Celebrated life coach, Lanre Olusola and a list of Nigerian thought leaders have won big at Ghana’s 7th annual EMY Africa Awards held Saturday, 1st October 2022, in Accra. The prestigious event was hosted by renowned actress, TV presenter, music writer Nana Ama McBrown and distinguished Ghanaian media personality Prince Moses Ofori Atta.
The 7th edition spanned categories such as Man of the Year, Magnate Award, Humanitarian Award, Young Achiever Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Diasporan Award, Continental Icon Awards, The Technology Award, Woman of the Year, The Guardian Award, Health Award, and the Agriculture Award, Man of the Year Music, Discovery of the Year, Actor of the Year, and Designer of the Year.
“As one of West Africa’s biggest award events, EMY Africa Awards is happy to have honored great men like the former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor; Tony Elumelu (Chairman UBA), Togbe Afede XIV (President, African World Airlines), Abedi Pele (Ghanaian football legend), Azumah Nelson (boxing legend) etc.,” said Executive Director of EMY Africa, Daniel Kojo Soboh.
“This year, we honour The Catalyst, Dr Lanre Olusola, with The Guardian Award, which recognises him as a thought leader, role model and inspirational leader who has shown an ability to nurture mentees and protégés,” Soboh added.
According to Soboh, as someone committed to positively impacting people through his work in coaching, psychotherapy and mentoring in Africa and beyond over the years, the board of patrons and faculty found Olusola worthy of the award.
Receiving the award, Olusola reminded the audience about the WHO report about depression being a leading cause of disability worldwide and encouraged everyone to look out for their mental health and that of their children. He thanked EMY Africa for the award and dedicated his win to “caregivers, coaches, therapists, psychiatrists and psychologists all over the world who are helping others.”
Fondly referred to as the grandfather of coaching in Africa, Lanre Olusola was earlier in May 2022 named “Coach of The Year” in South Africa by the Africa Board for Coaching, Consulting & Coaching Psychology (ABCCCP).
Alongside Olusola, other Nigerians honoured at the event include President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina (Man of the Year Award, Africa); legendary actor Richard Mofe Damijo (Continental Film Icon Award); music mogul, DonJazzy (Continental Music Icon Award); while the founder of HipTV, Ayo Animashaun won the Media Excellence Award.
Each recipient went home with African print fabrics from Woodin, colognes by Scent of Africa and Caveman wristwatches specially engraved with their names, among other gifts.
The event, which had the Vice President of Ghana, the South African and United Kingdom Ambassadors and other notable personalities as special guests, was sponsored by Guinness, supported by the Diaspora Affairs Office, Office of the President of Ghana and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre. It was a night of fun, music, celebration, good food and showcasing the Johnny Walker Blue Label Whiskey.
Follow updates about the awards and see the complete list of winners at the official @emyafrica page on Instagram
