A growing conversation around credibility and recognition in professional circles gained momentum this week after tech executive and founder Napa Onwusah publicly questioned the rising trend of “paid validation” across global award and honorary recognition systems.
Onwusah — who has held positions at Google, AWS, and Microsoft — revealed that in recent months he has been offered multiple honors, including an honorary PhD, award nominations, and a book feature opportunity, all of which required payment to accept.
“These recognitions were presented as achievements,” he wrote, “but came with conditions — buying tickets, paying fees, or sponsoring appearances.” He noted that while he supports entrepreneurship and acknowledges awards can open doors, he believes monetizing recognition risks undermining authenticity and excluding deserving individuals who cannot afford such fees.
According to industry data from Grand View Research, the global awards and recognition market surpassed $1.5 billion in 2023, driven in part by a surge in nomination-based and honorary programs monetized through fees.
Onwusah warns that this shift may disadvantage grassroots changemakers who create real impact without visibility budgets or PR machines. “When visibility costs money,” he said, “the spotlight rarely lands on those who deserve it most.”
His comments come amid growing scrutiny of “pay-to-play” accolades on professional platforms like LinkedIn, where curated lists — from “Top 50 under 50” to “Most Influential” — have become both status symbols and marketing tools.
In response to the trend, Onwusah highlighted initiatives he founded — The Luminary Project and the African Revenue Makers Award — which aim to identify and elevate exceptional contributors without financial barriers.
“The only requirement is simple,” he said. “Do something truly remarkable. Not because you can pay to be seen, but because you deserve to be seen.”
Industry observers say the debate speaks to a broader tension between merit-based recognition and commercialized branding in the digital era.
