The Forum/Award will draw participants of over 300 highly recognized individuals, youths and leaders in various sectors of industry, government, business from 16 West African countries to identify with the theme “NOT TOO YOUNG TO LEAD” and provide a holistic and multidimensional approach to sustainable development in West Africa and Africa in general. The event/forum is expected to take place in Lagos, Nigeria, later this year, under the Special Guest of Honour of the Chairman of ECOWAS, Muhammadu Buhari, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Popular Sierra Leonean Musician, Emmerson Bockarie and Alhaji K. Tarawally (Laj-K) are amongst two of the awardee’s from Sierra Leone so far whose name are amongst the 100 Most Influential Young Persons in Africa.

Alhaji K. Tarawally is the Chief Executive Officer of LAKE Production, one of the biggest Entertainment, Event Management, Advertising and Media Production Companies in Sierra Leone. Mr. Tarawally is a seasoned TV Personality, Lecturer, Politician, Entrepreneur and Communication Expert who have over the years engaged in community development activities, promoting youth related activities – advocacy, sports and entertainments.

Mr. Tarawally has won several awards at both community, national and international level, amongst many others including the ‘2018 West Africa Young Leadership Award’ in Accra and the “50 Most Influential Young Sierra Leoneans Award in 2018.

Laj-K is inspiring Sierra Leonean from every discipline and culture who aspires greatness and was also one of the key pioneers of the successful implementation and campaign of liberating the Creative and Arts Sectors in Sierra Leone as ‘One Industry’ by electrifying stakeholders from various facet of the entertainment industry to realise their full economic potential, and put their ego aback to converge and deliberate on issues affecting the interest of the Creative Industry and to develop a blue print document that would be used as a transitional structure from a Collective Union to a Collection Society with the successful implementation of the First National Unity Consultative Conference of the Sierra Leone Entertainment Industry.