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Lasisi Elenu, Miss Techy, Aproko Doctor, Others Emerge Winners at Trendupp Awards 2022 | See Full List
Mr Macaroni, Miss Techy, Lasisi Elenu, Kie Kie, Aproko Doctor, Zeelicious Foods, ShankComics, Lush Hair, R0dn3y, Pamilerin, Enioluwa, Jamesbrown, Mark Angel, Tunde Onakoya, Amazing Klef and Akinfaminu have all emerged as winners at the second edition of Trendupp Awards – Nigeria’s first-ever awards for influencers and content creators, which held on Sunday, June 12, 2022, at The Monarch Event Centre, Lagos, Nigeria.
The event was hosted by the multi-talented influencer, content creator and TV host Bukunmi Adeaga Ilori fondly known as Kie Kie.
This year’s edition was aimed at recognizing and applauding the outstanding work of influencers, content creators, brands and organisations in Nigeria for their immense contribution to the social media space and encouraging these audacious individuals and organizations.
All sixteen winners across each category were not only presented with their gold statuettes but also received cash prizes of $1000 each, while the winner of the Emerging Force category (the only voting category), ShankComics received a cash prize of $1,500 all courtesy of the event’s headline sponsor Chipper Cash App, one of the world’s leading financial service providers, as the brand’s support to the craft of these leading influencers and content creators in Nigeria.
The most coveted award of the night, the “Force of Influence” was clinched by Mr Macaroni making him the influencer with the highest influence in the Nigerian social media space.
See the full list of winners here.
● The Force of Collaboration: Brands that strategically identify and leverage impactful partnerships with content creators/Influencers between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Lush Hair Nigeria
● The Force of Comedy Skits: Influencers and content creators who commanded the highest engagement & vitality power in the comedy niche between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Lasisi Elenu (Nosa Afolabi)
● The Force of Creative Art (Endowed by MTVBase): Influencers and content creators who commanded the highest engagement & vitality power in the art niches such as painting/drawing, writing, video content production and dancing etc between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Amazing Klef (Okwuchukwu Martins Dominic)
● The Force of Food Content: Influencers and Content Creators who have been able to infuse creativity in their content thus commanding engagement in the food niche between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Zeelicious Foods (Winifred Nwania)
● The Force of Lifestyle Content (Endowed by Tramango): Influencers and content creators who commanded the highest engagement & vitality power in lifestyle niches such as beauty, travel and fashion between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Akin Faminu
● The Force of Online Sensation (Endowed by Dotts Media House): Individuals that have found a way to break through the noise and commanded attention in the social media space between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: James Brown (James Chukwueze Obialor)
● The Force of Instagram: Influencers and Content creators with the most engaging content & virality power on Instagram between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Kie Kie (Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori)
● The Force of Social Good: Influencers and content creators who clamoured/spoke up for the social good of the community/country between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Tunde Onakoya
● The Force of Tech Content: Influencers and content creators who have found a way to use content in communicating technological leaps and information in easily digestible and laudable ways between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Miss Techy (Tobi Ayeni)
● The Force of TikTok: Influencers and Content creators that commanded the highest engagement & virality power on Tiktok between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: R0dn3y (Rodney Odinakachi Umeh)
● The Force of Twitter: Influencers and Content Creators that dominated the Twitter platform with meaningful/impactful conversations and threads between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Pamilerin Adegoke
● The Force of Virality: Influencer or content creator who mastered the art of making lasting impressions, with content that commands a high number of reposts, likes, shares and talkability between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Enioluwa Adeoluwa
● The Force of YouTube: Influencers and Content creators that commanded the highest engagement & virality power on YouTube between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Mark Angel
● The Force of Wellness: Influencers and content creators using social platforms to improve the well-being and health of the public in engaging ways between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Aproko Doctor (Nonso Bobby Fidelis Egemba)
● Emerging Force (Endowed by Chipper Cash App): Content creators and influencers who are rated as the next big deal in social media between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: ShankComics (Adesokan Emmanuel)
● The Force of Influence (Endowed by Pepsi): Influencer or content creator who commanded the highest influence in the Nigerian social media space between March 2021 – March 2022.
● Winner: Mr Macaroni (Debo Adedayo)
Trendupp Awards is an initiative of Trendupp, a platform where creatives receive support, publish exclusive content and build direct relationships with their fans across Africa.
