The 7th edition of the Lord’s Achievers Awards (LAA) lit up The Monarch Events Centre, Lekki, Lagos, on Friday night as 12 young leaders, innovators, and changemakers were honoured under the theme “Icons of Impact.”
Powered by Lord’s London Dry Gin, the annual awards recognised excellence across diverse sectors, including finance, media, literature, health, sports, and innovation. This year’s honourees included Jennifer Awirigwe for Finance, Debbie Larry-Izamoje for Media and Journalism, Victory Ashaka for Literature, Kaline Njoku for Film and Entertainment, and Damilola Onafuwa for Visual Arts. In Sports, football star Asisat Oshoala was celebrated, with her award received on her behalf by her manager and Inter Lagos Football Club chairman, Mr. Lanre Vigo. Ifeoluwa Dare Johnson was honoured in the field of Health and Wellness, while Tunde Onakoya was recognised for Societal Development. Samson Ogbole took home the prize for Agriculture, Tosin Eniolorunda for Innovation and Technology, Temilade Tolulope “T.T Dalk” for Fashion and Lifestyle, and Tobi Ayeni, popularly known as “Miss Techy,” for Content Creation.
A major highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural “Lord of the City Award” to Ife Durosinmi-Etti, CEO of Herconomy and past honouree, who made history earlier this year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity with three Silver Lions for her groundbreaking breastmilk financing campaign.
Speaking at the event, Oluwagbemileke Lawal, Marketing Manager, Nigeria Distilleries Limited, described the awards as more than just a recognition platform. “The Lord’s Achievers Awards is more than an event; it is an investment in Nigeria’s future. For seven years, we have celebrated young achievers whose work inspires others and creates ripple effects across society. This year’s winners embody the courage, creativity, and resilience we need to move forward as a nation,” he said.
Olusegun Akinyemiju, Senior Brand Manager, Lord’s London Dry Gin, echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of legacy and impact. “At Lord’s, we are proud to stand behind a platform that amplifies voices of change and excellence. Tonight’s honourees remind us that true leadership is not about titles, but about the impact we leave behind. This is the legacy the Lord’s Achievers Awards continues to build,” he noted.
The credibility of the selection process was underlined by a high-profile jury comprising Stephanie Busari (Senior Editor, Africa, CNN), Chuka Obi (Director of Creativity & Innovations, Globacom), Titilope Adesanya (Director of Operations, EMPIRE Africa), Wole Odetayo (CEO, Southwest Innovation & Tech Co. Ltd), Femi Taiwo (Managing Partner, F.I.T Africa), Ladun Awobokun (Chief Content Officer, FilmOne Limited), and Chinyere Inya (Partner, Accelerate Africa & Future Africa). Representatives of the brand also served on the panel.
The ceremony combined recognition with entertainment, featuring vibrant performances from Seeing Through the Arts (STAR), Band Tronic, Loud Urban Choir, Afro-soul singer Qing Madi, Shoday, and crowd-favourite Fido, with hypeman Do2dtun and a live DJ set adding to the excitement.
Since its launch in 2019, the Lord’s Achievers Awards has honoured more than 70 young Nigerians, including Layi Wasabi, Adejoke Lasisi, Stanley Onuorah, and Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph, many of whom continue to inspire through their trailblazing work.
The 2025 edition reaffirmed the Awards’ mission of spotlighting exceptional young achievers who are not only shaping industries but also leaving a legacy of impact for future generations.
