The British Council Study UK Alumni Awards brought together distinguished leaders, innovators, creatives, and changemakers at the Lagos Continental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos. On the evening of 28 February 2026, the awards brought together accomplished UK alumni who have leveraged their UK education to drive impact in social change, business, culture and creativity, as well as science and sustainability. The event recognised professional achievement while reinforcing the enduring links between the United Kingdom and Nigeria through education.
A Night Of Influence And Impact
The ceremony brought together senior representatives from government, academia, and industry, alongside UK alumni whose work reflects the tangible impact of UK education across diverse sectors. The awards platformed individuals whose work contributes to national development priorities, international collaboration, and community advancement.
Beyond recognition, the evening fostered dialogue and renewed professional connections. The convening reflected the breadth of the UK’s educational partnerships with Nigeria and the continued relevance of global academic exchange in addressing local and international priorities.
The Study UK Alumni Awards form part of the British Council’s commitment to sustaining alumni engagement and promoting the long-term value of UK higher education. By highlighting achievement across sectors, the awards illustrate how academic experiences in the UK translate into leadership, innovation, and public service in Nigeria and beyond.
Speaking at the ceremony, Donna McGowan, Country Director for British Council, said, ‘The Study UK Alumni Awards is a prestigious global award that celebrates UK higher education and the achievements of UK alumni worldwide. And now in its twelfth year, the award has received more than 1,800 applications from international UK Alumni across over 120 countries, representing more than 110 UK universities. This demonstrates the global reach and enduring influence of UK education.”
Celebrating The Winners
Social Action
Kola Alapinni, International Human Rights Lawyer, received the Social Action Award in recognition of his work defending freedom of religion and belief in Nigeria. He has represented clients in high-profile blasphemy cases in Kano, including providing pro bono defence for Omar Farouq Bashir, a minor sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, and Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, who faced a death sentence. Both sentences were overturned on appeal, although Sharif-Aminu’s case remains before the Supreme Court.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan (LL.B, Hons) and the University of Essex (LL.M, International Human Rights Law), Alapinni has also challenged the constitutionality of blasphemy laws within Nigeria’s legal framework and engaged in advocacy on national and international platforms. His work has received international recognition, including the United States Secretary of State’s International Religious Freedom Award, and he was profiled by the University of Essex during its 60th anniversary celebrations.
Culture, Creativity and Sport
Yemisi Sophie Odusanya, widely known as Sisi Yemmie, received recognition in the Culture, Creativity and Sport category for her contribution to digital storytelling and food media. An award-winning cookbook author and content creator, she has built one of Africa’s most influential food and lifestyle platforms through her YouTube channel, SisiYemmieTV, which has over one million subscribers and documents Nigerian cuisine, family life, and contemporary culture.
A graduate of Igbinedion University and the University of Birmingham, where she earned a Master’s degree in International Studies and Diplomacy, Odusanya has contributed to the global visibility of Nigerian culture through digital media. She has been profiled by CNN Africa and recognised by public institutions for her role in advancing cultural representation and creative enterprise.
Business And Innovation
Dimeji Sofowora, Co-Founder of Helium Health, was recognised in the Business and Innovation category for his leadership in advancing healthcare technology across Africa. Helium Health provides digital infrastructure and financing solutions to healthcare providers, supporting over 10,000 health workers and digitising more than two million patient records since its launch in 2016. Through its financing arm, HeliumCredit, the company has disbursed over $11 million to clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies to strengthen service delivery.
A graduate of the University of Leeds (LL.B) and Queen Mary University of London (LL.M in Banking and Finance Law), Sofowora combines legal and financial expertise with entrepreneurial leadership. Prior to founding Helium Health, he worked in capital markets and mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs and Aluko & Oyebode, and he continues to support Africa’s startup ecosystem as a general partner at MAGIC Fund, an early-stage venture capital fund.
Science And Sustainability
Abdulazeez Ahmed, Professor of Otolaryngology at Bayero University Kano, was recognised in the Science and Sustainability category for his leadership in advancing hearing care in resource-limited settings. After completing a Master’s degree in Audiovestibular Medicine at University College London in 2012, he returned to Nigeria to establish the country’s first Audiometrician Training Programme at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and the National Ear Care Centre. He also led the development of Nigeria’s first Master’s degree in Otolaryngology at Bayero University and supported the introduction of undergraduate Audiology programmes in Northwestern Nigeria.
In 2016, Professor Ahmed secured Nigeria’s first grant to train community health workers in basic ear and hearing care, contributing to measurable improvements in service delivery. Rising to professorship within seven years of his return, he continues to strengthen workforce development, promote sustainable hearing health systems, and advocate for sensory disability inclusion across underserved communities.
Broader Significance
International education remains a cornerstone of UK–Nigeria relations. Academic mobility facilitates skills transfer, strengthens research collaboration, and supports innovation across sectors critical to national development. Alumni networks serve as channels for sustained engagement, enabling professionals to collaborate across borders and disciplines.
The diversity represented at the awards — from healthcare and scientific research to technology, entrepreneurship, and the creative economy, including food, digital media, and Nigeria’s literary and cultural sectors — reflects the wide-ranging contributions of UK alumni to Nigeria’s socio-economic development. Their work illustrates how education can support institutional reform, entrepreneurship, cultural dialogue, and scientific advancement.
The British Council reaffirmed its commitment to deepening alumni engagement through professional networks, knowledge-sharing platforms, and continued collaboration between UK and Nigerian institutions. The Study UK Alumni Awards ceremony concluded with a renewed focus on sustaining partnerships that strengthen educational ties and support the next generation of leaders.
