Dayo Israel, APC National Youth Leader, announces novel Progressive Young Leaders Award

The National Youth Leader of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Dayo Israel has announced a first-of-its-kind award event, the Progressive Youth award, to honour outstanding youths of the party and other leaders for their contributions to the growth of the party, landmark successes of the Buhari-administration, and national development.

The Progressive Youth Award is the foremost youth award of the APC which rewards and celebrates outstanding young people and leaders whose contributions and actions have best promoted the party’s values of youth excellence and innovation, while also advancing the cause of meaningful empowerment and representation of young people.

It is an initiative of the Hon. Dayo Israel designed as part of his stated mission to reform, retool, and revitalize the youth wing of the party.

Explaining the rationale for the award, he said: “Our goal for this novel award is to recognize and celebrate young progressives across the country whose selfless and innovative actions and contributions have helped institute and deepen the progressive ideals of our party, consequently bringing about meaningful and transformative changes all of which have bettered the lives of those around them and society at large. These contributions have equally contributed to the enduring popularity of our party as a truly progressive political organization.”

“We also seek to acknowledge and celebrate our extraordinarily important grassroots mobilizers and support groups, the unsung heroes whose extraordinary sense of duty, devotion, and sacrifice have expanded our party’s support base and promoted a greater understanding which directly aided necessary policy shifts, among other tangible and intangible benefits.”

“We will also acknowledge and fete progressive Governors and other government leaders who have proven reliable and capable allies of young people through their unwavering and remarkable commitment to youth advancement through meaningful empowerment and inclusion efforts, including equitable representation in leadership structures, and schemes and legislative efforts targeted at removing obstacles hindering youth development and flourish.”

“By so doing, the ultimate goal of the Hon. Dayo Israel-led Progressive Youth Wing is to institutionalize our values and ideals by encouraging widespread adoption and providing a strong message to progressive youths and allies in the country and beyond that their value to the party is immeasurable and that their sacrifice and contributions have not gone unnoticed.”

Noting how such encouragement could motivate greater commitment in a crucial election poised to be determined by young people, Dayo Israel said “honouring these exemplary young leaders and strong mobilizers of the party before an important election year is equally a move expected to provide strong encouragement for them to intensify their efforts to ensuring the victory of our party and candidate at the polls.”

The award will be presented in five major categories including Governance and Leadership, Public Service and Civic Participation, Development and Innovation, Policy and Advocacy, Party Commitment and Development. The Office of the National Youth Leader will award prizes to young people in various related fields and sectors in each category.

In the five major categories, the Office of the National Youth Leader will award prizes to deserving young people in related fields and sectors. The prizes in the categories have been named after prominent national figures and elected leaders of the APC to honour their contributions to important national reforms and development, especially those with direct impacts on youth growth and empowerment.

The full categories are listed below:

FULL AWARD CATEGORIES

Governance and Leadership
1. The Bola Tinubu Prize for Excellence in Governance
2. The Babajide Sanwoolu Prize for Excellence in Economic Development and Investment Promotion
3. The Nasir el-Rufai Prize for Governance Reforms and Innovation
4. The Isa Pantami Prize for Digital Innovation In Governance
5. The Babagana Zulum Prize for Transformative Leadership
6. Progressive Governor of the Year
7. Progressive Senator of the Year
8. Progressive MHR of the Year
9. Progressive Minister of the Year
10. Lifetime Achievement Award

Public Service and Civic Participation
1. The Muhammadu Buhari Prize for Patriotism
2. The Kashim Shettima Prize for Promotion of Peace and National Harmony
3. The Adams Oshiomhole Prize for Political Activism and Effective Mobilization
4. The Tukur Buratai Prize for Courage and National Defense
5. The Kayode Fayemi Prize for Defense of Democracy
6. The Rotimi Amaechi Prize for Excellence In Public Service
7. The Abubakar Malami Prize for Tireless Defenders of Human Rights, Democracy, and Rule of Law
8. The Abike Dabiri Prize for National Image and Reputation Enhancement
9. Outstanding Progressive Youth In Community Engagement and Development
10. Outstanding Progressive Youth in Voter Engagement for Participation and Exercise of Political Franchise

Development and Innovation
1. The AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Prize for Academic Excellence
2. The Dahiru Mangal Prize for Excellence in Commerce and Industry
3. The Seyi Tinubu Prize for Strategic and Creative Thinking
4. Outstanding Progressive Youth in School Enrollment and Promotion of Education
5. Outstanding Progressive Youth in Rural Health Development
6. Outstanding Progressive Youth in Digital Innovation in Health
7. Outstanding Progressive Youth in Digital Innovation in Education
8. Outstanding Progressive Youth in Digital Innovation in Finance
9. Outstanding Progressive Youth in Strategic Media Engagement and Innovation
10. Outstanding Progressive Youth in Investment Attraction and Development
11. Outstanding Contribution to Youth Empowerment and Advancement [NE, NW, NC, SS, SE, SW]

Policy, Advocacy, Impact
1. The Babatunde Fashola Prize for excellence in Policy Development and Advocacy
2. The Ramatu Aliyu Prize for Excellence In Women Advancement and Inclusion
3. Outstanding Progressive Youth in SDG Implementation and Attainment
4. Outstanding Progressive Youth In Gender Advocacy and National Balance
5. Progressive Community Heroes

Party Commitment and Development
1. The Abdullahi Adamu Prize for Outstanding Commitment To Party Growth and Development
2. The Rotimi Akeredolu Prize for Promotion and Defense of Progressive Ideals
3. The Dave Umahi Prize for Outstanding Devotion and Contribution to Party Initiatives
4. The Hope Uzodinma Prize for Outstanding Loyalty and Perseverance in Promotion of Party
5. The Orji Uzor Kalu Prize for Excellence in Digital Marketing and Promotion of Party
6. The Abubakar Bello Prize for Excellence Grassroots Marketing and Promotion of Party
7. Star Mobilizer Award
8. Young Progressive of the Year
9. Oustanding Staff, APC Secretariat (State and National)
10. APC Youth Wing Merit Award for Oustanding Executives (State and National)

Winners of the award will come from public nomination and voting, while others in select categories will be recommended by a Committee created by the Office of the Nationa Youth Leader for the purpose. Details on the nomination and voting process will be announced shortly.

The award ceremony is expected to hold in November in Abuja.