The fifth edition of the prestigious Trendupp Awards, Africa’s first and foremost awards platform for Influencers and Content Creators, concluded on Sunday, July 13th, 2025, with an unforgettable night of glamour, recognition, and pure creative energy at the Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event, themed “Still Explosive,” lived up to its name, celebrating the audacious talents shaping Africa’s digital space.

The night’s highest honour, the Force of Influence – Nigeria (the influencer / content creator who has commanded the highest impact in the Nigerian social media space between March 2024 to March 2025) was triumphantly awarded to the phenomenal VeeKee James. Solidifying her undeniable reign in the last one year.

Further adding to the night’s excitement, @SamuelBanks_21 clinched the Emerging Force category, an award for the next big deal in social media from March 2024 to March 2025. This unique public voting category, proudly sponsored by Sycamore Integrated Solutions Limited.

The Trendupp Awards 2025 Hosted by the multi-talented influencer, content creator, and TV host, KieKie (Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori), for the fourth consecutive time, gathered the continent’s most influential digital creators, media personalities, brand executives, and exciting fans. Out of an impressive lineup of 104 nominees, 17 exceptional winners emerged across 17 categories and 7 African countries, each receiving their coveted gold statuettes.

Speaking at the event, Tiwalola Olanubi Jnr., Founder/CEO of Trendupp Africa, expressed his appreciation to nominees, winners, and the creators community:

“Tonight is a testament to the incredible talent and dedication within Africa’s creator economy. We thank all nominees and winners for their grit, audacity & most importantly consistent hard work which has helped push boundaries across the continent and beyond.”

Meet The Winners for Trendupp Awards 2025: The Force of Comedy Skits: Influencers and Content Creators who commanded the highest engagement & vitality power in the comedy niche between March 2024 – March 2025 Winner: @Folagade Banks

The Force of Creative Art (Endowed by Trace): Influencers and content creators who commanded the highest engagement & vitality power in the art niches such as painting/drawing, writing, video content production and dancing etc between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @HAUWA

The Force of Food Content: Influencers and Content Creators who have been able to infuse creativity in their content thus commanding engagement in the food niche between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @OpeyemiFamakin

The Force of Lifestyle Content (Endowed by Tramango): Influencers and content creators who commanded the highest engagement & vitality power in lifestyle niches such as beauty, travel and fashion between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Liquorose

The Force of Online Sensation: Individuals that have found a way to break through the noise and commanded attention in the social media space between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @JayOnAir

The Force of Instagram: Influencers and Content creators with the most engaging content & virality power on Instagram between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @TomikeAdeoye

The Force of Social Good: Influencers and content creators who clamoured/spoke up for the social good of the community/country between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @KingMitchy

The Force of Tech Content: Influencers and content creators who have found a way to use content in communicating technological leaps and information in easily digestible and laudable ways between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @ValourReviews

The Force of TikTok: Influencers and Content creators that commanded the highest engagement & virality power on TikTok between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Crispdal

The Force of X (Twitter): Influencers and Content Creators that dominated the Twitter platform with meaningful/impactful conversations and threads between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Pooja

The Force of Virality: Influencer or Content creator who mastered the art of making lasting impressions, with content that commands a high number of reposts, likes, shares and talkability between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Peller089 X @Jadrolita

The Force of Collaboration (Endowed BY DottsMediaHouse): Brands that strategically identify and leverage impactful partnerships with content creators/Influencers between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Bet9ja

The Force of YouTube: Influencers and Content creators that commanded the highest engagement & virality power on YouTube between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Nons_Miraj

Emerging Force (Endowed by Sycamore): Content creators and Influencers who are rated as the next big deal in social media between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @SamuelBanks21

Force of the Pod: Influencers and Content creators who use podcasts as a medium of education, engagement, sensation and impact between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @Isbae_U (Curiosity Made Me Ask Podcast)

The Force of Influence (Nigeria): Influencer and Content creator who commanded the highest influence in the Nigerian social media space between March 2024 – March 2025 Winner: @VeekeeJames

The Force of Influence (Regional): Influencers and Content creators who commanded regional influence in other African countries (asides Nigeria) between March 2024 – March 2025. Winner: @KhosiTwala

Trendupp Awards is an initiative of Trendupp Africa, a platform where creatives receive support and build direct relationships with their fans across Africa. This fifth edition is presented by Trendupp Africa in association with DottsMediaHouse (Africa’s foremost media agency for leading brands across Africa). The award is proudly supported by Pepsi, Sycamore, Tramango, MTVBase, Africa Magic, POPCentral TV, CoolFM, Brand Communicator, Trace TV, Ameyaw Debrah, TheCable, MediaRoomHub, BlackDrum TV and Legit NG, Sniper Ajix Photography, Deenoh Xpression Photography and Ayo Asubiaro Photography.