IITA Youth in Agribusiness wins award at UAE

30 September 2025

The Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, presenting the award to the Project Coordinator, ENABLE-TAAT, Mr Noel Mulinganya.
The Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, presenting the award to the Project Coordinator, ENABLE-TAAT, Mr Noel Mulinganya.

The IITA Youth in Agribusiness Unit (IYA) won the esteemed Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA) in the ‘Best Communication Programme Supporting Emerging Projects & Youth’ category recently.

The award event held on September 11 at the United Arab Emirates, is organized by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau.

The IYA emerged winner along other strong contenders, including the Sharjah Media City — Shams (UAE), and the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Republic of Azerbaijan, which came second and third respectively.

About 22 other winners also emerged from other categories during the event, held at the Sharjah Expo Centre as part of the closing ceremony of the two-day 14th International Government Communication Forum, tagged, ‘Communication for Quality of Life’.

Selected from over 2,600 entries spanning more than 40 countries, this global recognition celebrates IITA’s unwavering commitment to youth development, agribusiness transformation, youth advocacy, voice, and creating lasting impact across Africa.

The Project Coordinator of ENABLE-TAAT, Noel Mulinganya, who received the award on behalf of the IYA, said the recognition was a powerful testament to the power of impact storytelling and how it could drive strategic transformation.

Also, the Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement, IYA, Ms Adetola Adenmosun, described the award as a product of the collective efforts of everyone in the unit.

She added, “We celebrate this win with immense pride and gratitude to our partners and youth champions who make our work possible every day. Together, we are building a brighter future for Africa.”

The award was presented by the Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi.

In her opening remarks, the Director of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, Her Excellency Alia Al Suwaidi, said the award was founded on the power of communication to shift societal awareness as well as unify, inspire, and create impact.

While congratulating the winners and nominees for being partners in shaping values, she added, “The Sharjah Government Media Bureau believes the success of the award is measured by its ability to create lasting impact and nurture a generation of communication leaders who turn their mission into a national and humanitarian project. This award also celebrates the creativity that turns challenges into opportunities and the innovations that ensure global relevance.

A member of the judging panel, Sami Al Reyami, who spoke on behalf of the jury, noted that since its launch, the award had emphasized that communication is not merely a tool but a pillar of development and a bridge of trust between institutions and the public. He also applauded the quality of the entries.

The award ceremony was attended by the Chairman, Department of Government Relations, Sharjah, Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi; Director-General, Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators, Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi; and President of the American University of Sharjah, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, alongside senior officials and representatives of the organisations that participated in the award.

Contributed by Jesutofunmi Robinson