THE 2021 AFROGLOBAL TELEVISION Saturday, December 11th, 2021 |
 The 2021PROFESSIONALACHIEVEMENT AWARD COLIN LYNCHManaging Director, Global Real Estate, Asset Management, TD Bank |
| Colin Lynch is the Managing Director and Head of Global Real Estate Investments at TD Asset Management, where he is responsible for over $22 billion of investments in 1,100 properties for TD Bank in 20 countries. He was General Manager of Global Strategy at Aimia or Groupe Aeroplan, Management Consultant at McKinsey & Company and an Investment Banker at Morgan Stanley. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Bachelor of Commerce and BA from Queen’s University. An avid piano player, he holds an ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Music. He was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2020. Colin is a Co-Founder of the Black Opportunity Fund, dedicated to raising a $1.5 billion fund to address anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination in Canada. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Investment Board. He has served as Vice Chair of Toronto Community Housing and as Director at Queen’s University, where he oversaw the university’s endowment and investment funds. Colin receives the prestigious 2021 Professional Achievement Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021LEADERSHIP AWARD TONY ELUMELUChairman, Heirs HoldingsUnited Bank for Africa & TranscorpFounder, Tony Elumelu Foundation |
| Tony Elumelu is the Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings; the Pan-African Financial Services Group; and United Bank for Africa (UBA), which operates in 20 countries in Africa, the UK, France, and is the only African bank with commercial deposits taking place in the United States. He is Chairman of Nigeria’s largest quoted conglomerate, Transcorp, whose subsidiaries include Transcorp Power, one of the largest electricity generators in Nigeria, and Transcorp Hotels, the nation’s top hospitality brand. Tony is the Founder and Chairman of Trans-Niger Oil & Gas Limited, with 2P reserves of 1.3 billion barrels of oil. In 2010, he created The Tony Elumelu Foundation, which has funded about 10,000 entrepreneurs and created a digital ecosystem of over one million Africans as a part of its ten-year, $100 million dollar funding commitment for entrepreneurs. He sits on public and social sector boards such as the World Economic Forum Community of Chairmen and UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited. He was named one of Time 100 Most Influential People in the World in the 2020. Tony receives the prestigious 2021 Leadership Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021MARTIN LUTHER KINGLEGACY AWARD HON. GREG FERGUSMember of the Parliament of CanadaParliamentary Secretary to the PM |
| Hon. Greg Fergus is the Member of Parliament for Hull-Aylmer in Quebec, as well as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and the President of the Treasury Board of Canada. He had served in the same capacity with the Minister of Digital Government, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Member of the Standing Committee on Finance, and had been a policy advisor at various ministerial levels. Greg has served as National Director of the Liberal Party of Canada, where he introduced change and innovation, restoring it to today’s modern appeal. He had worked at all levels of the party, before rising to the top. Raised in Montreal, Greg’s grandfather immigrated to Canada from Montserrat in the Caribbean. He moved to the national capital region in 1988 and has been involved in social housing, community organizations, councils and associations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Science as well as a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in International Relations. He is a Founding Member and Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Black Caucus, Vice-Chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, and Co-Chair of the CARICOM Friendship Group. Hon. Fergus receives the prestigious 2021 Martin Luther King Legacy Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021GLOBAL IMPACT AWARD ABIKE DABIRI-EREWAExecutive ChairmanNigerians In Diaspora Commission |
| Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa is the Executive Chairman of the Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), which is dedicated to the dreams and aspirations of Nigerians worldwide. Prior to her present role, Abike served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora from 2016-2019. Born in Jos, Plateau State, of parents from Lagos, Abike represented the people of Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2015, where she served as Chair, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, and Chair of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs. Before her foray into public service in the political arena, Abike spent 15 years of meritorious service at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), where she hosted the highly regarded Newsline television show on the national network. She has received many awards and accolades for her professional, legislative and patriotic exploits. Her confidence and spirit of excellence makes her a role model, especially for women across Africa and the global African Diaspora. The Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa receives the prestigious 2021 Global Impact Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021RENAISSANCE AWARDDR. MOLEFI ASANTEChair, Africology and African American Studies,Temple University College of Liberal Arts, USA |
