Latest news with #DevelopmentAwards
Hans India
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Nepal, Bhutan, Indonesia among winners of ICC Development Awards 2024
Dubai: The International Cricket Council has announced the global winners of the 2024 ICC Development Awards across seven categories. Launched in 2002, the Development Awards celebrate the innovation and initiative of the game's Associate Members, 'leading the growth of the sport around the world". The 2024 awards will comprise seven categories after the introduction of the ICC X Festival of the Year award. Bhutan, Indonesia, Namibia, Nepal, Scotland, Tanzania, the USA and Vanuatu are the eight Members receiving top honours. ICC Development Initiative of the Year Winner: Cricket Namibia The African nation wins the award for their Ashburton Kwata Mini-Cricket Programme. The flagship grassroots development initiative remains an integral part of growing the game in the country, and has been integrated into the physical education periods of public schools across the country, making cricket accessible to tens of thousands of students across 14 local regions. ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year Winner: Bhutan Cricket Council Board and Vanuatu Cricket Association For the time, two winners were crowned for ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year. The Bhutan Cricket Council Board is recognised for its Inter-School Girls' Competition, an initiative aimed at boosting female participation by introducing school-level contests using modified formats, starting with tennis ball cricket and progressing to hardball. Since its inception, the programme has engaged thousands of girls, including many first-time players. The Vanuatu Cricket Association is honoured for its 'Picking Wickets' programme, a hybrid model of remote and in-person coaching, taking place while team members also took part in seasonal fruit-picking jobs in Australia. ICC Associate Member Men's Performance of the Year Winner: USA Cricket USA received the award for their outstanding on-field performance during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 last year. The tournament co-hosts stunned Pakistan and reached the Super Eight stage, with their cricketing feats bringing cricket and the Men's T20 World Cup in front of thousands through mainstream American television and news. ICC Associate Member Women's Performance of the Year Winner: Cricket Scotland Scotland receive this honour for a number of outstanding performances during the last year. In 2024, Scotland aced the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier to reach the Women's T20 World Cup for the first time. Captain Kathryn Bryce was named the Player of the Tournament at the Qualifier, leading the team to a historic qualification, which has provided a massive boost both to women's cricket interest and participation in Scotland. ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year Winner: Cricket Association of Nepal Cricket Association of Nepal's strategic expansion across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and their newly launched CAN Domestic Facebook accounts resulted in a total reach of approximately 117 million and an overall follower increase from a little more than 1.17 million to over 1.59 million, gaining more than 420,000 new followers. On Facebook (CAN Official), video minutes viewed doubled to more than 13.4 million, while the new CAN Domestic account achieved over 4.4 million minutes, showcasing domestic cricket's appeal. YouTube watch time surged by 277 per cent to more than 2.13 million hours, and Instagram views leaped above 40 million, captivating fans with highlights, player stories and live updates. Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year Winner: Persatuan Cricket Indonesia The cricket board receive this honour for their launch of 'Cricket for Confidence' movement. It aims to empower schoolgirls across Indonesia's most under-served and remote regions through the game of cricket. In a country of over 17,000 islands, where structured sport for rural girls is nearly nonexistent, this initiative broke new ground socially, geographically, and culturally. Across five provinces, more than 300 schoolgirls participated in what, for most, was their first experience with organised physical activity. ICC X Festival of the Year Winner: Tanzania Cricket Association Tanzania received this award for their Cricket Festival in Dar es Salaam which brought together 120 women who formed part of their 'From kitchen to crease' programme which galvanised housewives, working professionals and even retired cricketers to take part in an inspirational day of cricket and sisterhood. Jay Shah, ICC Chair, celebrated the winners of the accolades while also emphasising the importance of these awards. "It is a pleasure to announce the global winners of the ICC Development Awards. This is a celebration of global exceptionalism, with all winners worthy of the accolades they have received in their mission to grow the game in emerging nations. "Each year, these awards put a deserved spotlight on the remarkable stories of growth taking place around the world and this year is no different. We join the world in celebrating the passion, hard work and innovation behind these successful initiatives. "I wish to congratulate everyone on their success and look forward to seeing these programmes continue to flourish in 2025 and beyond.'
