The African Leadership Magazine (ALM) (https://www.AfricanLeadershipMagazine.co.uk/) is pleased to unveil the winners of the 14th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) 2024, following the meticulous implementation of the 3-step points-based system, which included a call for nominations, an online poll that concluded on Wednesday, 22 May 2024, and the ALM editorial board’s comprehensive review of the vote entries and supporting evidence of the nominees’ achievements over the past year and beyond. The poll accounted for 65% of the points while supporting evidence contributed 35% to the final selection process.

The ABLA winners will receive their award trophies and other instruments of honour during the 14th African Business Leadership Awards presentation ceremony, a special component of the 9th ALM Africa Summit, scheduled for 17 – 18 July 2024 at the UK House of Lords. The event will be held under the theme- “Africa Unleashed: Navigating Disruptions, Enhancing Opportunities.”

In his remarks, the Chairman of the African Leadership Organisation and Publisher of the African Leadership Magazine, Dr. Ken Giami, expressed his admiration for the winners during the final review of all nominees. He stated, “The winners exemplify the spirit of innovation, resilience, and excellence driving growth and development across the continent. By celebrating their achievements, we not only honour their individual success but also hope to inspire others to push the boundaries of what is possible and contribute to Africa’s continued prosperity. Through their leadership across the critical sectors of the African economy, they are shaping a brighter future for Africa and demonstrating the immense potential within our business community.”

The African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) is a flagship annual recognition event by the African Leadership Magazine, aimed at honouring exceptional corporate practices and outstanding achievers in Africa’s business landscape and private sector. The awards align with the magazine’s tradition of showcasing often overlooked aspects of Africa’s businesses and leaders, celebrating exemplary business leadership on the continent.

Below is the complete list of winners and runners-up in the various categories of the African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) 2024:

African Business Leader of the Year

Paul Russo, Group CEO, KCB Group Plc, Kenya – Winner
Allen Onyema, CEO, Air Peace Nigeria – Runner-up

African Female Business Leader of the Year

Princess Victoria Haastrup, Executive Vice-Chairman, ENL Consortium Ltd, Nigeria – Winner
Kadijah Amoah, CEO, Pecan Energies Ghana Limited – Runner-up

African Finance Minister of the Year

Olavo Correia, Deputy Prime Minister&Minister of Finance, Cape Verde– Winner
Uzziel Ndagijimana, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Rwanda– Runner-up

African Regulator of the Year

Ethiopian Customs Commission – Joint-Winner
Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission – Joint-Winner
Engineers Board of Kenya – Runner-up

Export-Import&Investment Promotion Agency of the Year

Ghana Export Promotion Authority – Winner
Center for Investment Promotion of Côte d’Ivoire – Runner-up

Central Bank Governor of the Year

Olayemi Cardoso, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria – Winner
Ernest Addison, Governor, Bank of Ghana – Runner-up

Trade&Investment Minister of the Year

Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade and Industry, South Africa – Winner
Lucia Iipumbu, Minister of Industrialization and Trade, Namibia – Runner-up

Business-Friendly Governor of the Year

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria –winner
Adanech Abiebie, Mayor of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Runner-up

African CEO of the Year

Alain Ebobissé, CEO, AFRICA 50 – Winner
Azola Mayekiso, CEO, National Housing Finance Corporation, South Africa– Runner-up

Young Business Leader of the Year

Jesca Mhoja Nkwabi, CEO, KOM Group, Tanzania –Winner
David Njuguna, CEO, National Housing Corporation, Kenya – Runner-up

Africa CSR&Community Development Impact Award

Maroc Telecom– Winner
MRS Oil Nigeria Plc– Runner-up

African Brand of the Year

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated – Winner
Britam Holdings, Kenya – Runner-up

African Company of the Year

Mastercard Africa – Joint-winner
Trade Kings Group, Zambia – Joint-Winner
Bujagali Energy Limited – Runner-up

African Industry Personality of the Year

Benedito Manuel, Director General, Catoca Mining, Angola – Winner
Sékou Dramé, CEO, Sonatel Group, Senegal – Runner-up

Africa Business Integrity Leader Award

Jean Preira, CEO, Development Bank of Seychelles – Winner
Stanley Shanapinda, CEO, Telecom Namibia – Runner-up

Lifetime Achievement Award

Segun Ogunsanya, Group CEO, Airtel Africa – Winner
Mohamed Mansour, Chairman, Mansour Group, Egypt – Runner-up

