By: Covenant Odedele
Samuel Anjolaoluwa Alabi, popularly known as Sàámú Onífọ́tò, a 200-level student at the Department of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Education was announced as the winner of the Canon Young Champion of the Year Award, a category of the Global Good Awards, on the 22nd September 2021.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the National Youth Conference in Abuja, hailed the creative undergraduate of the country’s premier university.
Osinbajo, in the opening speech of the event, which was held on Monday, November 1, 2021, was full of praises to Samuel and other youths in entertainment, sports, technology, and other sectors.
He said, “Only last week, the Canon Young Champion of the Year Award – which celebrates the achievements of young people around the world who are driving social and environmental change – went to Alabi Samuel Anjolaoluwa in the Under-21s category for his inspiring project, ‘Students of Ibadan,’ which shines a light on the struggles faced by under-served students in the city of Ibadan.
Samuel, who volunteers as a documentary photographer at the Fashioned And Made for Excellence Foundation, emerged as the winner of five finalists shortlisted for the Under 21 Category, his project, “Students of Ibadan”, a documentary that looks to shine a light on the story and struggle of students in Ibadan, Nigeria, revealing the challenges they face on daily basis.
To clinch the first position, Samuel’s entry beat those of his rivals in India, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America.
When asked how he feels about winning the award, Samuel said, “I feel so excited about this win. I remember how I was trying to make the video alongside other senior colleagues in the office and was about to give up but I kept the courage. I’m particularly happy because the efforts paid off and this is evidence that efforts do not die.”