| Dr. Molefi Kete Asante is a Professor and Chair, Department of Africology and African American Studies at Temple University in Philadelphia. He is the Organizer of Afrocentricity International and President of the Molefi Kete Asante Institute for Afrocentric Studies. He is a Guest Professor at Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China and Professor Extraordinarius at the University of South Africa. He is the most prolific and most quoted living African American scholar and thinker, who has published 96 books. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, at the age of 26, and was appointed a full professor at the age of 30 at New York State University at Buffalo. The Ph.D. Program in African American Studies at Temple University was created by Dr. Asante in 1988. Founder of the theory of Afrocentricity, he has directed over 140 Ph.D. dissertations, making him the top producer of doctorates among African American scholars. He consults with African Heads of State and is a popular lecturer regarding the United States of Africa. He is the founding editor of the Journal of Black Studies. In 2019, the National Communication Association named him an NCA Distinguished Scholar. Crowned a traditional King in Ghana, he was made the Curatorial Head of the Pan African Heritage Museum in Accra in 2021. Dr. Asante receives the prestigious 2021 Renaissance Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021ENTERPRISE AWARD SHAWN ALLENFounder & CEO, Matrix Mortgage Global& Chairman, Shawn Allen Group Of Companies |
| Shawn Allen founded Matrix Mortgage Global in 2008 and it is already Canada’s largest private lending brokerage. By 2019 and 2020, the company was nominated as Canada‘s Mortgage Brokerage Employer Of Choice. With a background in database administration and marketing, he has guided Matrix Mortgage Global to over $1.5 billion in funded volume and over 610% growth in five years. Matrix Mortgage Global is ranked on the Growth 500 list of the fastest growing companies in Canada. Shawn’s marketing strategies are the driving force behind the success of his company. In 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021, it won the Brokerage Of The Year Award. A major stakeholder in the Canadian Financing Landscape, he is the Chairman of Shawn Allen Group Of Companies, with interests in private mortgage financing, crypto currency, block chain technology and others. Originally from South America, he sits on the board of the Scarborough Business Association. Shawn receives the prestigious 2021 Enterprise Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021ENTERTAINMENT AWARD JENNIFER HOLNESSPresident & FilmmakerHungry Eyes Media |
| Jennifer Holness is a celebrated writer, producer and director. She co-founded Hungry Eyes Media with her husband Sudz Sutherland, also a renowned film and television producer, director and screenwriter. Jennifer’s production and writing credits include the film Love, Sex and Eating the Bones; the television series ‘Guns, She’s the Mayor’ as well as the CBC’s Shoot the Messenger. She has directed her first feature documentary film, Subjects of Desire, a moving story about Black women and beauty. Subjects Of Desire has been screened at the Canadian International Documentary Festival. She was awarded the CMPA’s Indie Screen Established Producer of The Year Award. Jennifer is a co-producer of the feature documentary, Stateless, which premiered at Tribeca and at Hot Docs in 2020. It won the festival’s Special Jury Prize, followed by a Best Feature doc award at Black Star. Passionate about Black Canadian History, Jennifer Holness is producing the History Channel’s series BLK: An Origin Story. She is a founding member of the Black Screen Office, Co-Chair of the Canadian Independent Screen Fund (CISF), and sits on the Ontario Creates Industry Board. Jennifer receives the prestigious 2021 Entertainment Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021MARCUS GARVEYMEMORIAL AWARD MELVIN P. FOOTEFounder, President & CEOConstituency For Africa |
| Melvin P. Foote is the Founder, President & CEO of Constituency for Africa (CFA), and has worked in over 30 African countries. He is an Advisor to African Union’s Ambassador to Washington, and a consultant to the World Bank on African Diaspora affairs. Melvin is the recipient of the “Order of the Lion” award in 1998 from the Government of Senegal, the Congressional Black Caucus 2001 Annual Legislative Conference’s Diggs Award for Foreign Affairs, and the Knight of the National Order of Mali in 2021. Prior to founding CFA, Melvin served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer and teacher in Ethiopia and Eritrea from 1973-1976. Over the years, Melvin has been on many high-level missions, including a White House delegation to assess the 1994 Rwanda genocide; a high profile team that sought to end the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea in 1998; a Presidential Mission to five African countries to promote U.S. trade with Africa in 1998; mission leader for a peace agreement in Sudan in 2001; and as delegation leader to South Africa in 2003, to assess the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). Melvin receives the prestigious 2021 Marcus Garvey Memorial Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021SCIENCE ANDTECHNOLOGY AWARD DR. THEO YAMEOGOPartner and LeaderMining and Precious MetalsErnst & Young LLP |
