AWIEF announces 2020 finalists for first-ever virtual awards

The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has announced this year’s finalists in the 2020 AWIEF Awards. Twenty-four women have been selected as finalists across eight categories for achievements in the field of entrepreneurship. The top finalists were selected from multiple industries across Africa.

 2020 AWIEF awards top finalists announced

Established by the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum, a pan African women economic empowerment organisation that aims to actively promote women-founded innovation and entrepreneurship, the award’s aims to recognise women who are making a mark in the field of entrepreneurship.

Reimaging business and rebuilding better

This year’s theme of the AWIEF Awards, ‘Reimagining business and rebuilding better’ was inspired by the Covid-19 pandemic as it recognises entrepreneurs who have created news ways to recover and reimagine their business under the current economic climate.

The winners will be announced at the sixth edition of the African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum Conference that will take place virtually from 2 -3 December 2020.

The virtual awards allows inclusivity as 1 300 pan-African, global participants and stakeholders connect to build new business relationships through networking. Sponsors, partnertners and speakers are also connected through the virtual awards, enabling them to expand their audience reach. The role of business, leadership, technology, trade, investment, women, and youths in the post-pandemic world are topics stakeholders will discuss in thought-provoking sessions.

Categories

The 2020 AWIEF Awards is supported by Nedbank, AGRA, APO Group and WESGRO.

The eight categories are as follows:

• Young Entrepreneur Award
• Tech Entrepreneur Award
• Social Entrepreneur Award
• Agri Entrepreneur Award
• Creative Industry Award
• Energy Entrepreneur Award
• Empowerment Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award

Nominees per category

Young entrepreneur Award: 

• Technoplus by managing partner, Sazia Souza from Mozambique
• Hannah Lavery led by founder, Hannah Lavery from SA
• KJK Online Communications created by CEO, Olajumoke Odumola from Nigeria
• Erith Health Services by chief pharmacist, Asomaniwaa Owusu-Ansah from Ghana

Tech Entrepreneur Award:

• Claudette Akinpaye from Rwanda is the founder and managing director of Agrizilla
• Marlize Holtzhausen, Founder and CEO of Response24 in SA
• Abimbola Adebakin from Nigeria, CEO of Advantage Health

Social Entrepreneur Award:

• Rita Stryker from Liberia as the CEO of Willette Safehouse
• Adenike Akinsemola from Nigeria, Founder and Director of The Green Institute
• Doris Mollel from Tanzania, Founder and Executive Director of Doris Mollel Foundation
• Mariam Mell’Osiime Mpaata from Kenya, Founder and CEO of Junior Stars Youth Development Programme

Agri Entrepreneur Award:

• Victoria Mwafulirwa from Malawi as the Managing Director of Homes Industries
• Jacqueline Mukashyaka from Rwanda, Chief Executive Officer of Champion Grocers
• Armelle Sidje Tamo from Cameroun, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Product Related to Agricultural Sector (PRA)

Creative Industry Award:

• Hannellie Coetzee from SA, a Visual Artist for Wild Wall Tiles
• Ayanfe Olarinde from Nigeria for Lulu Arts and UnEarthical
• Alice Muyambo from Zambia, a Visual Artist for Fortitude Arts Gallery

Energy Entrepreneur Award:

• Enoyonam Mosia from Sierra Leone, Co-founder of Easy Solar
• Amma Serwah Boateng from Ghana, Co-founder of Destra Energy Group

Empowerment Award:

• Porcho Marguerite Sogoba from Mali, CEO of MUSODEV
• Nasreen Aleey from Kenya, Founder and CEO of Afrikapu
• Qabale Duba from Kenya, Founder and CEO of Qabale Duba Foundation

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Robyn de Villiers from SA as Chairman and CEO of BCW Africa
• Daisy Molefhi from Botswana, Founder and Executive Director of ABM University College

Read more: Winners of the 2020 MTN Business App of the Year Awards announced

Featured image: Christina @ wocintechchat.com via Unsplash