Tinubu, Kigame, Mahama, Sanwo- Olu, Osimhen others, honoured at Black African- History Global Iconic Award
Photo : Chairman Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu, displaying President Tinubu and Gov. Sanwo- Olu Awards
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other notable African leaders were Sunday, July, 5, 2026 honoured at the maiden Black African- History Global Iconic Award nite held at the Marriot Hotel Ikeja, Lagos.
The Nigerian President who received the African Unity Diplomatic Award according to the organizers was selected based on his leadership role in the continent.
Other African Presidents who were honoured includes; Paul Kigame of Rwanda, who got the Pan African Diamond Award, Ghanaian President John Mahama , who was bestowed with the West African Leadership Award and Abdel Fattah Sisi of Egypt who got North African President Leadership Award.
Others are; Zambian President, Hakinela Hichilema, who got the Pan African Diamond President Award with the Central African President Leadership Award going to the President of DR Congo, Felix Tshiekeli.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu also made the award list, likewise Super Eagles player, Victor Oshimhen, content creator, Charles Okocha and the founder of Martin Luther king Award, Pauline Christian amongst others.
Receiving the award on behalf of the President and Lagos State Governor, the Chairman Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu, said he was delighted receiving the awards on behalf of Mr. President and the Governor, describing that the award as part of efforts in putting Africa on global map.
” I’m highly excited receiving this award for both Mr. President and the Governor, which is in recognition of the good work they’re doing in the country and I believe that this type of award is helping to put the entire African continent on the global map.
“As the organizer rightly said, if you go to any country of the world and you don’t see a black man, just move away from that country. So, that goes to show that the blacks are moving around the whole world and contributing their quota to world development.
Hon, Saanu who represents Badagry Constituency 1 in the Lagos House of Assembly, while commending the organizers for such a wonderful initiative that recognizes both Africans at home and in the Diaspora, advised them to keep the flag flying as it’s telling blacks across the globe that they’re not second class citizens.
” I must give kudos to the initiators of this award and urge them to keep it up because it’s giving blacks hope and recognition globally that they’re not second class citizens.
” You know that few days ago United States celebrated 250 years of nationhood and if you watch closely, you’ll discover that blacks made America because during the celebration, those who performed on stage were mostly blacks and they were also brain behind the celebration. So, the organizers should keep it up so that the whole world will know that Africans are important.
In his remarks at the event, Frank Ekow Quaye the immediate past National President of the Ghanaian Community in Nigeria and now President of ECOWAS Community in Nigeria who received the award on behalf of Ghanaian President, John Mahama noted that he feeled highly honoured that his President and country is being honoured by Nigerians.
” Today, I am very proud to be a Ghanaian because it’s not easy for a President to be honoured in another country in recognition of the good work he’s doing in his country.
“I want to say a very big thank you to the organizers because it’s not easy organizing an event of this magnitude and even remember people outside Nigeria for recognition and my prayer is that this idea will continue to grow in leaps and bounds”, he said.
In her remarks at the well attended event which was spiced up with music, dance and other side attractions, initiator of the award Loveth Petra- Ekufu a two- time mixed martial arts world champion, said her inspiration for instituting the award was that she discovered that black Africans both home and in the Diaspora are under celebrated across the globe not minding that there’s no where you go in the world that you will not see blacks with most of them excellently going well in all sectors of human endeavour.
She said, they decided to institute the award having recognized that this is the time for blacks to recognize their own.
“The idea for this award is in recognition that it’s time to recognize and celebrate our own both at home and in the Diaspora who are extremely doing well in various fields of Hunan endeavour.
” Our goal is to celebrate people and Presidents because most of them are doing top notch jobs but nobody celebrates them. The question to ask is if we don’t celebrate them, who will do that for us, but if we celebrate them, they will have the encouragement to do more for humanity and mankind.
Ekufu said she was overwhelmed by the successes recorded at the event because it brought an idea to reality, just as she commended the Vice President of BAHGIA Charles Ezerime and Pauline Christian, founder of Martin Luther king Award based in Canada whom she said without their support, she wouldn’t have been able to put the event together.
The Black African History Global iconic Award is a groundbreaking initiative designed to celebrate African heritage, leadership, excellence, resilience and unity within the Black and African communities while addressing global challenges through entertainment, education and advocacy
Awardees of the Bhaghia Awards 2026
( 1) Award recipient for Bhaghai Sport Excellence Awards:
Winner – Victor Osimhen
( 2) Corporate & Infrastructure Excellence Award
BAHGIA Energy & Gas Excellence Award
Winner- TBD
( 3) BAHGIA Real Estate Excellence Award –
Winner – D’Jvayne Real Estate (Canada)
( 4) BAHGIA Real Estate Excellence Award
Winner – Segun Phillips (Africa)
( 5,) MEDIA HERITAGE AND COMMUNICATIONS AWARD
Winner – Chief Nduka Obaigbena Founding Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of the THISDAY Media Group and ARISE News Channel
BAHGIA Creative Entertainment
Excellence Award (Film)
Winner- Burna Boy –
BAHGIA Best Actor/Actress of the Year
Winner – MecFanny.
