Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen emerged as one of the biggest winners at the BAHGIA Awards 2026 after receiving the prestigious BAHGIA Sports Excellence Award, leading a distinguished list of African and global personalities honoured for outstanding achievements in sports, business, entertainment, leadership, culture and public service.
The awards celebrated excellence across various sectors, recognising individuals whose contributions have made significant impacts within Africa and beyond.
Other notable recipients included Nigerian boxing promoter Ezekiel Adamu, who clinched the BAHGIA Record-Breaking Boxing Promoter of the Year award, while D’Jvayne Real Estate of Canada and Segun Phillips received the BAHGIA Real Estate Excellence Awards. Media mogul Chief Nduka Obaigbena, the Founding Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the THISDAY Media Group and ARISE News Channel, was honoured with the Media Heritage and Communications Award in recognition of his contribution to journalism and broadcasting.
The entertainment category also featured some of Africa’s biggest names. Burna Boy was named BAHGIA Best Artist of 2026, Don Jazzy received the Best Music Producer of the Year award, while MecFanny was recognised with the Creative Entertainment Excellence Award for Film. Charles Okocha also earned the BAHGIA Legacy Award for his contribution to the creative industry, reinforcing the awards’ commitment to celebrating artistic excellence across the continent.
Traditional rulers and political leaders were equally recognised for their contributions to governance, peace and cultural preservation. His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Obi of Owa Kingdom, HRM Obi (Dr.) Emmanuel Oyinke Efeizomor II, were honoured with various Continental Royal Trailblazer Leadership Awards, while the Obi of Owa was also inducted into the BAHGIA Hall of Fame. Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo were recognised for exemplary leadership alongside Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.
The awards also honoured business leaders, philanthropists and security officials whose contributions have shaped Africa’s development. Tony Elumelu received the Business Mogul and Entrepreneur of the Year award, Princess Ruth Idegwa was recognised with the Humanitarian Excellence Award, while Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu was decorated with the Continental Security Leadership and Peace-Building Medal. Chief Dr. Nike Okundaye of Nike Art Gallery and Pauline Christian, Founder of the Martin Luther King Foundation Connexus, received Continental Legacy Leadership Lifetime Awards, underscoring BAHGIA’s vision of celebrating excellence, innovation, humanitarian service and transformational leadership across Africa and the global community.
