African Leadership Magazine Announces Nominees for the 2025 African Business Leadership Awards - Public Voting Now Open
African Leadership Magazine (www.AfricanLeadershipMagazine.co.uk) proudly unveils the distinguished list of nominees for the 17 categories of the 2025 African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA)—a premier recognition platform celebrating excellence in corporate governance, impactful leadership, and trailblazing contributions to the growth and sustainability of Africa's dynamic business and economic ecosystem. The public voting process is now officially open and will run until 29 May 2025, offering stakeholders across Africa and the globe the opportunity to celebrate and affirm exemplary leadership in the African business space.
The ongoing public voting marks the third phase in a rigorous four-step, points-based selection process for the African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA). The process begins with open nominations, followed by a shortlist of top contenders curated by the African Leadership Magazine editorial board. In this third phase, the public is invited to vote, adding stakeholder voices to the evaluation process. The final stage involves a detailed editorial assessment of votes and supporting evidence to determine winners, ensuring a transparent, merit-based outcome that reflects both public sentiment and proven impact.
Public votes in this phase contribute 65% of the final decision, with the remaining 35% based on supporting evidence for each nominee. This ensures a fair and credible process that values both public opinion and verifiable impact. Winners and first runners-up will be honoured at the 15th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA), a special highlight of the Africa Summit–London, scheduled for 9–10 July 2025 at the House of Lords, London, United Kingdom.
To cast your vote, visit:
https://apo-opa.co/4k3ofu8
The 2025 African Business Leadership Awards (BLA Nominee Highlights
African Business Leader of the Year
Stella Okoli – Founder&GMD, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Nigeria
Mohamed Ould Bouamatou – Founder&Chairman, Bouamatou Group, Mauritania
John Gachora – GMD/CEO, NCBA Bank, Kenya
Tewodros Ashenafi – Founder&Chairman, SouthWest Holdings Ltd., Ethiopia
Ntombi Felicia Msiza – CEO, Raubex Group Ltd., South Africa
African Female Business Leader of the Year
Rita Maria Zniber – Chairman&CEO, Diana Holding, Morocco
Jesca Mhoja Nkwabi – CEO, KOM Group, Tanzania
Boitumelo Mosako – CEO, Development Bank of Southern Africa
Esther Muchemi – CEO, Samchi Group, Kenya
Monica Musonda – Founder&CEO, Java Foods, Zambia
African Regulator of the Year
Delese Mimi Darko – CEO, Ghana Food and Drugs Authority
Brima M. Baluwa Koroma – CEO, Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Sierra Leone
Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria – DG, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Kenya
Leonilde dos Santos – Multisectoral Economic Regulatory Authority, Cape Verde
Business-Friendly Governor of the Year
Daniel Félix Neto – Governor, Lunda Sul Province, Angola
Oscar Mabuyane – Premier of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Jacques Kyabula Katwe – Governor, Haut-Katanga Province, DR Congo
Ibrahima Cissé – Minister Governor, Autonomous District of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Peter Ndubuisi Mbah – Governor, Enugu State, Nigeria
African Finance Minister of the Year
Bihi Iman Egeh – Minister of Finance, Somalia
Mthuli Ncube – Minister of Finance&Economic Development, Zimbabwe
Marial Ater – Minister of Finance and Planning, South Sudan
Cheikh Diba – Minister of Finance and Budget, Senegal
Ahmed Kouchouk – Minister of Finance, Egypt
Trade&Investment Promotion Agency of the Year
General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), Egypt
Agency for Private Investment and Export Promotion, Angola
Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA)
National Investment Promotion Agency, Cameroon
Agency for Investment and Export Development, Morocco
Central Bank Governor of the Year
Mohamed Lemine Dhehby – Governor, Central Bank of Mauritania
Manuel António Tiago Dias – Governor, National Bank of Angola
Johnson Asiama – Governor, Bank of Ghana
Rama Krishna Sithanen – Governor, Bank of Mauritius
Trade&Investment Minister of the Year
Jumoke Oduwole – Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria
Alimatou Shadiya Assouman – Minister of Industry and Trade, Benin
Ahmed Samir – Minister of Trade and Industry, Egypt
Kassahun Gofe – Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Ethiopia
Chipoka Mulenga – Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Zambia
African CEO of the Year
Jeremy Awori – Group CEO, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI)
Hien Yacouba Sié – Managing Director, Abidjan Port Authority, Côte d'Ivoire
Dr. Armstrong Takang – CEO, Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Nigeria
Patricia Adongo Ojangole – Managing Director, Uganda Development Bank Ltd.
Young Business Leader of the Year
Mamotake Matekane – COO, MGC Group, Lesotho
Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun – Co-Founder, United Africa Group, Namibia
Mohamed Ahmed Abdulle – MD, Dakawou Transport Ltd., Kenya
Ladi Delano – Co-CEO, Moove Africa, Nigeria
A frica CSR&Community Development Impact Award
Ashanti Goldfields Corporation, Ghana
Standard Chartered Bank, South Africa
NNPC Limited, Nigeria
Bamburi Cement Plc, Kenya
Catoca Mining Company, Angola
African Brand of the Year
Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt
Managem Group, Morocco
Bank Windhoek, Namibia
Ethiopian Airlines
African Company of the Year
Vodacom Group, South Africa
Ghana Commercial Bank Plc
Bidco Africa, Kenya
Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Nigeria
Industry Personality of the Year
Kennedy Bugane – CEO, African Bank, South Africa
Jemal Ahmed Abdu – CEO, MIDROC Investment Group PLC, Ethiopia
Ally Edha Awadh – CEO, Lake Oil Group, Tanzania
Ferdinand Ngon Kemoum, Managing Director of Oragroup SA, Cameroon
Africa Business Integrity Leader Award
Coris Bank International, Togo
Arab Contractors, Egypt
CCECC Nigeria Limited
Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR), Côte d'Ivoire
Moçambique Telecom, SA
African Tech&Digital Economy Leader of the Year
Mastercard Africa
MTN Group, South Africa
Mascom Wireless, Botswana
Safaricom, Kenya
Lifetime Achievement Award
Emeka Offor – Founder, Chrome Group, Nigeria
Baba Ahmadou Danpullo – Businessman, Cameroon
Kwabena Kesse – CEO, Kessben Group of Companies, Ghana
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Leadership Magazine.
Media Enquiries:
Ehis Ayere
T: +44 (0) 20 3051 1883
E: ehis@africanleadership.co.uk
About African Leadership Magazine:
African Leadership Magazine is the flagship publication of the African Leadership Organisation (UK) Limited. For over 19 years, it has championed impactful leadership across Africa and amplified African opportunities on the global stage. Through its platforms—including Afro-positive content, trade facilitation, market entry solutions, public sector consulting, and business networking events—the magazine plays a pivotal role in fostering sustainable development and positive change across the continent.
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