ABLA Special Awards:

African Economic Resilience and Growth Champion Award

James Alic Garang, Governor, Bank of South Sudan

Special African Business Leadership Commendation Award

Mesfin Tasew Bekele, CEO, Ethiopian Airlines – Joint-Winner
Seinye Lulu-Briggs, Chairman, Moni Pulo Limited, Nigeria – Joint-Winner

African Food Security Champion Award

Hanan Abdul-Wahab, CEO, National Buffer Stock Company, Ghana

Special Industry Personality Commendation Award

Edson Dos Santos, CEO, ETU Energias, Angola – Joint-Winner
Dieudonne Kasembo Nyembo, CEO, GECOTRANS DR Congo – Joint-winner

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Leadership Magazine.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ehis Ayere
+44 23 9265 8276
ehis@africanleadership.co.uk

About African Leadership Magazine:
The African Leadership Magazine is the flagship publication of the African Leadership Organisation (UK) Limited. For the past 17 years, the Organization has been dedicated to promoting impactful leadership in Africa and showcasing African opportunities globally. Through its various initiatives, including quality Afro-positive content, trade facilitation, market entry solutions, business networking platforms, and public sector training and consulting, the African Leadership Organisation plays a vital role in driving positive change and development across the continent.

GITEX NIGERIA to debut in September 2025 connecting start-up innovators, AI experts, and young talents in Africa’s largest emerging digital economy; Introducing AI Everything Nigeria, North Star Nigeria, GITEX HealthTech 5.0 and GITEX Future Finance 5.0.

Following the two record-breaking and most verified editions of GITEX AFRICA Morocco, the continent’s largest tech and start-up show will expand to forge new opportunities specifically for the Nigerian ecosystem. The showcase and conference powerhouse is the most awaited event launch fueled by the mission to accelerate Nigeria’s national tech and start-up landscape in the most populous nation in Africa.

GITEX NIGERIA was announced today (30 May), during GITEX AFRICA Morocco the continent’s largest tech and start-up show, at a signing ceremony between KAOUN International, the overseas affiliated company of the Dubai World Trade Centre and organiser of GITEX, the world largest tech event brand, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the technology arm of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy of Nigeria.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) of Nigeria and Ms. Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International, organiser of GITEX globally, in the presence of Dr. Tunji Alausa, Hon. Minister of State for Health&Social Reform, Nigeria.

GITEX NIGERIA shall be the largest in-market access event of the decade to discover Nigeria’s vast tech ecosystem. It ushers the global tech community to fully explore the biggest and most valuable opportunities in this most populous African country, with the world’s most talented generation of tech and digital youths. Taking place in September 2025 in both Lagos and Abuja, the most strategic and business influential cities in Nigeria.

Addressing the media during the official announcement, the Director-General and CEO of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said: “You can’t trade in isolation therefore we need to create a platform to accelerate trade in Nigeria. Presidential priorities include the acceleration of diversification through digitisation, industrialisation, manufacturing and innovation; to reform the economy to deliver sustained economic growth. The present mandate of our Ministry to accelerate the economy diversification by enhancing productivity in critical sectors, such as healthcare, education, and agriculture through technology and innovation. Bringing GITEX to Nigeria gives us the opportunity to export Nigerian technology to the world.”

CEO of KAOUN International, Trixie LohMirmand, organiser of GITEX NIGERIA, said: “The format of GITEX NIGERIA will be unique. It will enable the exploration of vast potential during a time when Nigeria is experiencing exponential growth impact in sectors such as AI, Health, Finance and Startups. We hope to co-create and multiply global partnerships to forge new opportunities for Nigeria across industries with the biggest societal betterment potential”.

GITEX in Nigeria shall spotlight the country’s exponential growth sectors in AI, Future Finance, Digital Health, Start-ups and Scale-ups. It will integrate the Nigerian tech ecosystem firmly into GITEX AFRICA Morocco and extend its reach into GITEX GLOBAL in Dubai and GITEX EUROPE in Berlin.

Reflecting core critical sectors aligned to the national digital strategy, GITEX’s most popular co-located shows will be introduced with the inaugural edition, including AI Everything Nigeria, North Star Nigeria for Startups, and the GITEX Health Tech 5.0 and GITEX Future Finance 5.0. The eagerly expected tech event will amplify in-market potential in the region’s fastest emerging country, with economic performance to grow 11.2% in 2024 according to the African Development Bank. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GITEX Africa.

