In an inspiring move to celebrate and honor remarkable young Africans, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, is set to host 100 outstanding youths under the Royal African Young Leadership Forum (RAYLF) Awards. This prestigious event, themed “Africa of the Future: Better Together,” will take place from July 9 to 14, 2024, and will bring together exceptional young leaders from 39 African countries who have significantly contributed to governance, innovation, entrepreneurship, creative culture, and academics.

The RAYLF Awards, an initiative by the Ooni of Ife, aims to recognize and celebrate young Nigerians making impactful contributions across various sectors. Since its inception in 2019, RAYLF has honored distinguished individuals, including Guinness record holder Tunde Onakoya, Nollywood actress Chika Ike, and 2020 BBNaija winner Olamilekan Al-Khalifa (aka Laycon), among others.

Addressing the media in Lagos, the Ooni of Ife emphasized the importance of Africa’s young population in achieving the continent’s Vision 2063. He stated, “One of my greatest legacies is bringing young minds together to realize that nobody will build the African continent for us except we make it ourselves, starting from our dear country, Nigeria.”

The Ooni elaborated on the genesis of RAYLF, “Five years ago, we came up with the concept of Royal African Young Leadership Forum (RAYLF), a forum for young minds both in the private sector and in the public sector, and also leaders that carry the empathy and things of social relevance on their head and also have to make a vibrant Africa better for every one of us.”

The Ooni also introduced a new initiative emerging from the forum, the Royal African Chamber of Commerce (RACC), which aims to bring about ‘African Leopards.’ These ‘African leopards’ are envisioned as transformative leaders in both the private and public sectors, driving significant changes across the continent. “What we are doing is to create a very formidable platform out of Africa,” he said, underscoring RAYLF’s commitment to sustainable development and prosperity across the continent.

By empowering and engaging Africa’s youth, the Ooni emphasized that the continent can harness their creativity and drive to unlock its full potential. “As the world increasingly looks to Africa as the next major economic frontier, initiatives like RAYLF highlight the continent’s vibrant future, fueled by the energy and innovation of its young leaders,” he added.

The main event will spotlight the RAYLF Awards Ceremony, celebrating the achievements of the 100 outstanding youths. This will be accompanied by the launch of the N1B WOMB project fund in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), aimed at supporting entrepreneurial ventures. Additionally, theofficial launch of “African Leopards,” a new initiative to foster leadership and innovation, will take place.

The forum will conclude with a state dinner in Osogbo, Osun State, bringing together participants to reflect on the week’s events and forge lasting connections. As the event draws to a close, participants will return to Lagos for their departure, taking with them the inspiration and networks to drive positive change across the continent.

As RAYLF 2024 approaches, the anticipation builds for what promises to be a landmark event in recognizing and empowering the next generation of African leaders. The Ooni of Ife’s commitment to nurturing young talent and fostering a united and prosperous Africa continues to shine as a beacon of hope and progress for the continent.