The Trendupp Awards is presented by Dotts Media House and powered by Chipper Cash App – one of the world’s leading financial service providers. Also proudly supported by MTV Base, Tramango, Africa Magic, YNaija, Brand Communicator, Vanguard Allure, BellaNaija.
Mr. Tim Akano, New Horizons Chief Executive Officer, took centre stage at the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) annual end-of-year meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025, recounting the company’s remarkable growth and reaffirming free IT training for journalists.
Tim Akano, New Horizons Chief Executive Officer, in a group photograph with NITRA Members
Speaking directly to IT media members at the company’s training facility in Lagos, Akano acknowledged the critical role journalists played in supporting New Horizons during its formative years two decades ago.
He detailed how the firm evolved from a handful of staff to one of Africa’s leading ICT skills training organisations, now employing about 500 staff across multiple training centres nationwide.
Akano Spotlights Youth Training, University Partnerships
Akano highlighted that New Horizons has trained over 500,000 youths, particularly tertiary institution students, equipping them with practical IT skills essential for Nigeria’s digital economy.
He announced recent partnerships with universities, including a new agreement with Afe Babalola University, to scale hands-on training programmes for students.
“This growth would not have been possible without the media’s support in documenting our journey,” Akano stated, pledging continued free IT skills training for media members to remain competitive in the evolving digital landscape.
Reciprocal Support Defines Long-Standing Partnership
The venue hosting the NITRA meeting underscored Akano’s generosity; NITRA Secretary Chidiebere Nwankwo secured the free facility after contacting him—a gesture consistent with New Horizons hosting multiple association events and training IT journalists since its inception 20 years ago.
Participants shared personal testimonies of Akano’s support, including veteran journalist Aaron Ukodie, whose daughter—an Accounting graduate from the University of Johannesburg—received NYSC placement and IT scholarship at New Horizons.
The Guardian’s Yemi Adeyemi recounted Akano accommodating his editor’s child for mandatory IT training after other firms declined.
Members praised Akano’s commitment to human capital development as evidence of deep appreciation for the media community that chronicled New Horizons’ success over two decades.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has launched the NIMC Pre-Enrolment Portal to revolutionise the National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment process, enabling applicants within Nigeria and in the Diaspora to capture biodata online prior to biometric verification at enrolment centres.
NIMC
Accessible via penrol.nimc.gov.ng, the platform allows users to fill enrolment forms, schedule appointments, upload supporting documents securely, and manage personal details directly, thereby slashing congestion, minimising wait times, boosting data accuracy and enhancing overall service efficiency at centres nationwide.
NIMC Director-General and CEO, Engr. (Dr) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, spearheaded the initiative as part of the Commission’s technology-driven strategy to fortify institutional performance, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda that emphasises digital transformation, efficient public service delivery and inclusive national development.
Dr Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications, highlighted key benefits including simplified biodata handling, confidential data protection through robust security measures, reduced physical centre visits and heightened operational effectiveness, urging all prospective enrollees to adopt the portal for a faster, citizen-friendly experience.[conversation_history]
The move underscores NIMC’s mandate under the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007 to manage the National Identity Database, issue NINs and foster a reliable digital identity ecosystem vital for national planning, with users advised to complete pre-enrolment online before heading to selected centres for biometrics.
MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), a Pan-African film and television training institution, has announced the opening of applications for its 2026 intake.
MultiChoice
The fully funded programme is open to African graduates aspiring to become directors, filmmakers, scriptwriters, producers and storytellers.
According to MultiChoice, the nine-month accredited curriculum combines online learning with intensive in-person training, and is designed to balance theoretical knowledge with practical immersion.
MTF academies are located in Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia, and serve aspiring filmmakers from 14 African countries. Since its inception in 2018, the initiative has trained 296 filmmakers, with graduates producing more than 42 movies aired on DStv, GOtv and Showmax platforms.
Organisers said alumni of the programme have gone on to establish over 50 production companies, while many continue to work within the MultiChoice ecosystem.
Graduates have also won accolades at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Kalasha Awards, Uganda Film Festival and Women in Film Awards.
Applications for the 2026 intake close on Feb. 27, 2026. Interested candidates can visit https://apo-opa.co/3XW53oE for programme requirements.
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