newsom was Mayor of San Francisco then. He went on to be Lieutenant Governor
and is now Governor of the State of California in the USA. There were many more
across the world in that class and in the years after who are still working
hard to make our world a better place. I welcome the new inductees and urge
them to keep the light shining for all.
“There is, indeed, no better time than now for all young men
and women all over the world, especially these awardees, to commit themselves
anew to the goal of charting a clear course of service to humanity and be
veritable tools for global development.
Another recipient in 2012, Mr. Simon Kolawole while reacting
to the latest list expressed happiness that more Nigerians are being recognised
at the international level for good reason.
He stated; “I had a most rewarding experience as a Young
Global Leader (YGL) in every sense of it. I gained incredible knowledge from
attending short courses at topmost universities and participating in
conferences. I interacted with YGLs from diverse cultures and professional
backgrounds. The entire experience has helped in shaping my professional
career.
To underscore his nomination, WEF said Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong,
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, 54gene, has quietly been making waves at
the head of one of Africa’s foremost health technology companies, working in
the field of gene technology. 54gene was created in 2019 and its stated mission
is to understand the genetic factors that lead to disease in Africa.
The African genome has been understudied and misunderstood,
according to 54gene, which addresses a vital gap in research and new healthcare
solutions. 54gene’s work is included in Time Magazine’s list of the 12
innovations that will change healthcare in 2020.
Ene-Obong was also listed as one of the 30 most innovative
entrepreneurs on the African continent in 2019 by Quartz Africa. Prior to
54gene, he worked in a range of pharmaceutical companies and research
organisations. He gained a doctorate from the University of London, holding a
PhD in Cancer Biology. He also has a Master’s in human molecular genetics from
Imperial College London and a Master’s in Business Management from Claremont
Colleges, California. As Africa starts punching its weight in science and
technology, Ene-Obong is sure to lead the charge for gene-based innovation.
On his own part, Kobo360 floated by Obi Ozor, is a logistic
technology company that aggregates end-to-end haulage operations to help cargo
owners, truck owners, drivers, and cargo recipients to achieve an efficient
supply chain framework.
With only a click of a button, cargo owners can simply
request for any truck of their choice and have their goods picked up and
delivered to the required location through an all-in-one robust logistics
ecosystem. Kobo360 raised $30 million USD in 2019, backed by Goldman Sachs, an
impressive feat for a startup.
It would be recalled that the Forum of Young Global Leaders
was founded in 2005 by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the
World Economic Forum, to create a world where leaders take responsibility for a
sustainable future while meeting increasingly complex and interrelated
challenges. There are 1,400 members and alumni from more than 120 countries
till date.
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