Nigerian shortlisted for Commonwealth Youth Awards

Omowumi Ogunrotimi, a Nigerian, has been shortlisted for the 2018 Commonwealth Youth Awards.

Ogunrotimi made the 20-man shortlist as a result of her contribution towards the achievement of the fifth sustainable development goal, gender equality, in the country.

She is the founder of Gender Mobile, a platform which aims to increase the reportage and reduce the incidence of gender-based violence through coordination of linked services.

It also works to provide survivors with information, referrals, assistance and longer-term help to close the gap in service delivery through creative use of technology.

Other finalists are Mrinalini Dayal and Yogesh Kumar Rao (India), Zain Ashraf (Pakistan), Vanessa Paranjothy (Singapore), Khairul Salleh (Brunei), Elia Timotheo (Tanzania), Sherifah Tumusiime and Okettayot Lawrence (Uganda), Gerald Matolo (Kenya), Kate Crowhurst and Usman Iftikhar (Australia), Josevata Rotidara and Elvis Kumar (Fiji), Rayon Mclean and Sophia Bryan (Jamaica), Lazarus Towa (Papua New Guinea), Jonathan Barcant (Trinidad and Tobago), kehkashan Basu (Canada), and Patricee Douglas (Guyana).

The finalists were shortlisted from more than 400 applications from across the globe.

According to the Commonwealth, the awards recognise outstanding young people aged 15 to 29 whose innovative projects and programmes have had a significant impact on their communities.

This year’s focus is on celebrating young people’s contribution towards a fairer, more sustainable, more secure and more prosperous future for the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Youth Programme said the regional young persons of the year would be selected, with one exceptional entrant being recognised as the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year during the Commonwealth Youth Forum, in London in April.

In addition to a grant of GBP £1,000 to continue their development work, finalists will each be awarded a trophy and certificate.

The Regional Young Persons of the Year will receive £3,000, and the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year will get £5,000.