| Dr. Theo Yameogo leads the mining and metals practice in Canada as well as across the Americas for Ernst & Young, one of the world’s largest multinational professional services network with headquarters in London, England. Theo was born and raised in Burkina Faso, West Africa. He moved to Canada 20 years ago and lived in many cities and towns across the country. His two decades of experience fosters business transformation and technology innovation in the industry. Theo studied in Morocco and holds an engineering PhD in rock mechanics from École Polytechnique de Montréal, as well as a Master of Business Administration with distinction from the University of Oxford. Today, he is a Professional Engineer in Ontario. Before joining EY, Theo was Vice-President of Digital Innovation with a major, innovative mining player, where he enabled the company’s digital transformation. Bilingual in English and French, Theo gained invaluable mining experience in Canada and abroad, combining his engineering and business skill sets. Theo has been recognized as #1 on Mining Global’s list of Top 10 Mining Tech Leaders. Theo receives the prestigious 2021 Science & Technology Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021MEDIA AWARD NATHAN DOWNERCTV News Toronto Anchor |
| Nathan Downer is an Anchor of CTV News at Noon and CTV News at Six, Toronto’s most-watched local newscasts. He was previously an anchor and reporter for CP24 and of Live at 5 on CTV Toronto. He has covered many of the city’s most significant news stories, from federal, provincial, and municipal elections to the 2019 NBA championship win by the Toronto Raptors. Prior to CP24, his work as a reporter for Global TV earned him three RTNDA awards in 2005, including a national prize for a feature story. From 2009 to 2011, Nathan was an announcer for the Toronto Argonauts. Nathan produced and co-hosted a sports talk program on FLOW 93.5 and his performance earned him the position of News Director. In 2000, he became Co-Host and Producer of Insight on CHIN radio. His charity work includes Camp Jumoke, Helping Hands Jamaica and the Sickle Cell Awareness Group Ontario. He has received an African Canadian Achievement Award and the BBPA Distinguished Men of Honour Award. Nathan receives the prestigious 2021 Media Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT AWARD STACHEN LETT-FREDERICK Executive Director, FrontlinesFounder, Braid For AIDS |
| Stachen Lett-Frederick has over 20 years of experience in the field of community and program development in Canada and internationally. She is the Executive Director of the Weston Frontlines Centre, a youth-focused charitable organisation servicing less privileged ridings in Toronto. Named one of Canada’s Top 100 Powerful Women by WXN and recognized as one of Top 10 Women of Worth in Canada by Loreal Paris, she is the recipient of many academic and social impact awards, and has developed notable projects, including the Race To Youth Leadership initiative. Founder of Braids for AIDS, a non-profit organization that raises awareness about HIV/AIDS in Black communities in Canada and internationally, the initiative has made a big impact through the culturally relevant practice of hair braiding. She holds an Executive MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University, and is Lecturer at Sheridan College as well as a consultant on grant writing, fundraising and not-for-profit development. Stachen receives the prestigious 2021 Community Development Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021NELSON MANDELAHUMANITARIAN AWARD REYNOLD MAINSEPresident & Co-FounderWorld Embrace |
| Reynold Mainse is the President of World Embrace, which he founded with his wife Kathy, out of the desire to cultivate unity in Christendom. Its focus is to see the nations succeed through love for God and community transformation. The eldest son of Minister and Television Evangelist David Mainse (1936 – 2017), who founded 100 Huntley Street and the Yes TV channel hence a pioneer of Christian television in Canada, Reynold and his wife Kathy pastored a local church in the Niagara Peninsula, co-hosted 100 Huntley Street and led Crossroads Missions, with the focus of raising awareness and finances to serve and support indigenous ministries in many nations.Since 2015, Reynold and Kathy have been based in Gulu, Northern Uganda, where they are building Gulu Community Park, Uganda’s largest community recreational centre. In 2022, they will open Phase-One to thousands of children and youth. World Embrace plans to expand these transformational community parks to other developing parts of Northern Uganda, and beyond. Reynold and Kathy organized and led a large-scale and diverse event called Heaven’s Rehearsal, held in 2007 at the Air Canada Centre and in 2008 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. They developed a 12-session curriculum titled the “As One Life Experience,” which is being used internationally. Reynold receives the 2021 Nelson Mandela Humanitarian Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021VISIONARY AWARD SAM TITACEO, Enrich Building SolutionsFounder, The Influence Centre |
