Award Night 2024

 Empowering Africa’s Future

Empowering our Youths to Excel.

In a monumental move towards progress and development, Pan African Women Projects brought  West Africa Entertainers and promoters of Youth empowerment in the bloc to Liberia on the 14th of March 2024, for a ground breaking initiative. The year 2024 marks a turning point as several youths in the ECOWS bloc join hands with the Pan African Women Projects to ignite a flame of empowerment among the continent’s youths.

The prestigious African Youth Development  Entertainment & Awards was hosted at the opulent Ocean Drive Beach Resort, one of Liberia’s crowning tourism jewels; a unique space of comfort and luxury.

At this event, luminaries of youth empowerment convene to honor trailblazers and visionaries shaping Africa’s future.

This momentous event stands as a clarion call, beckoning on the African youth to rise, to unify, and to carve a path towards a future brimming with opportunity and promise.

The message of this historical event resonates far beyond the confines of a performance or an awards ceremony; it symbolizes hope, determination, and the unyielding spirit of a continent’s rising generation.

VIVA AFRICA..!!!

They were three (3)  categories of awards presented at this event.

The first awards were presented to twelve(12 ) TALENTED YOUTHS IN ENTERTAINMENT IN LIBERIA.

These include:

1. Weyetta Rosemarie Mckeever alternatively known as Sassy MC, is the CEO of Xcellence Media, a media entity providing marketing/promotion, event Hosting and presenters scouting services. She is also a multi awards winning Radio & TV Talk Show Host, Event Host, voice-over artist, Brand influencer, producer, and speaker.

2.Future D. Doe, at young age Future exhibited a natural flair for humor and entrepreneurship traits that would shape his future endeavors. After graduating from St.Magaret High School in 2013, Future dove headfirst into the world of Business establishing himself as a savvy entrepreneur with a knack for innovation.

3.Malcolm Li Smith is a contemporary poet and spoken word artist hailing from Monrovia, Liberia. He is a former member of the Liberia National Children parliament and later the National Children and youth Advisory Board of Liberia. With a degree in chemistry from the university of Liberia.

 4.Tan Tan Boakai also known as Tamba Boakai is the last born child/son of the current President of the Republic of Liberia, HE Joseph Nyumah Boakai.Tan Tan is  a budding musician, a song writer, a producer and an award winning record artist.

5.Mariama Tuzee Toure founder of T's Twist. T's Twist is a beverage made  in Liberia from organic fruits from local farmers and blended with distilled sugar cane serving varieties of natural fruits flavors. Ms.Toure aim to increase female involvement in societal matters with focus on women being inventors of their own ideas and also advocate gender issues affecting all of Liberia.

6.Wally Alicia Loveland(De Licia) is a digital content creator, youtuber, International Club DJ, speaker, influencer and Brand Ambassador for Kpatawee Waterfall Liberia. She leverages her diverse talents to champion Liberian arts, entertainment, and culture on a global platform.

7.Duke Blaq the maestro behind the hits since 2016, the grinding producer has been setting the music scene ablaze on the shores of Liberia and beyond. With chart topping hits like Teddyride featuring Christoph "Woman Medicine" CIC Weekend featuring Iyanya, "Morning", "Big Papa" CIC, featuring Pascal, "You ehn all", featuring EricGesco, "Ebenezer", featuring Jaredo "Quick Quick, Davero and Jaredo and a plethora of others.

8.Steta Tweet Jah a trailblazer with a heart of gold, a dynamic force to reckoned with the world of artistry, entrepreneurship, and social impact. At just 23 year old she already made her mark as an artist manager, entrepreneu, event planner, and a brand Ambassador.

9.Gladys Gorwor Kota defying boundaries determination and unwavering passion. Despite facing the challenges of visual impairment, Gladys shines brightly as a beacon of hope and inspiration.

 10.Jonatha Lee Pratt, Jzyno singer, songwriter, musical career has skyrocketed to the limelight in 2023. Though his journey has not been easy and is a true rags to riches tale. A journey of struggles and triumphs; from the hard streets of Monrovia slums of Clara Town and New Kru Town to global stage.

11.Dat Way Ezzy his father is a household name in Liberia's traditional Music landscape, Sunnyguy Dear Boy. From his young age he found solace and expression in music and art. Drawing and creating melodies became his favorite pastimes, shaping his identity and providing an outlet for his emotions.

12.Ertamar Thompson is an award-winning actress, TV Show host, digital marketer, an entrepreneur, and a single mother to a brilliant eight,(8) years old son. She is currently a third year student reading mass communications at the United Methodist University(UMU). Ms.Thompson holds several professional certificates in digital marketing communications and film making.

This category  of Awards was presented by Hon.Minister of Youths  Hon.J.Byrant McGill  representing the President Joseph Boakai President of the Republic of Liberia.

The second category of Awards was Awards for TTALENTED YOUTHS IN ENTERTAINMENT IN WEST AFRICA and the awardees were the following :

1.Mr.Throne Walltam Griffin.Jnr(D.J.Dollar) a world class DJ hailed from Senegal.

2.Michael Kanessie(Tripple Hardest) is a Sierra Leonean, he is a singer, song writer, rapper, graphic designer and record producer. He released his first solo studio project "Born Salone Borbor" a self produced song in 2014, this was followed by other songs of his and so many features.

3.Lady Quincy K Prinnce known by the name lady Quincy. She is a Gambian born mix raced. Started her career as a singer from the year 2016, with her wide knowledge and versatility in music started of as RNB artist, then a year later got into signing raggae and Dancehall.

