James Popoola, Taiwo Aromolaran, three others nominated for Future Awards Africa

Nigerian entrepreneur and youth development advocate, James Popoola, has been nominated for the Young Person of the Year award at the 2026 edition of The Future Awards Africa.

Popoola is among five nominees shortlisted for the award, which is scheduled to hold on November 14, 2026, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the prestigious programme.

Other nominees in the category are Abdul Azeez Abdulyekeen, Taiwo Aromolaran, Deborah Johnson and Nora Awolowo.

Popoola, popularly called the Gen Z Coach, is a five-book author known for his work in youth leadership, entrepreneurship and personal development.

He said the nomination would motivate him to continue creating opportunities and programmes that support young people in developing their skills and achieving their career goals.

Popoola is the founder of Youthford Fellowship, Executive Director of Rootrise Youth Development Initiative and Principal Consultant at Inkspark Global Publishing Limited.

He is also a co-founder of CARBUT, a knowledge-sharing platform established in 2024 to connect young people with useful information and opportunities in careers, business and technology.

The entrepreneur is also involved in the Beyond the NYSC Summit, an initiative that provides development opportunities for more than 5,000 young people every year.

He also leads Youthford Fellowship, a 12-week online programme designed for young people between the ages of 18 and 35.

The fellowship attracted more than 500 applications from 22 countries during its first admission exercise. However, 100 participants were selected from 18 countries and over 50 campuses.

The programme provides training in leadership, systems thinking and social impact, while preparing participants for changes in the employment and business sectors.

According to Popoola, the initiative was established to help young people overcome some of the challenges associated with unemployment by providing them with practical skills needed to succeed in the digital economy.

He explained that many graduates leave the formal education system without some of the skills required to secure jobs, earn income and compete in the modern workplace.

Popoola studied History and International Studies at the University of Ilorin, where he also developed an interest in student leadership and youth development.

Beyond his activities in Nigeria, he serves as Africa Liaison for Afro Free Culture Crowdsourcing Wikimedia (AfroCROWD).

Since 2024, he has also represented Nigerian youths at the United Nations headquarters through the Summit of the Future process.

The entrepreneur said he hopes to use the recognition to expand his efforts towards building platforms that equip young people with relevant knowledge, improve their financial independence and prepare them for leadership positions.

The Future Awards Africa is organised by The Future Project to recognise young Africans whose contributions are making a difference across various sectors.

The annual awards celebrate individuals whose work in business, education, technology, entertainment, leadership and other fields is contributing to development across the continent.