UN General Assembly week: Elumelu, Edward Gets 2013 Africa Business Awards

Leading African businessmen, Tony Elumelu and Edward Boateng, were amongst recipients who received accolades at the African Business Awards 2013, according to the African Business magazine, organizers of the event.

The exclusive presentation ceremony, organised by the African Business magazine, was held at the Mandarin Oriental, New York, US, on Sunday.

The magazine said guests included many high profile policy makers and businessmen who are also in New York for the UN General Assembly.

The organizers said that the Ethiopian Airlines, which scooped the prize for the African Business of the Year, has a unique business model and has created a profitable and growing franchise in what is regarded as ‘tough times in the aviation industry’.

Another winner was Togolese businessman Gervais Koffi Djondo, one of the founding fathers of the pan-African banking group, Ecobank and also the founder of the West African regional airline Asky. He was rewarded for dedicating his life to creating regional giants to enhance pan-African trade and regional integration.

Nigerian banker, investor and philanthropist Tony Elumelu, received the African Business Icon award, given by the committee to an individual who has helped to transform the business landscape through their work, they said.

Nigerian Managing Director Bola Adesola, of the Standard Chartered, was the winner of the Outstanding Woman in Business category while the Award for Innovation was given to the newly-launched Kenyan project, Mawingu, which leverages innovative new wireless technologies utilising unused TV band spectrum (‘TV white spaces”) and solar powered base stations to deliver nationwide broadband access.

They said that the much coveted Business Leader of the Year went to Edward Boateng — This entrepreneur may not be a household name in African business circles but in a very short space has created an influential media group in his home country Ghana, as well as putting in place best business practices with an emphasis on sustainability, human capital and the environment.

Commenting on the Awards, Omar Ben Yedder stated: ‘the winners tonight again show the array of talents we have across the continent. The private sector is undoubtedly taking the lead in helping transform the continent, in terms of what it can do and in terms of creating opportunities and solutions out of problems. We are also seeing the private sector work better with government in what are being called transformational partnerships. We are not yet there in terms of creating global world beating brands but we are definitely on the right track, as demonstrated by the talents on show tonight”.

The African Business Awards are organised by African Business magazine and BusinessinAfrica Events and produced by IC Events. The Awards preceded the African Leadership Forum, a gathering of African leaders, to discuss issues of leadership within an African context.

The Awards are supported by GTBank and Mota-Engil Africa (Platinum Sponsors); Bank of Industry and Microsoft 4Afrika (Gold Sponsors); DHL and Fasken Martineau (Silver Sponsors); African Development Bank (Official Sponsor); Paramount Group (Sponsor); and A PINs for Peace (Supporting Sponsor).

After 40 years of continuous reporting on Africa’s economic landscape, the London-based African Business magazine has justifiably earned its reputation as one of the world’s publishing icons.

African Business, published by IC Publications, is distributed in over 100 countries around the world. It has become an essential component of the knowledge base for organisations, institutions, companies and individuals involved in every economic aspect concerning Africa. IC Publications produces in total ten pan-African titles in English and French.

Here is the list of winners:-

African Business of the Year — Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia.

Business Leader of the Year — Edward Boateng, CEO, Global Media Alliance, Ghana.

Outstanding Woman in Business — Bola Adesola, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered, Nigeria.

Award for Good Corporate Governance — The Abraaj Group, UAE.

Award for Innovation — Mawingu, Kenya.

Lifetime Achievement Award — Gervais Koffi Djondo, President, Asky Airlines.

African Business Icon — Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings.

Most Admirable and Valuable Brands in Africa — Global Brand, Coca Cola.