After receiving over sixty (60) nominations, the organizers of the 2022 African Genius Awards have on Wednesday 16th March 2022 released the names of shortlisted nominees after a mandatory, thorough screening and filtering judging process by the Adjudication Committee. Twenty-three people made it to the next round.
Watch Full List of shortlisted Nominees Below
See the full list of shortlisted nominees
- Abdulai Yirah Marah
- Alhaji Ahmad Siraj Bah
- Arnold Caulker
- Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu
- David Kakpama Sam
- Dr David Moinina Sengeh
- Dr Mary Queen Komoda
- Dr Umar Johnson
- Emmanuel Alie Mansaray
- Ishmael Alfred Charles
- Kelvin Doe
- Nana Kwame Bediako
- Nourane Fotsing Moluh Hassana
- Professor PLO Lumumba
- Vusi Thembekwayo
- Waterz Yidana
- Wesley Ndiath
- Wiselady Marikhela
- Ibrahim Alusine Kebe
- Mohamed A Kamara
- Olabanke Subair
- Osaretin Agbonavbare
- Runcie C.W. Chidebe
According to the organizers, the shortlisted nominees will be scored (out of 100) by the official African Genius Awards Adjudication Committee which constitutes of reputable people like Professor Tawana Kupe, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria and former Vice-Principal of the University of Witwatersrand, Professor Steven Friedman, Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg, and Dr Pulane Molokwane, a Nuclear Physicist and an Environmental Specialist with expertise in ground water remediation, nuclear waste, process and solid waste management (see full list here). Those to be awarded as African Geniuses for 2022 will only be announced on the 25th of May during the main event.
Due to the nature of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa, this year’s awards event will take place virtually on Wednesday 25 May at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Campus and Institute, South Africa. Members of the public are invited to attend the awards event online event via The African Dream and University of Pretoria YouTube Channels respectively.
The African Genius Awards is a project undertaken by Priority Performance Projects, in partnership with Plus 94 Research, University of Pretoria, The African Dream, University of Johannesburg, Plus 94 Research, 702, Gordon Institute of Business Science, Project Ndimhle, Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institutes. The awards honour people of all ages who show advanced problem-solving skills, are globally competitive and are committed to Africa’s development. The African Genius Awards invite nominations of individuals who possess unique, rare attributes, characteristics and skills who have used them to address challenges or exploit opportunities to impact African societies in ways that are uplifting, transformative, build the esteem of Africans and inspire them to make significant contributions to the continent and its countries’ development in specific ways, sectors and in general.
Launched in 2021, the inaugural first edition of the African Genius Awards was a success. Steve Bantu Biko, Aliko Dangote, and Chinua Achebe became the first Africans to win the African Genius Award. According to the CEO of the African Genius Awards, Dr Sifiso Falala, he said the inaugural year was a success. “The message from the public and participants was that this initiative was long overdue. The AGAs have demonstrated an amazing ability to bring together society with business and the academic community. We are excited about our partnership with all these sectors of our continent and see the future of this continent being driven by a business world that is in touch with academics, and an academic world that prides itself in being relevant,” said Dr Sifiso Falala.
“South Africa and our continent Africa have their own geniuses, with the likes of Dr Chris Barnard who performed the world’s first heart transplant in 1967. The continent needs good leaders who are well-educated and well-skilled as well as well-rounded citizens with foresight and wisdom, in every sector. We also need strong institutions that can anchor sustainable democratic futures, inclusive economic development and social progress. Africa needs to become a knowledge-based economy so that its people find solutions to its own problems, instead of looking to the north,” said Professor Tawana Kupe.
