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The 2025 Masters of Industry (MOI) Awards honor seven extraordinary Nigerians whose journeys to prominence were fueled not by privilege, but by relentless determination, passion, and unwavering faith in their dreams.
1. Adeola Gold: The Afrobeat Icon
MOI Recognition: Music Innovator of the Year
Before Adeola Gold rose to international acclaim as the Afrobeats maestro “AG Baby,” his nights were spent resting on benches at Tipper Garage, Ikorodu. A viral 2005 photo captures a young Adeola dozing on a roadside bench, a poignant reminder of his modest origins.
Born Adeola Kosoko, he was raised in neighborhoods where music was a distant aspiration. His early attempts to shine in his church choir went unnoticed, and his parents relocated from Ifako Ijaiye to Ikotun to provide him with better prospects.
Driven by passion rather than profit, he once traversed the bustling Lagos traffic from Maryland to Ikeja, selling his self-produced CDs. In 2010, he and a friend pooled N150,000 to shoot his debut music video. His breakthrough came in 2014 with “Sade,” a highlife reinterpretation of One Direction’s “Story of My Life,” which secured him a contract with YBNL Nation.
His first album, Gold, debuted at number seven on the Billboard World Albums chart, marking his global breakthrough. Today, signed to Def Jam Recordings, Adeola has released six studio albums, collaborated with international stars like Pharrell Williams, and champions sickle cell awareness through his foundation.
From a boy who once couldn’t afford school fees to a global music sensation, Adeola’s story exemplifies the transformative power of perseverance.
2. Tunde Onakoya: Chess Champion and Change-Maker
MOI Recognition: Citizen of the Year
Hailing from the impoverished neighborhoods of Ikorodu, Lagos, Tunde Onakoya’s journey began where many dreams falter. He discovered chess not in elite clubs but in a local barbershop. When his family struggled to pay for his secondary education, his mother worked as a school cleaner to keep him in school.
Chess became Tunde’s identity and lifeline. Rising to become Nigeria’s 13th-ranked player, he also earned a gold medal diploma in Computer Science from Yaba College of Technology. Yet, his most profound impact lies beyond personal accolades.
In 2018, he launched Chess in Slums Africa, bringing chess to underserved communities like Majidun, Makoko, and Oshodi Under-bridge. His initiative has empowered over 200 children, with 20 securing lifelong scholarships by 2021.
In April 2024, Tunde set a Guinness World Record by playing chess continuously for 60 hours in New York’s Times Square, enduring physical hardship to raise funds for education in slums. His motto resonates deeply: “Greatness can emerge from the smallest places.”
3. Sophia Ugbegua: The Visionary Behind Somo by Somo
MOI Recognition: Fashion Innovator of the Year
Sophia Adesomo Ugbegua’s path to fashion prominence defied convention. Armed with degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from Caleb University, she could have pursued a tech career. Instead, inspired by her mother’s successful fashion business, she ventured into design.
In 2015, Sophia launched Somo by Somo, a brand that channels her bold and glamorous persona. Starting with limited resources, she built a reputation for exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail, establishing one of Lagos’s premier fashion labels.
Today, Somo by Somo offers couture, ready-to-wear, and bridal collections that have adorned Nigeria’s elite and captivated fashion lovers across Africa. Sophia’s journey underscores how passion can redefine one’s destiny.
4. Folagade Banks: Nigeria’s Leading Comedy Content Creator
MOI Recognition: Content Creator of the Year
Abiri Tobi Festus, popularly known as Folagade Banks, grew up in Osun State in a disciplined household-his mother a headmistress, his father an engineer. Yet, his rise to fame was anything but traditional. While studying Geography at Obafemi Awolowo University, he was the class clown, earning the title “Most Jovial Student” in secondary school.
During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, Folagade began creating comedic skits from home. In 2021, he introduced “Mama Deola,” a sharp-witted Nigerian mother character that struck a chord across ethnic and generational lines, quickly going viral.
