Nairobi, Kenya: Ms Adong Jenifer, a final-year Law student at Gulu University, won the Best Student Leader of the Year Award at the Scholar Media Excellence Gala (SMEGAfrica Excellence) Awards 2025, held at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi.
Adong was honored for her transformational leadership and grassroots community impact, which has inspired many across Uganda and beyond. The award ceremony marked the climax of the Scholar Media Africa Inaugural Conference 2025, organized under the theme “Youth Empowerment, Health & Engagement through Inclusion, Innovation & Job Creation”.
In her acceptance remarks, Adong described the award as “a tribute to the collective spirit of every young person striving to create positive change.”
“Receiving the Best Student Leader of the Year Award is a profound honor, and I accept it with immense gratitude. This recognition is not just a personal achievement, but a tribute to the collective spirit of every young person striving to create positive change in our communities,” Ms Adong stated.
“Leadership, to me, is about service, action, and inspiring others to believe in their ability to make a difference. This award reaffirms my commitment to continue serving with purpose and working toward a future where we all rise together.”
Adong urged fellow youth not to wait for the future but to seize their leadership potential today: “Let’s not wait for others to lead; let’s be the change we seek in the world. Through resilience, unity, and action, we can overcome any challenge and build a brighter, more inclusive future.”
About Adong Jenifer
A passionate youth advocate, Adong’s leadership journey extends well beyond the lecture halls of Gulu University. As Miss Talent Gulu University 2022–2023, she spearheaded a Sickle Cell Awareness Campaign across Gulu City, bridging the gap between university students and the broader community, and raising awareness on a disease often shrouded in stigma.
Motivated by a drive to uplift vulnerable populations, she founded Inspire the Nation, a community-based organization operating in Oyam District. The initiative offers mentorship to primary school children and teenage mothers, providing them with life skills and hope for a better future.
In 2023, Adong was appointed Country President of the Global Youth Parliament – Uganda Chapter, and later represented Uganda at the Youth Expo in Zambia. In 2024, she was a facilitator at a major youth conference in Rwanda, themed “Staying Relevant in a Competitive World.”
Adong also made headlines back home in 2024 after contesting for Guild President at Gulu University, the only female in the race, where she emerged runner-up. Her candidacy shattered gender barriers and inspired more young women in higher education to aspire to leadership positions.
Beyond politics and advocacy, she has led initiatives in climate action, including a Climate Action Program that trains communities in renewable energy solutions and briquette-making.
She also founded Public Speaking Classes to empower students and community members with effective communication skills, now in its third cohort.
Adong’s journey was celebrated alongside that of Daniel Tusiimukye, a final-year Mechanical Engineering student at Makerere University, who won Best Student-Led Initiative (Higher Education).
Uganda’s strong showing at the SMEG Awards underscores its growing leadership in youth innovation, legal scholarship, and community transformation across Africa.
The SMEG Awards are organized by Scholar Media Africa, under the leadership of Ambassador Elijah Nyanga, and celebrate excellence in leadership, education, and media across the continent.
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