Henley Africa partners as research partner with AABLA for sixth consecutive year

Johannesburg, South Africa

On 23rd June 2023, the 11th All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA™), hosted an esteemed Pan African audience consisting of Government ministers, ambassadors, entrepreneurs, CEOs and leading voices in corporate Africa, to honour and celebrate Africa's business leaders.  

Dressed in bespoke traditional and glamorous evening attire, guests from all corners of the continent and beyond were welcomed to an unforgettable red carpet experience. As promised, the evening was filled with top class entertainment, which included riveting performances by two times Grammy Award-winning musician Wouter Kellerman, saxophonist Kani Naidoo, as well as wordsmith and poetess Lebo Mashile. Wrapping up the celebratory occasion was renowned local DJ, Jazzy D.

During his welcoming speech, ABN Group Co-Founder, Dr Rakesh Wahi called on African leaders to embrace collaborations and partnerships, to build bridges and to share knowledge amongst each other to solve these complex issues. He further highlighted the importance of government involvement in this process, saying: "Business will, as always, play its part in unlocking opportunities across the continent, but we need the government to act as a catalyst and provide a level playing field for all through consistent policies."

The All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA™) Winners:

• Young Business Leader of the Year - Presented by the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), Melvyn Lubega, Executive Chairman, Boabab Group; South Africa
• Chief Financial Officer of the Year - Presented by Sasfin Wealth SA, Dr Mukhtar Adam, CFO, Zenith Bank Plc; Nigeria
• Innovator of the Year - Presented by Choppies Botswana, Daniel Ndima, CEO, CapeBio; South Africa
• African Company of the Year, Afreximbank; Cairo, Egypt
• Industrialist of the Year - Presented by The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), Mohammed Dewji, President of MeTL Group; Tanzania
• Philanthropist of the Year, Lumbie Mlambo, Founder & CEO, JB Dondolo; Zimbabwe
• Businesswoman of the Year - Presented by the Absa Bank Group, Dr Owen Omogiafo, President and Group CEO, Transnational Corporation Plc; Nigeria
• Business Leader of the Year - Presented by Access Bank South Africa, Prof Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Afreximbank; Cairo, Egypt

The All Africa Business Leaders (AABLA™) Special Award Honourees:

These special categories were not open for public submission and recipients were selected based on specific criteria set out by the AABLA™ committee.

• Trade and Investment Facilitation Agency of the Year - Presented by the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA), The Rwanda Development Board
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr James Mwangi, Group Managing Director & CEO, Equity Group Holdings Plc; Kenya
• African of the Year, Dr John Nkengasong, U.S Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State; Cameroon-America

The annual awards were proudly sponsored by Access Bank South Africa, Absa Bank Group, The Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), The Gautrain Management Agency, Sasfin Wealth South Africa, and Choppies Botswana, presented in partnership with CNBC Africa, Henley Business School, Africa; and SNG Grant Thornton.

“It’s an honour to continue to be associated with AABLA along with media partners CNBC Africa and auditors SNG Grant Thornton for the sixth consecutive year,” says Henley Africa dean and director Jon Foster-Pedley. “The Africa in our name and in our mission statement is more than just a word, it’s a reality in everything we do, from our courses to our community involvement.”

Unlocking the potential of business leaders is a key tenet of Henley Africa, he says, which is why the AABLA awards are so complementary to the business school’s ethos by identifying and rewarding some of the very best business leaders on the continent.

“We set out to build the leaders who build the businesses that build Africa. That’s the first step. But who are these leaders, these role models that other business leaders should emulate and that young managers should grow up wanting to become? That’s why the AABLA process is so necessary.”