Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo
The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation has opened nominations for the 2026 editions of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership and the Obafemi Awolowo Sectoral Leadership Awards.
It, therefore, urged institutions, professional bodies and members of the public in Nigeria, across Africa and the international community to nominate individuals whose leadership has transformed lives through integrity, vision, courage and commitment to the common good.
In a statement, the Foundation said nominations for the Prize for Leadership would be received from August 1 to October 31, 2026, while entries for the Sectoral Leadership Awards would close on September 30, 2026.
The Foundation said the sectoral leadership awards, which have just been introduced, complement the prestigious prize for leadership.
It explained that both awards were established to preserve and promote the enduring leadership ideals of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, one of Africa’s foremost nationalist leaders and internationally respected advocates of progressive governance.
According to the Foundation, the awards seek not only to recognise exceptional achievement but also to promote a culture of ethical, visionary and people-centred leadership at a time when Nigeria, Africa and the wider world continue to confront complex governance and development challenges.
However, the biennial Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership honours individuals whose public or private leadership reflects the values that defined Awolowo’s remarkable public life. Nominees are expected to have demonstrated exceptional leadership in public service, business, civil society or other fields, with verifiable records of integrity, accountability, discipline, respect for the rule of law and measurable impact on society.
The Foundation said particular consideration would be given to nominees whose work has significantly advanced education, healthcare, economic development, social justice, poverty reduction and other initiatives that improve public welfare, adding that qualified women are especially encouraged to be nominated in recognition of the importance of inclusive leadership in national development.
The Foundation, which said that nominees for the sectoral awards might come from Nigeria, elsewhere in Africa or any part of the world, provided they have demonstrated sustained, values-driven leadership and achieved measurable, transformative impact in their respective fields, stated that the prize consists of a medal, plaque and certificate and represents national recognition of exemplary leadership rooted in service, integrity and enduring public impact.
It also said that the recipient of the 2026 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership would be announced in December 2026 and formally honoured on March 6, 2027, the birth anniversary of Obafemi Awolowo, while the sectoral awards will be presented at a distinguished public ceremony celebrating exemplary leadership and promoting national discourse on values-based leadership.
The Foundation, therefore, said that completed nomination forms and supporting documents for both awards may only be submitted online or by email through the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership Secretariat, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation.
“Further information and nomination guidelines are available at https://obafemiawolowofoundation.com/oapl/ for the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership and https://obafemiawolowofoundation.com/oaslp/ for the Sectoral Leadership Awards.
“Enquiries may also be directed to: centenary@awolowofoundation.org, awolowofoundation@yahoo.com or awofound@gmail.com,” it stated.