( 7) BAHGIA Best Music Producer of the Year
Winner – Don Jazzy
(8) BAHGIA CONTINENTAL ROYAL TRAILBLAZER LEADERSHIP AWARD
HIS MAIESTY KING LETSIE III KING OF LESOTHO
(8 B) Cultural Preserver, Innova & ‘Technology Award: HIS ROYAL MAJESTY KING MOHAMMED VI
KING OF MOROCCO
BAHGIA CONTINENTAL ROYAL TRAILBLAZER LEADERSHIP AWARD
Cultural Preservation & Youth Entrepreneurship.
His Royal Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR Ooni of Ife
BAHGIA CONTINENTAL ROYAL TRAILBLAZER LEADERSHIP AWARD 2026
African Traditional Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award –
HRM Obi (Dr.) Emmanuel Oyinke Efeizomor II, JP, OON
The Obi of Owa Kingdom, Delta State, Nigeria
Recognition of Dignitaries by the Host
Presidential Honours
BAHGIA PRESIDENTIAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2026
1. His Excellency Paul Kagame President of the Republic Of Rwanda Pan- African Diamond Presidential Leadership Award
2. His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria African Unity Diplomatic & Leadership Award (Gold)
(3) REGIONAL PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS:
West African Presidential Leadership Award His Excellency John Dramani Mahama President of the Republic Of Ghana
(4) MILITARY EXCELLENCE & INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AWARDS
BAHGIA Continental Security Leadership & Peace-Building Medal Award 2026: Conferred on The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, Psc Nigeria Police Force
Music Performance
BAHGIA CONTINENTAL ROYAL TRAILBLAZER LEADERSHIP AWARD 2026 Sub- Category:
Outstanding Royal Monarchs of the Year 1. BAHGIA CONTINENTAL ROYAL TRAILBLAZER LEADERSHIP AWARD 2026 – in Cultural Diplomacy, Philanthropy & Humanitarian Service
HIS ROYAL MAJESTY OTUMFUO OSEI TUTU II KING OF THE ASHANTI KINGDOM
BAHGIA Continental Legacy Leadership Lifetime Award 2026
Chief Dr Nike Okundaye – Nike Art Gallery
BAHGIA Continental Legacy Leadership Lifetime Award Pauline Christian – Founder, Martin Luther King ConnexUs
MILITARY EXCELLENCE & INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AWARDS
BAHGIA Continental Securitv Leadership & Peace-Building Medal Award 2026: Conferred on The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, Psc
Nigeria Police Force
Music Performance
NORTH AFRICAN PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
HIS EXCELLENCY ABDEL FATTAH EL SISI PRESIDENT OF THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
H.E. Mr. HAKAINDE HICHILEMA
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
CENTRAL AFRICAN PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
HIS EXCELLENCY
FELIX TSHISKKDD
PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Grant Presentation to Students :
Public Leadership Excellence Awards
BAHGIA CONTINENTAL OUTSTANDING GOVERNOF LEADERSHIP AWARD 2026 : HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. BABAJIDE OLUSOLA SANWO-OLU,
BAHGIA DISTINGUISHED CONTINENTAL PUBLIC SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARD 2026
RIGHT HONOURABLE MIA AMOR MOTTLEY, S.C., PRIME MINISTER OF BARBADOS
BAHGIA CREATIVE ART AND ENTERTAINMENT EXCELLENCE AWARDS (Continuation)
BAHGIA Legacy Award :
BAHGIA Creative Art Entertainment Excellence Award
The Nominees
Winner : CharlesOkocha
7. BAHGIA Record-Breaking Boxing Promoter of the Year Winner : Ezekiel Adamu
BAHGIA HUMANITARIAN EXCELLENCE AWARD 2026
Winner : PRINCESS RUTH IDEGWAL
CEO FOUNDER EZEWANYI CHARITY FOUNDATION
BAHGIA Business Mogul & Entrepreneur of the Year:
Winner : Mr Tony Elumelu
Note : The Obi of Owa Kingdom, Delta State, Nigeria was
Inducted into BAHGIA Hall of Fame: In recognition of an extraordinary reign spanning more than six decades, dedicated to preserving African traditional institutions, advancing community development, cultural heritage promotion, and strengthening peace, unity, and tradition leadership across generations.
