Caleb Owolabi of the 2k25 class and Victor Femi-Lawal of the 2k23 class, alongside recent UI Law graduate, Deborah Oludimu, and some other Nigerians, were announced as recipients of the 2026 Diana Award for their exceptional work in healthcare and quality education, during the virtual ceremony on November 4, 2026, 16:00 hrs (GMT).
The Diana Award is an international honor and charity established in 1999 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, to recognize and empower young people who are working to improve the lives of others. Up to 200 recipients who makes the list are recognised for doing immense work in line with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) e.g., quality education, good health and wellbeing, reduced inequality, and climate action, and are included on the official Roll of Honour.
Caleb Owolabi was recognised for his contribution to educational access, youth empowerment and social impact through his work as the founder of CHAMP Tutorials. Over the last 5 years, he has led the organisation in its mission to make quality examination preparation more accessible to young Nigerians, particularly students preparing for university entrance examinations. From an organization with 3 staff and 13 students in 2021, they’ve grown to over 70 staff and over a thousand paid students yearly, recording over 2,900 admissions in more than 23 different Nigerian Institutions. The organisation has also produced over 350 students with 300+ in UTME, produced several of the national top highest in several examinations including one of the overall highest in the country in UTME 2025 with 371/400.
Beyond the figures, the work has involved building sustainable educational systems, mobilising young people and creating opportunities for students who might otherwise have limited access to quality academic support.
Victor Femi-Lawal was awarded for his work in driving the Federation of African Medical Students’ Association (FAMSA) AfroHack ’24, which mobilized 77 applicants across six countries and received a commendation from a WHO/SESH co-creation initiative; the Beacon Project with The Mafita Initiative, which trained orphanage caregivers in early distress identification and delivered mental health education to vulnerable children; and the Budget4Health Campaign with Equicare Strategies, which convened over 350 participants and selected 60 youth fellows from more than 1,100 applicants to strengthen youth participation in Nigeria’s health financing.
Speaking with Mr. Victor on how he feels about being a recipient of such prestigious award, “Thrilled. An affirmation of the work I do and an encouragement to continue to make impact,” he replied.
Worthy of note that Covenant Odedele of the 2k24 class and Dr. Abdulhameed Babatunde (MBBS Graduating class of 2024) were 2023 Diana Award recipients.
