By Godwin Otang
20-year-old Joy Offere, from the Ogoja local government area of Cross River State, has emerged winner of the Diana Award 2023, for going above and beyond in her daily life to create and sustain positive change.
The Diana Award was founded on Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change their community, their country, and the world. We exist to empower young people to make that positive change.
The award was established in 1999 and was launched by former UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown in honor of the late Diana, Princess of Wales; the organization is a charity legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change the world.
The award recipients were put forward by adults who know the young people in a professional capacity and recognized their efforts as a positive contribution to society.
Through a rigorous nomination process, these nominators had to demonstrate the nominee’s impact in five key areas: vision, social impact, inspiring others, youth leadership, and service journey.
Although there are 20 Diana Award Judging Panels representing each region or nation both in the UK and internationally. Panels consist of three judges who understand the value of young people, including one young person representative. The panels have an important main purpose: to determine which nominations from each region or nation will receive a Diana Award.
However, Joy, a first-year Software Engineering Student of the MasterCard Foundation, at the African Leadership University Kigali, Rwanda is from Northern Cross River State. She founded the ‘Shenovate’ initiative, which bridges the gender gap in technology.
Joy has also volunteered her skills to impact over 2,000 girls in her community, created a mobile app to solve education problems, and served as a Global Technovation Student ambassador to Nigeria.
In a virtual interview with CrossRiverWatch, she said, “I feel humbled that this feat will encourage a lot of young people.”
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