Media Contact:
Tayce Marchesi – PR Executive
Tel.: + 971 58 552 3994
Tayce.Marchesi@dwtc.com

About KAOUN International:
KAOUN International is the independent events company and wholly owned subsidiary of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) established to organise and manage events internationally. Derived from the Arabic word ‘universe’, KAOUN International’s mission is to ‘Create Limitless Connections’ for the industries and markets in which it operates. Created to leverage the 40-year legacy of DWTC’s events management business and drive future MICE sector opportunity in the MENASA region. KAOUN International delivers game-changing live experiences that build robust business connections, create opportunity, and stimulate economic growth, building on DWTC’s extensive portfolio of business and consumer events spanning multiple sectors, including technology, food and hospitality, sustainability, broadcast and satellite, automotive, talent development and leisure marine.

Africa stands at the forefront of global youth demographics, boasting over 400 million individuals between the ages of 15 and 35. Recognizing the pivotal role of young entrepreneurs in propelling economic progress, NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (http://www.EnergyChamber.org), emphasized the significance of nurturing this demographic during the AEC’s Business Development Workshop for Young Entrepreneurs.

With 600 million Africans lacking electricity access, the transformative impact of initiatives to connect gas-to-power projects or introduce renewables to communities is significant. Ayuk emphasized the opportunities for young entrepreneurs to get involved in this space, highlighting how these endeavors can shape Africa and the world significantly.

“When you look at African youth and a lot of young people across the continent, you keep seeing the longing for big solutions,” says Ayuk. However, “financing is one of the biggest challenges we would face because we have not built a thriving banking sector.”

According to Ayuk, banks need to provide patient capital for young entrepreneurs. This type of funding allows entrepreneurs the time needed to develop their ventures effectively. “My biggest advice to youth is to build that relationship with the bank,” Ayuk stressed. “Get that business plan in place, and they will try to help you execute it.”

For startups, Ayuk advocated for a methodical approach, prioritizing meticulous business planning, demographic analysis and networking to access financing and build relationships with banks and potential investors. “Your network at the end of the day becomes your net worth,” Ayuk remarked, highlighting the significance of building and leveraging professional relationships.

In building a business, the benefits of having a strategic partner cannot be overstated, and more specifically, the importance of self-assessment regarding one’s contributions. In this regard, Ayuk cautioned against overloading titles such as CEO or president. “You need to be able to cut your egos and really get down to walking with other people that can lift you up,” he said.

Furthermore, Ayuk underscored the significance of collaboration, drawing from his expertise in the energy sector. “Some of the technologies that you’re going to need to drive the energy of tomorrow, we don’t have in this continent. So sometimes we might have to be able to partner with a colleague from Europe or America, from Asia, from the Middle East, where they have these technologies.”

For sustaining a business across multiple generations, Ayuk advised that young professionals should engage younger family members early to ignite their interest; provide support for relevant educational pursuits and practical training within the company; clearly define how leadership transitions and roles are managed through succession planning; establish robust legal and financial structures for managing ownership and inheritance; and foster innovation by remaining adaptable and open to new ideas to stay competitive.

He concluded with valuable lessons he has learnt as an entrepreneur. These include the importance of always paying close attention to financial numbers, prioritizing the establishment of a strong brand, ensuring the right people are on board for success, and recognizing the invaluable role of mentorship in building a supportive team.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has unveiled its new Ten-Year Strategy 2024–2033 (https://apo-opa.co/4aKxNom), a blueprint to confront Africa’s pressing challenges and to help put the continent firmly back on track towards sustained economic growth and prosperity.

Unveiling the strategy during the Bank Group’s Annual Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina said, “As Africa’s premier development finance institution, and Africa’s solutions bank, we are acutely aware that the next decade will be decisive in transforming the continent. Therefore, as we celebrate 60 years of making a difference in the countries and lives of the people of Africa, we remain resolute in our determination to accelerate the support we provide to African countries.”

The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in heightened food insecurity and a burgeoning debt crisis across Africa. At the same time, the impacts of climate change are intensifying and accelerating, alongside a surge in conflict and political instability. Compounded by a youthful demographic outpacing job creation, Africa is witnessing a significant exodus of its future workforce seeking opportunities abroad.