Int'l Cricket Council
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Global winners of ICC Development Awards 2024 named
The International Cricket Council has announced the global winners of the 2024 ICC Development Awards. Launched in 2002, the Development Awards celebrate the innovation and initiative of the game's Associate Members, 'leading the growth of the sport around the world.' The 2024 awards will comprise seven categories after the introduction of the ICC X Rexona criiio Festival of the Year award. Bhutan, Indonesia, Namibia, Nepal, Scotland, Tanzania, the USA and Vanuatu are the eight Members receiving top honours. ICC Development Awards 2025 Categories ICC Development Initiative of the Year – acknowledges the outstanding development initiative delivered by an Associate Member, either through a physical participation programme or a digitally delivered game development initiative during the year. ICC Development Initiative of the Year Winner: Cricket Namibia The African nation wins the award for their Ashburton Kwata Mini-Cricket Programme. The flagship grassroots development initiative remains an integral part of growing the game in the country, and has been integrated into the physical education periods of public schools across the country, making cricket accessible to tens of thousands of students across 14 local regions. Namibia take out ICC Development Initiative of the Year | Development Awards 2024 Namibia once again set the bar for development to claim ICC Development Award honours. ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year – acknowledges the outstanding female cricket focused initiative delivered by an Associate Member to promote the game, either through a physical participation programme or a digitally delivered game development initiative during the year. ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year Winner: Bhutan Cricket Council Board and Vanuatu Cricket Association For the time, two winners were crowned for ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year. The Bhutan Cricket Council Board is recognised for its Inter-School Girls' Competition, an initiative aimed at boosting female participation by introducing school-level contests using modified formats, starting with tennis ball cricket and progressing to hardball. Since its inception, the programme has engaged thousands of girls, including many first-time players. Bhutan earn ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year accolade | Development Awards 2024 Bhutan shares the ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year honours in the 2024 ICC Development Awards. The Vanuatu Cricket Association is honoured for its 'Picking Wickets' programme, a hybrid model of remote and in-person coaching, taking place while team members also took part in seasonal fruit-picking jobs in Australia. Vanuatu claim ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year | Development Awards 2024 The Vanuatu Cricket Association shared Female Cricket Initiative of the Year honours in the 2024 ICC Development Awards ICC Associate Member Men's Team Performance of the Year – acknowledges the outstanding men's on-field performance of the year by an Associate Member team in an ICC event or bilateral cricket. ICC Associate Member Men's Performance of the Year Winner: USA Cricket USA received the award for their outstanding on-field performance during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 last year. The tournament co-hosts stunned Pakistan and reached the Super Eight stage, with their cricketing feats bringing cricket and the Men's T20 World Cup in front of thousands through mainstream American television and news. USA clinch ICC Associate Men's Team Performance of the Year | Development Awards 2024 USA claim the ICC Associate Men's Team Performance of the Year honour at the 2024 ICC Development Awards. ICC Associate Member Women's Team Performance of the Year – acknowledges the outstanding women's on-field performance of the year by an Associate Member team in an ICC event or bilateral cricket. ICC Associate Member Women's Performance of the Year Winner: Cricket Scotland Scotland receive this honour for a number of outstanding performances during the last year. In 2024, Scotland aced the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier to reach the Women's T20 World Cup for the first time. Captain Kathryn Bryce was named the Player of the Tournament at the Qualifier, leading the team to a historic qualification, which has provided a massive boost both to women's cricket interest and participation in Scotland. Scotland named ICC Associate Women's Team Performance of the Year | Development Awards 2024 Scotland crowned ICC Associate Women's Team Performance of the Year at the 2024 ICC Development Awards. ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year – acknowledges the outstanding innovative use of digital platforms, campaigns or technology by an Associate Member to drive engagement with fans and the wider community during the year. ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year Winner: Cricket Association of Nepal Cricket Association of Nepal's strategic expansion across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and their newly launched CAN Domestic Facebook accounts resulted in a total reach of approximately 117 million and an overall follower increase from a little more than 1.17 million to over 1.59 million, gaining more than 420,000 new followers. On Facebook (CAN Official), video minutes viewed doubled to more than 13.4 million, while the new CAN Domestic account achieved over 4.4 million minutes, showcasing domestic cricket's appeal. YouTube watch time surged by 277% to more than 2.13 million hours, and Instagram views leaped above 40 million, captivating fans with highlights, player stories and live updates. Nepal win the ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year | Development Awards 2024 Cricket Association of Nepal rewarded for their digital engagement at the ICC Dev Awards. ICC Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year – acknowledges the outstanding project where cricket is used as a vehicle for social change or development. Whether it be female empowerment, health, education, or community initiatives, the project will have used cricket as a platform to deliver and impact on wider social development issues during the year. Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year Winner: Persatuan Cricket Indonesia The cricket board receive this honour for their launch of 'Cricket for Confidence' movement. It aims to empower schoolgirls across Indonesia's most under-served and remote regions through the game of cricket. In a country of over 17,000 islands, where structured sport for rural girls is nearly nonexistent, this initiative broke new ground socially, geographically, and culturally. Across five provinces, more than 300 schoolgirls participated in what, for most, this was their first experience with organized physical activity. Indonesia win the ICC Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initative | Development Awards 2024 Indonesia wins the ICC Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative award at the 2024 ICC Development Awards. ICC criiio Cricket Festival of the Year with Rexona – this award acknowledges an outstanding festival delivered by an ICC Associate Member that was part of the ICC criiio Cricket Festival pilot programme 2024 that has made a significant impact in promoting the women's game. The initiative should have successfully increased participation and helped create a legacy for the development of women's cricket within the country. ICC X Rexona criiio Festival of the Year Winner: Tanzania Cricket Association Tanzania received this award for their criiio Cricket Festival in Dar es Salaam which brought together 120 women who formed part of their 'From kitchen to crease' programme which galvanized housewives, working professionals and even retired cricketers to take part in an inspirational day of cricket and sisterhood. Tanzania claim the first ICC criiio Cricket Festival of the Year with Rexona | Development Awards 2024 Tanzania wins the inaugural ICC Criiio Cricket Festival of the Year award with Rexona. Mr. Jay Shah, ICC Chair, celebrated the winners of the accolades while also emphasising the importance of these awards. 'It is a pleasure to announce the global winners of the ICC Development Awards. This is a celebration of global exceptionalism, with all winners worthy of the accolades they have received in their mission to grow the game in emerging nations. 'Each year, these Awards put a deserved spotlight on the remarkable stories of growth taking place around the world and this year is no different. We join the world in celebrating the passion, hard work and innovation behind these successful initiatives. 'I wish to congratulate everyone on their success and look forward to seeing these programmes continue to flourish in 2025 and beyond.'
Zawya
18-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Professor Benedict Oramah recognised for long service as Export Trading Group (ETG), TRACE, KCB and CBZ toast award success at 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings
Key Highlights The third edition of the Pan-African Business and Development Awards has recognised and celebrated leading businesses on the continent and in the diaspora in alignment with Afreximbank's push for a promotion of a Global Africa Marking his distinguished tenor, Professor Benedict Oramah, outgoing Afreximbank President, was honoured with the Bank's Long Service Award alongside other employees Export Trading Group (ETG) won the Global Africa Business Leader Award 2025 for fostering economic growth across the continent and enhancing food security KCB Group Plc, Kenya and CBZ Bank, Zimbabwe emerged winners of the Afreximbank Financial Institutions Award 2025 for banking institutions with more than $500m and less than $500m capital respectively for having played a pivotal role in bridging the trade finance gap in Africa. TRACE, a multimedia platform dedicated to the entertainment and empowerment of people of African descent won the Diaspora Business of the Year Award for their impact in strengthening continental and diaspora ties. African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) ( hosted the third edition of the Pan-African Business and Development Awards in association with the Business Council for Africa (BCA) on Wednesday June 25, 2025, at a colourful Gala Dinner attended by more than 400 dignitaries including business and political leaders from Nigeria, across Africa and the diaspora. The Pan-African Business and