4.Maya Blu is a Ghanaian afrobeat artist signed to Lynx Entertainment with her soulful voice and captivating dance moves, she has quickly become a fast-rising superstar in the music industry. Whether you're a fan of afrobeat or soulful music, Maya Blu's electrifying performances are sure to leave mesmerized.

5. Charles Chibueze Chukwu(Crayon) is a talented Nigerian singer and songwriter. He rose to fame in 2020 with his single "So Fine: which was featured as Apple Music's African Rising star.

6. Desmond Kwesi Blackmore known in showbiz circles as D Black is a Ghanaian afrobeat and Hiphop artist, entrepreneur who built his black Avenue Group empire in a space of ten(10) years . Forbes Africa described the young mogul in the May 2019 issue as Ghana's most successful music mogul. 

This category of awards was presenters also by Hon.J.Byrant McGill, Minister  of Youths ,Liberia. Hon.Kuta Ronell Gbakolay, Assitant Minster, Youth Development also presented some of the awards to some awardees.

The third and final category of Awards was for PROMOTERS OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN WEST AFRICA.

The awardees include the following : 

 1. Sister Mary Laurene Browne, OSF as she is affectionately known by the people of all ages and has been at the helm of Stella Maris Polytechnic University  for the last two decades. She is a devout Catholic Sister, and author of many textbooks and other publications. Sister Mary has contributed immensely to the education of hundreds of Liberian home and abroad.

2.Mr.Edidiong Udoidiong Monday ,His  excellence, innovation and indomitable spirit of a man who has become synonymous with success in the business world. A visionary leader who has left an indelible mark on various industries. A dynamic force behind capital Luxury Group, with unparalleled success and unwavering commitment to Youth Empowerment across West African States.

3.Sadio Mane is the embodiment of the dreams of millions of young Africans, emerging from a small village in Senegal to play at the highest level in Europe and become an international icon. The diminutive attacker defied his family, who did not want him to play soccer, to sneak away from his home village of Bambali to join academy in the capital Dakar and then catapult his way into club football.

4. Evangelist Joshua Milton Blahyi is a beacon of hope for the youths in Liberia. He is a leader, human rights activist, trailblazer and has a golden heart. Through his foundation Journey Against Violence(JAV) he has rehabilitated about eight hundred and fifty(850) street kids and youths since 2007 till date.

 5.Mr Antonion Souare Guinea Airlines, Groups Business Marketing (GBM)- This man through his football academy has trained and empowered over one thousand (1,000) African youths in football .His scholarship scheme has brought hope for the African child as many youths through this programme has graduated from college and now gainfully employed.

6.Dr.Abiso Kabir is the chairman of Wal-Wanne Group, a leading agro-allied company in Borno State, Nigeria with its head office located in Abuja. He collaborates with the Government to diversify the country's economy from total reliance on oil to agriculture.  His company have employed over one thousand ,eight twenty five (1,825)  farmers who grow rice in three States in Northern Nigeria

7.Madam Augusta James Teima is the current Minister of Sports Sierra Leone .She was educated at Milton Margai college of Education and Technology in Teacher Training at HTC(Higher Teacher's Certificate) level and Bachelor of Education 1984-1987 and 1999-2001 respectively, at Njala University college Fora post Graduate course in sport Admistration and Management obtaining Master's Degree in 2004. She has used her career and vocational to empower the youths in her country in sports ,education,skill development and creating small and medium enterprises to better their lives for several decades.It is in her commitments to Youth Empowerment activities and projects that made the President of Sierra Leone Mr. Julius Blu to nominate her despite her political commitment to an opposition party to his cabinet as a Minister of Sports in Sierra Leone.

8.Hon.Chimaobi Sam Atu this man is best described as Phoenix who defiled all the odds and rose in the political circle as a youth and a voice to the voiceless. He had his primary school at Ugwuaji in Enugu South Local Government area of Enugu State. Through his foundation he has empowered about three thousand youths (3,000) in various vocation cutting across entertainment,football, tailoring/ designing, stylist, carpentry and setting up of small businesses and start up capital.

9. Chief Dr.Mrs.Rose Oriaran Anthony belongs to the circle of those that make things happen. She is a great achiever with a brave heart. She is also a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate Degree in public Administration from the European American University. She has used her foundation and business to train  and empower many youths especially in Ghana,Nigeria and Benin Republic. 12.These Awards were also resented by   Hon.J.Byrant McGill Minister of Youth Development, Liberia.

Additionally, the Pan African Women Project South Africa holding of this August ceremony in Liberia was geared towards putting Liberia on a spotlight for development. In the open remarks  by the Head of Mission ,Pan Afrrican Women Projects, Dr.Mrs Eno Ben Udensi, she described this project as a window for investors through the numerous promoters of youth empowerment into the new Government,

The event also revealed the eagerness of the Liberian youths to be engaged in their talent development rather than waiting for government employment .

The  Honorable Minister of Sports Sierra Leone Madam Augusta James Teima said in her remarks on behalf of the awardees said  that the Pan African Women Project should be applauded for recognizing and celebrating the most important people in the society who are the youths. She further appealed to the personalities across the ECOWAS states to create more engagement programmes for  youths across Africa 

The event had several personalities also from  Liberia that attended,one of these personalities was  Madam Macdella Cooper Special Adviser to the President of the Republic of Liberia His Excellency Joseph Nyumah Boakai. Madam  Cooper represented the First Lady, Her Excellency  Mrs Katumu Boakai.