His journey wasn’t without sacrifice; he once traveled from Ile-Ife to Lagos to film a scene for just N20,000. His dedication paid off-by 2025, he was Nigeria’s top male skitmaker for three consecutive quarters, amassing 99 million views in Q3 alone.
Folagade now partners with global brands like Netflix, Coca-Cola, Toyota, KFC, and MTN. He has earned accolades including the Trendupp Award for “The Force of Comedy Skits.” From a university jokester to a digital storyteller amplifying African narratives worldwide, his ascent highlights the power of authentic humor.
5. Olalekan Fabilola: Guardian of Yoruba Language and Culture
MOI Recognition: Media Visionary of the Year
Raised in Oba-Ile, Akure, Olalekan Maxwell Fabilola was taught by his mother to write Yoruba with tonal marks, fostering a deep love for his native tongue. However, his school environment discouraged speaking Yoruba, and he struggled with English.
While studying Computer Science at Covenant University, Olalekan developed a Yoruba keyboard using QBASIC and created software translating 5,000 Yoruba proverbs between English and Yoruba, earning departmental honors in 2008.
He founded eayoruba.com, an online platform offering live Yoruba language classes and cultural content. He also authored The Ancient Wisdom-Òwe Yorùbá, a collection of 500 Yoruba proverbs.
His flagship project, Masoyinbo (“Don’t Speak English”), is a Yoruba language game show where contestants answer ten questions entirely in Yoruba to win N1 million, with penalties for English usage. The show has featured celebrities like Funke Akindele and Falz. Only Fuji legend Saheed Osupa and actor Baba Ajobiewe have answered all questions correctly, though neither claimed the full prize due to English slips.
From a boy punished for speaking his mother tongue to a cultural entrepreneur preserving Yoruba heritage, Olalekan’s work exemplifies how embracing one’s roots can inspire societal transformation.
6. Chess in Slums Africa: Empowering Youth Through Strategy
MOI Recognition: Social Enterprise of the Year
While Tunde Onakoya is the face of Chess in Slums Africa, the organization represents a collective vision born from adversity. Beyond Tunde’s leadership, the initiative has sparked transformative change across entire communities.
One inspiring example is Ferdinand, a 10-year-old with cerebral palsy who triumphed in a Makoko chess tournament in 2021. Another is Jamiu Onakoya, a 17-year-old whom Tunde adopted after the tragic loss of his sister. Jamiu even taught football star Patrice Evra how to play chess under the Oshodi Under-bridge, proving these children are not just beneficiaries but future champions.
Partnering with Chess.com, the organization has reached thousands of children in Lagos’s toughest neighborhoods. By integrating chess with STEM education and emotional development, Chess in Slums Africa equips youth with critical thinking, resilience, and confidence. This movement is reshaping narratives and opening doors for marginalized African children.
7. Dr. Moji Davids: Agriculture Innovator and Wellness Advocate
MOI Recognition: Woman of Steel (Female Trailblazer Award)
Known affectionately as “Farmer Moji Davids,” Dr. Moji’s path was far from straightforward. A trained accountant who spent years abroad, she returned to Nigeria with her husband, Farmer Seyi Davids, to launch XtraLarge Farms & Resorts in 2009.
From humble beginnings, they expanded to 14 farm locations nationwide, with offices spanning the UK, Dubai, USA, Europe, and Canada. In 2016, XtraLarge Farms pioneered digital farming technology in Nigeria, enabling nearly 100,000 members to engage in agriculture remotely.
Dr. Moji is passionate about organic farming and nutrition, having personally reversed fatty liver disease through dietary changes. Her company produces 21 branded products and is developing Africa’s first “Foodspital,” a hospital that treats illnesses through food therapy rather than conventional medicine.
XtraLarge Farms has earned accolades such as Nigeria’s Best World Class Quality Farming Organization and Africa’s Most Innovative Farming Organization. In 2025, they made history by hosting the World Agritourism Festival simultaneously in Nigeria and the UK, with plans to expand to Canada, Australia, and Central Europe in 2026.
From accountant to agripreneur, Dr. Moji Davids exemplifies how reinvention and visionary leadership can revolutionize agriculture and health across Africa.
