Nollywood actresses Uche Montana and Tayo Sobola popularly known as Sotayo Gaga were among the winners at the 2026 edition of The Achievers Awards International (TAAI)/Under 40 Entrepreneurs Awards held in Lagos.
The ceremony organised by Glomay Alliance Ltd under the theme ‘Building Lasting Legacy’ brought together entertainers entrepreneurs philanthropists and other professionals to recognise achievements across various sectors.
Montana won Best Lead Actress of the Year for her performance in Monica 1 and 2 while Sobola received the Best Indigenous Lead Actress of the Year award for Osun Dagbonu.
Actor Ayo Olaiya won Best Indigenous Lead Actor of the Year for Oluranlowo while Jennifer Obodo emerged Best Supporting Actress of the Year for Who Send Me. Dilinna Ezenwa won Best Supporting Actor of the Year.
Other entertainment winners included Chizoba Nwokoye who received the Distinguished Actress of the Year award; Ehiz Raphael named Best New Act (Male); and Prittican Yakubu who won Best New Act (Female) for The Prize of Regret.
In the music category Akintunde Adedini Michael known as AK Stunner won Best New Act (Music) while Sis. Ekwutos popularly known as Mama Chiboy was named Content Creator of the Year.
Marcela Aipoh received the Teen Act of the Year award.
In the entrepreneurship and humanitarian categories Timilehin Seyi Ogunsakin of MedxVerse won Young Entrepreneur of the Year while Benita Yarr founder of Beey Hope Foundation and Cosmic Beey Makeup was named Promising Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Olayinka Comfort of Comfort and Grace Women Initiative received the Humanitarian of the Year award while Heartmenders Charity Foundation won NGO of the Year.
Femi Fowler was recognised as Visual Icon and Talent Architect of the Year for his work in talent management casting choreography photography and visual storytelling. Miriam Jonah Praise-Kingsley known as Mim_shotit won Emerging Content Creator of the Year (Event) while Eunice Mekwuye Elema chief executive officer of Eumech Events and Services and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Events Management and Protocols received the Outstanding Event Personality of the Year award.
The ceremony also recognised a group of 100 achievers drawn from different fields including entertainment business technology fashion tourism and public service.
Among those listed in the Top 100 Achievers category were Dr Princess Kelechi Oghene Chief Olumuyiwa Owadara Richard Chief Oluwole Akinwale Prince Tosin Enikuomehin Kakea Mbacha Ayo Twitch Amb. George Osagiede and Ebhohon Shedrack Love.
The event began with a conference session on artificial intelligence and the next 50 years before proceeding to networking red-carpet activities award presentations cultural displays and the unveiling of the TAAI 2026 magazine.
According to the organisers recipients received the TAAI Medal of Legacy a Certificate of Excellence and automatic membership of the TAAI Legacy Circle a network established to provide mentorship funding opportunities and continental visibility.
Speaking on the event the convener and managing director of Glomay Alliance Ltd Princess Joy Osusu said the awards were intended to recognise individuals contributing to Africa’s development.
‘What we witnessed at TAAI 2026 is the future of Africa. These winners are not just achievers they are builders of legacy. We celebrate them today so the world can celebrate Africa tomorrow’ she said.