A final-year student from the University of Ibadan (UI), Ayotomiwa Elesho, and Otito-Ayeni Jesu, the President of the Literary & Debating Society, University of Ibadan in 2021has joined the ranks of globally celebrated changemakers as they receive the Diana Award, the highest accolade for young people making significant social contributions. Elosho, a student of Political Science in the Faculty of Social Sciences, was honored for his unwavering commitment to tackling homelessness in his community.
While Ayeni Otito-Jesu was awarded for his organization, Archivan, which is dedicated to reducing employment inequalities among people with disabilities in Nigeria. Through this initiative, he has been able to empower 3,000 disabled people and indirectly impacted 7,000 amongst many other accomplishments.
Expressing his gratitude for the recognition, Elosho remarked, “I feel honoured to be recognized as a Diana Award recipient. Diana, Princess of Wales, dedicated a significant part of her life to creating positive impact across the globe, and to be recognized in her memory makes me feel honoured.”
For Elesho, the award is a testament to his dedication to addressing homelessness, an issue he is deeply passionate about. “Receiving the Diana Award is a testament to my dedication to be the change I wish to see in my society,” he explained. “It has begun to shine more light on this relatively under-tackled issue.”
Elesho’s journey as a social entrepreneur has been marked by initiatives designed to raise awareness of homelessness and inspire others to create change. “While it is good to create change, it is even better to influence other people to become changemakers. With my Diana Award recognition, I’m sure that many more people are now inspired to start their social impact journey.”
He also expressed gratitude to his team and volunteers, emphasizing their instrumental role in his success. “My team members and volunteers who supported me in my awareness-creation journey are appreciated because this award would have been impossible without them.”
Dedicating the award to homeless individuals worldwide, Elesho concluded, “You are not alone in your plight, and I believe that a lasting solution to the homelessness crisis is underway.”
The Diana Award recognizes young leaders globally for their exceptional humanitarian efforts, inspired by the legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales. With Elesho’s addition to its roster of laureates, UI continues to shine on the global stage for producing impactful changemakers.
