Exceptional Julienne Ariori Crowned as 2024 FALA Star Prize Winner

Pastor Chris celebrates 23-year-old genius for her ingenuity and selfless acts toward humanity.

23-year-old visionary Julienne Ariori from Benin Republic rose to the occasion and stood out among her peers to clinch the prestigious Star Prize Award at the 2024 Future Africa Leaders Awards (FALA), during the 31st December New Year's Eve Service with Pastor Chris. Her laudable exploits which have etched a sizable influence in the lives of many across the African region protracted her among a robust list of elite pacesetters to bag the coveted prize.

Young Julienne demonstrates outstanding commitment to providing a sustainable future for Africa. She waged a fierce war against harmful GMO pesticides, reducing harmful chemical use by 30% in Benin Republic. Her fluoride-free Moringa Fresh Toothpaste was a witty invention worthy of recognition; a product to which she ensured widespread distribution in her nation.

Through various seminars, the 23-year-old Beninois trained over 1000 youth in sustainable farming. She organised “Green-a-thon 2023” where she educated a million viewers on waste management. Together with many more humanitarian acts, Juliene Ariori, who was filled with tears walking along the aisle, to receive her well-deserved award as the Star Prize winner of the FALA 2024; a recognition accompanied by a 25,000USD cash prize from the President and Founder of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, Reverend Chris Oyakhilome DSc., DSc., DD.

Alongside 23-year-old Julienne Ariori were 9 other brilliant young African leaders from different African countries who were also honoured at the auspicious event. With diverse activism and charitable acts including “Stop FGM Campaigns”, granting scholarships, donating thousands of books, distributing relief materials, constructing boreholes, renovating libraries, aiding orphans and children with special needs, among others, these young African elites plumed as true African leaders.

With a 10,000USD cash prize complement to further expand their sustainable projects, Favour Effiom from Nigeria, Ntung Ngela Landon from Cameroon, Mawada Abdalla from Libya, Israel Majak Yel from South Sudan, Anneckijet Joan Kapomba from Malawi, Akram Sebai from Morocco, Jessica Leonor Sampaio Baide from Guinea-Bissau, Collins from Kenya and Youssef from Egypt were duly recognized and celebrated for their outstanding feats in meeting needs in various sectors of society. 

Since its inception in 2013, the Future Africa Leaders Foundation founded by Reverend Chris Oyakhilome DSc., DSc., DD, recognizes young Africans who have taken up diverse roles of leadership, resolving seemingly insurmountable challenges in academia, agriculture and different sectors of the economy across Africa. Outstanding young leaders irrespective of race, religion, nation, gender, and more are nominated every year for the Future Africa Leaders Awards (FALA), rigorously screened and the best chosen for the awards presented by LoveWorld President and grand patron of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

In his address at the 2024 event, the man of God commended these young Africans for setting the pace in problem-solving in their respective countries and beyond. In his speech, he charged Africans to produce visionaries. “Africa is wealthy, Africa has everything. But where there seems to be a shortage is in excellent leadership,” he remarked, as he made a call for champions to be raised to spearhead change and development across the region. 

As the custom is every year, globally respected African leaders are invited as special guests at the FALA ceremony. Gracing the occasion again this year as the Chairman of FALA 2024 was the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, (GCFR). In his inspiring speech, Chief Obasanjo kindled hope for all Africans. “To lose hope is to lose everything and we must not allow the youth of Africa to lose hope,” the Former President recounted, spurring the Africans to go through the thick and thin to make the continent praiseworthy.

Announcing the Star Prize winner at the occasion was the Special Guest of Honor, His Excellency General Yakubu Gowon (GCFR), former Head of State, Federal Republic of Nigeria who was filled with words of praise for the 23-year-old Julienne Ariori, her colleague winners and the African youth at large.

In his final remarks, LoveWorld President and Grand Patron of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome who has awarded over 81 young Africans since the inception of this ceremony, commended the current crop of winners, congratulating them as the latest batch into a sect of outstanding achievers and urged them to stir the course of resolving human needs in their respective countries and beyond.

Congratulations to the Star Prize winner of FALA 2024, Julienne Ariori and the other distinguished winners.