Meet the Judges' Panel for Alumni Awards 2024-25

Meet the Judges' Panel

Steve Whitford

Steve Whitford

Since 1984 Steve has recorded Sound in the film/tv industry across a whole range of program output for international broadcasters and a host of independent TV companies. 

In 2003, Steve won a Royal Television Society Award: Entertainment Non-Drama Production  Award: Sound Team – “Fighting the War” (2004) BBC2 documentary series, where he was embedded with the Black Watch (7th Armoured) during the invasion of Iraq.

Sunday Nwabugwu

Sunday Nwabugwu

Head Facilities Operations , British Council

Sunday Nwabugwu is the Head Facilities Operations, British Council Nigeria. A Facilities Management Professional with a keen interest in the efficient management of non-core services, corporate cost reduction and a sound knowledge of Property/Building management, Valuation, Safety Compliance, Contract management and Outsourcing.

He is also a Green/Health & Safety Champion. With his team, he initiated waste recycling initiative in the British Council.

Taiwo Aiyedogbon - Performance Artist at Bloc Party Lagos 2018

Nigeria Taiwo Aiyedogbon

Taiwo Aiyedogbon engages the use of space and time through a mirage means of interpretation in drawing, painting, sculpture, installation and performance art. With performances such as African time restaurant, Ipele and many other collaborative works with artists such as Odun Orimolade, Jelili Atiku, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Raphael Etongo amongst others, Taiwo has carved a unique subject niche for herself which distinguishes her works from other performance and contemporary artists of this age.

Yvonne Awosanya-Adefajo

Yvonne Awosanya-Adefajo is a TV screenwriter, storyteller and participant in the British Council ‘Telling Stories’ Writers’ Workshop.

Adun Okupe CA PhD

Adun Okupe is the Executive Director of The Sahara Centre, a think tank dedicated to promoting African Solutions for African Societies. 

With a PhD in Strategic Tourism Leadership from the University of Surrey, a Masters in Globalization and Development Studies from SOAS, University of London, and a first-class Business Economics degree from the University of Keele, she is a qualified chartered accountant and a member of various professional bodies.She is a fellow of The Higher Education Academy.

Bukola Odeyemi

Tribe of Elzar

Tribe of Elzar is a luxury fashion brand that is passionate about adding value to consumer wardrobe through craftsmanship, innovative finishing, technology and design. Our latest collection is centered around the need to improve the quality of life through tech textile. We want our clothes to be more than ‘just clothes’ but to positively impact its wearer.

Desmond Omovie

Communications Manager, British Council

Grace Ihejiamaizu

Thanks to you social entrepreneur Grace Ihejiamaizu and a Global Changemaker listed as the 16th most influential young Nigerian in 2018.

2012 Isoken Ogiemwonyi

Young Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year

Kevin Chiedu Okonji

Kevin Chiedu Okonji

Literacy Educator, Chrisland School VGC

Chiedu's story about his grandmother, an inspirational teacher he encountered was selected as one of the five outstanding stories in recognition of World Teachers Day . The priceless lessons he learnt from her has helped him to breed a class of happy learners who are confident and cherish relationships with others.

Read his full #WorldOfThanks story here