The strategy, approved by the Board earlier this year, sets out decisive and urgent actions the Bank will take to support African countries navigate the unprecedented global and regional challenges. These actions will build on Africa’s multiple unique assets and reignite momentum towards achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063 (https://apo-opa.co/4aNQ9Vo) and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, ultimately fostering lasting growth.

Central to the 2024–2033 strategic vision is the belief in Africa’s vast potential for societal and economic transformation. By leveraging the youngest and fastest growing workforce in the world, rapidly growing urban markets, the wealth of natural resources and vast clean energy potential, Africa stands poised to drive sustainable growth and make significant contributions to global solutions over the next decade.

“The Ten-Year Strategy outlines how the Bank will invest in Africa’s best asset: its vibrant young men and women. Africa’s population, which is the fast growing in the world, presents the continent with an unparalleled demographic window of opportunity,” Adesina said.

The new strategy articulates a vision of a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and integrated Africa, underpinned by two key objectives over the next decade: accelerating inclusive green growth and fostering prosperous and resilient economies. With an emphasis on sustainability, the Bank will strive to balance environmental concerns, equity, and economic advancement.

Building upon the past decade of successful High 5 implementation, the Bank aims to accelerate and scale up its efforts, focusing on transformative projects with far-reaching impacts. To optimise results while managing risks, the Bank will streamline its operational model for increased agility and effectiveness. The Bank’s High 5 operational priorities listed below, are integral to achieving these objectives:

Light up and power Africa: Promote universal access to modern and affordable energy.
Feed Africa: Ensure food security through agricultural transformation.
Industrialise Africa: Catalyse manufacturing as a critical driver of job creation.
Integrate Africa: Foster regional integration and value chains for a more cohesive economy.
Improve the quality of life: Enhance living standards, particularly for women and youth.

Key cross-cutting priorities include promoting gender equality, investing in young people, responding to climate change, and investing in climate action, supporting fragile states, and promoting good governance and economic stability.

The Bank sees the pivotal role of the private sector in driving Africa’s transformation. Over the next decade, it will strengthen collaboration with the private sector, prioritising investments in firms, value chains, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises especially those led by women and youth.

The magnitude and urgency of the challenge will require greater resources than before. The Bank pledges to mobilise resources from diverse sources, including domestic revenues and private finance. It aims to triple private-sector finance by 2033 while bolstering its financing capacity through innovative mechanisms. In response to calls for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to maximise the potential of their balance sheets, the Bank will pursue various options to boost its financing capacity over the life of the Ten-Year Strategy. Measures include the Sustainable Hybrid Capital, Risk Transfers and re-channeling of significant portions of the International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights through Multilateral Development Banks.

The Strategy outlines how the Bank will answer the call for MDBs to scale up urgently their efforts to respond to the priorities and significant ambitions of African countries and tackle global and regional challenges affecting the people of Africa. MDBs are essential to addressing the immense global and regional challenges the world faces. They are a valuable source of low-cost finance, technical knowledge, and policy advice for emerging and developing countries.

Highlights of the Strategy:

Investing in women and young people: The Ten-Year Strategy outlines how the Bank will invest in Africa’s best asset: its vibrant young men and women. Africa’s population, which is the youngest and fastest growing in the world, presents the continent with an unparalleled demographic window of opportunity. The Bank will address disparities and promote inclusivity by empowering women and youth, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to sustainable economic growth and prosperous societies.
Climate change adaptation: Recognising Africa’s vulnerability to climate change, the Bank will promote low-carbon development pathways aligned with the Paris Agreement while safeguarding biodiversity and nature.
Supporting fragile states and building resilience: Amid rising conflicts, fragility, and political instability in Africa, the Bank will intensify efforts to assist fragile countries. Special attention will be given to tackling cross-border challenges and reducing the isolation of landlocked and remote areas.
Promoting good governance: The Bank emphasises the importance of economic governance, including domestic resource mobilisation, transparent financial management, and anti-corruption measures. Sustainable debt management practices will also be prioritised to ensure long-term economic stability.

Read the Ten-Year Strategy 2024–2033 here (https://apo-opa.co/4aKxNom)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Editor’s Note:
A previous version of this press release issued on 29 May 2024 included an error in the headline. This version removes reference to boosting the Bank’s financial capacity by over $70 billion.

Media contact:
Amba Mpoke-Bigg
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org