| Sam Tita is an entrepreneur, educator, author, Bible teacher and philanthropist. He is the Founder and CEO of Enrich Building Solutions, an international pre-engineered steel buildings company. He is also the Co-Founder of Enrich Network, a disruptive entrepreneurial platform. His exploits have span over many industries, including real estate, telecommunications and media. Sam has authored many books and his ministry impacts thousands worldwide via television, speaking engagements and print media. Sam has appeared on many television and radio networks such as Yes TV, Daystar, Afroglobal Television, Miracle Channel, Joy 1250, Life 100.3 and others. He sits on the boards of various ministries. Sam and his wife Naomi are the founders of The Influence Center for Christian Leadership & Philanthropy as well as Prayer Wave. The couple has been married for 31 years, have four grown children and two grandkids. Sam receives the 2021 Visionary Award from the Excellence Awards program of Afroglobal Television. |
 The 2021RISING STAR AWARD LINDA OSIFOFilm and Television ActressCanada and Nigeria |
| Linda Osifo is a Nigerian Canadian film and television actress. A participant in the Phenomenal Women initiative, a part of the Crossover Mentorship Program of Silvertrust Media and the Transformation Institute, she was first runner-up for Miss Nigeria Entertainment Canada 2011 and 2nd runner up for Miss AfriCanada 2011 beauty pageant in Toronto. In 2015, Linda was nominated for the ELOY award for her role in the hit TV series, Desperate Housewives Africa. She obtained her Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology from York University in Toronto, Canada, in 2013.Linda had her debut acting role in 2012 when she starred in Family Secrets, in New Jersey, USA, directed by Ikechukwu Onyeka. Upon her return to Nigeria in 2013, she starred in her first Nollywood film, King Akubueze. She was featured in the popular soap opera Tinsel as Nina Fire. In 2017, Linda played the role of Adesuwa Dakolo in EbonyLife’s spin-off drama series ‘Fifty’, which is on Netflix and other platforms. She is the Co-Host of the “Give ‘n’ Take National Jackpot” gameshow alongside veteran Nigerian actor Segun Arinze. Linda receives the prestigious 2021 Rising Star Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021HERITAGE AWARD RUSSELL GROSSEExecutive DirectorBlack Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia |
| Russell Grosse is the Executive Director of the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia. He has been involved in the protection, preservation and promotion of Nova Scotia’s Black Culture and History for over 27 years. Today, the centre is one of Canada’s highly regarded museums and cultural centres of excellence. Russell’s leadership has elevated the Black Cultural Centre beyond the borders of Nova Scotia, a birthplace of Black roots and heritage in Canada, with communities that trace their origins back to over 400 years. Russell has developed a virtual museum platform with hundreds of hours of multimedia content on Black history. In 2018, Russel played a key role in the Bank of Canada launch of the Viola Desmond Bank note. In 2019, he hosted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Black Cultural Centre in Nova Scotia. He was a part of the team that organized former US President Barack Obama’s visit to Halifax in 2019. In 2021, Russell was named Co-Chair of the National Advisory Committee to the Government of Canada regarding the apology to the descendants and relatives of the Blacks who constituted Canada’s historic No. 2 Construction Battalion that served in WWI. Russell receives the prestigious 2021 Heritage Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |
 The 2021LIFETIMEACHIEVEMENT AWARD DAUNA JONES-SIMMONDSCo-Founder and Architect100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women |
| Dauna Jones-Simmonds is the president of DEJS, a Canadian diversity consulting firm. She is also the Co-Founder, Co-Author and Architect of the 100ABCWomen national project, which includes the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women book, now in its fourth edition. Dauna has over 40 years of HR experience and is a certified facilitator. She is a Board Member at Delta Family Resource Centre, a past Board Chair at ACCES Employment and served as a Board Member for SKETCH. A member of the Board of Directors for Developing Young Leaders of Tomorrow Today, Dauna is an active member of the Toronto Rotary Club, she currently serves as Chair of its Member Engagement Committee, Chair of the Holiday Luncheon Committee and is a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She has won numerous awards, including 100 ABC Women Vanguard Leadership Award and the Brilliant Minded Women Award. Dauna receives the prestigious 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards program. |