Development Awards, held annually during the Afreximbank Annual Meetings, are designed to celebrate and recognise transformative businesses and financial institutions within the African continent and in the diaspora in keeping with the Bank's vision for a Global Africa. Export Trading Group (ETG), operational in nearly 20 countries on the continent, won the Global Africa Business Leader Award, 2025 for fostering economic growth across the continent and enhancing food security by connecting smallholder farmers with regional and global markets, improving livelihoods and boosting intra-African trade, reflecting Afreximbank's mandate of fostering trade and economic growth across the continent. The company's investments in storage, logistics, and processing infrastructure have helped reduce post-harvest losses and increased value addition. This year, TRACE, the multimedia platform dedicated to the entertainment and empowerment of people of African descent, won the Diaspora Business of the Year award for its impact in strengthening continental and diaspora ties through the vehicle of entertainment. Its mission is to uplift African identity through music, education, and storytelling. TRACE's platforms reach and support over 5,000 artists and 1,000 brands annually. It employs hundreds across Africa, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars in value. Two banking giants were recognised in the Afreximbank Financial Institutions Award - 2025. KCB Group Plc, Kenya's largest bank by assets emerged winner of the award for banking institutions with more than $500m capital while CBZ Bank, also Zimbabwe's largest Bank emerged winner of the Afreximbank Financial Institutions Award-2025 for banking institutions with less than $500m capital. KCB, which won in the same category in 2024, was recognised for facilitating local and cross-border trade finance through various products as well as mitigating risks inherent in trade on behalf of its customers. One of the first East African banks to enhance financial inclusion and economic growth, it has positioned itself as an enabler for businesses and consumers to transact efficiently across African borders. CBZ Bank from Zimbabwe has played a pivotal role in bridging the trade finance gap in Africa by leveraging strategic partnerships, introducing innovative products, and executing a comprehensive pan-African vision. During the 31 st Afreximbank Annual meetings held in Nassau, The Bahamas last year, CBZ Bank and Afreximbank inked two deals ( totalling $80 million consisting of US$60 million line of credit and $20 million Afreximbank Trade Facilitation Programme (AFTRAF) facility signalling their continued collaboration aimed at promoting economic development. In a speech delivered on behalf of Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of Board of Directors at Afreximbank, the Bank's Senior Executive Vice President, Denys Denya, said: 'This Awards event is our way of saying thank you to everyone who, regardless of size or significance of your role, has contributed to furthering the course of development in Africa. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you. With these awards, we reaffirm our commitment to the shared goal of transforming the African economy and restoring the dignity of Africans, regardless of their geographic location.' Arnold Ekpe, former group CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and chair of the BCA, in his remarks, commented on the importance of recognising and celebrating institutions that contribute to Africa's development, which he said, 'has become the defining essence of Afreximbank.' A major highlight of the awards ceremony was the recognition of four long serving Afreximbank staff members for their dedicated service of between 25 and 30 years. This esteemed group included Professor Benedict Oramah who was honoured for over three decades at the Bank with ten years spent at the helm as President and Chairman of Board of Directors. Presenting the long service award to Prof. Oramah, Wale Edun, Nigeria's Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy said: 'Tonight, we acknowledge not just a remarkable career, but a transformative journey spanning three decades. Under your leadership, the bank hasn't just scaled; it has soared, championing strategies that have fundamentally reshaped trade and development across Africa. Nigeria is incredibly proud of your achievements, your leadership, and your unwavering commitment to the economic prosperity of our continent. You are a true son of the soil; a shining example of what dedication and vision can accomplish.' The Pan-African Business and Development Awards are hosted by Afreximbank in association with the BCA. The awards series was launched in 2023 to recognise those organisations and leaders that epitomise the pan-African spirit by leading the way in building substantive and transformative cross-border businesses. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank. Media Contact: Vincent Musumba Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations) Email: press@ Follow on Social Media: X: Facebook: LinkedIn: Instagram: About Afreximbank: African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank's total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, "the Group"). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
