African Leadership Magazine hosts the 7th Persons of the Year Awards amidst glitz and glamour

The African Leadership Magazine UK, Africa's leading premier leadership magazine, recently held the Persons of the Awards dinner and induction of CEOs into the African Business Leaders Hall of Fame. The annual event which is the 7th edition, held at the Sandton Convention Centre, on 22 February 2019. The event with the theme “Human capital growth and Entrepreneurship: A Catalyst for Africa’s Growth and Development” drew Africa’s best from business, politics and diplomacy, including Tewolde Genre Mariam, Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airline; Mukwandi Chibesakunda, Chief Executive Officer, National Savings and Credit Bank (NATSAVE) Zambia; Faizal Antonio, Chief Executive Officer, Laraf Group, Mozambique; Mohammed Jebbar, Président Directeur Général chez Group BC Skills, Morocco; Oliver W. Klark, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, RoviaGate Technology LLC, Monrovia- Liberia; Ms. Shamila Ramjawan, Founder/CEO/Co-Owner, Famram Solutions; Herman Mashaba, Honourable Mayor of Johannesburg, amongst others.

Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba, Mayor of Johannesburg, who gave a welcome note, spoke on the strategic place of the city of Johannesburg. With reference to the city as one of many contradictions, he flagged Johannesburg as a city full of potential and opportunities. He ended his speech by urging the African Leadership Magazine to continue its initiative on a robust media engagement and the creation of a leadership hub.

In his welcome address, the Managing Editor of African Leadership Magazine, Kingsley Okeke, maintained that Job and wealth creations, has become a patriotic duty for everyone in the continent. In his words, "with the growing unemployment numbers, and the projected increase in the continent's population by the year 2050, job and wealth creation has become a patriotic task." He also charged business leaders to begin to think of how best to maximize the provisions of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

On her part the CEO and Founder Training Excellence South Africa, Hawa Charfaray, stated that the event was aimed at sending a simple message, "Africans can solve Africa's problems." In her words, “As African, we must, therefore, chose to see possibilities, where others see difficulties; a continent of limitless opportunities, where others see threats. Distinguish honorees, Africa looks up to you to provide the much-needed leadership and this honor today should serve as a tonic."

The event was organised in partnership with Training Excellence South Africa and the centre for Economic and Leadership Development to celebrate excellence in business, politics, and diplomacy. This year, the event took a slight departure from the traditional focus on political leaders to beam its searchlight on business leaders who are contributing towards spreading wealth and creating jobs.

The African Leadership Magazine selection committee considered, among others, four broad themes including Africans whose activities, policies and actions have contributed to 'Investments into Africa’s young people, jobs & wealth creation; promotion sustainable peace & development; delivering of democratic values; & the promotion of Africa’s image globally.

Highlights of the event include:

The Newsmaker Session with the Nigerian Army; panel session and Award presentation to deserving leaders.

Below is the full list of winners on the night:

ALM Business Leadership Excellence Award

1.   David Jones-Mensah, Managing Director, Dominion International Petroleum Limited Ghana

2.   MukwandiChibesakunda, Chief Executive Officer, National Savings and Credit Bank (NATSAVE) Zambia

3.   Faizal Antonio, Chief Executive Officer, Laraf Group, Mozambique

4.   Mohammed Jebbar, Président Directeur Général chez Group BC Skills, Morocco

5.   Tewolde Genre Mariam, Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airline

6.   Oliver W. Klark, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, RoviaGate Technology LLC, Monrovia- Liberia

7.   ShamilaRamjawan, Founder/CEO/Co-Owner, Famram Solutions

8.   Rosemary Chambe Jairo, Deputy High Commissioner of Tanzania

9.   Xolani Qubeka. Executive Chairman/Managing Director Malvilox Roofing Solutions

10.   William G. Greaves, Jr. The President & CEO, International Strategic Consultancy Group New York, USA

African Banker of the Year Award (Entrepreneurship Development Category) Awarded to:

Olukayode A. Pitan, Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry Nigeria

African Distinguished Executive Leadership Excellence Award of the Year (Energy Category) Awarded to:

Ahmed Zaid Saeed Al Shemeili. Head of CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) unit in Supreme counsel for National security (NCEMA) and leading strategical planning for the CBRN emergency in the UAE

African Leadership Commendation Awarded to:

1.   Lieutenant General Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria

2.   Susan Shabangu, Minister of Social Development Republic of South Africa

3.   Cllr Herman Mashaba, Executive Mayor, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality

4.   Ayanda Dlodlo, Minister of Public Service & Administration of South Africa

Business leaders ink multi-million dollar agreement at the post event networking breakfast

Orbrix,Dubai, has signed a multimillion-dollar deal with OPower South Africa, for its unique artificial intelligence product, Roxy. Ahmed Al Shemeili and Ridwan Casoojee, Chief Executive Officers of Orbrix, Dubai, and OPower South Africa respectively, signed on behalf of their companies, at the sidelines of the Post Event CEOs Networking Breakfast organized by the African Leadership Magazine, as part of activities lined up for the Persons of the Year event. The post-event breakfast which held at the Palazzo Montecasino Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa, on the 23rd February 2019, availed delegates opportunity of engaging business leaders from the continent, Europe, Asia and the GCC on areas of mutually beneficial partnerships.

About African Leadership Magazine:

The African Leadership Magazine is published by African Leadership (UK) Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom. The magazine focuses on bringing the best of Africa to a global audience, telling the African story from an African perspective; while evolving solutions to peculiar challenges being faced by the continent today.

Since its maiden edition, African Leadership Magazine has grown to become a leading pan-African flagship leadership-focused publication read by over 1,000,000 targeted international investors, business executives, government policymakers, and multilateral agencies across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Europe, and the US. It is distributed at major international and African Leadership events around the world. The magazine has over 900,000 subscribers/followers on Facebook and a virile readership on other social media platforms. It is a niche and unbiased African voice born out of a desire to ameliorate a lot of Africans by focusing on individuals and corporate organizations that are known for their legacy-based approach to leadership.

African Leadership Magazine UK has for the past four years partnered with Training Excellence South Africa in both Africa and the Middle East to foster Leadership Development through Training, Development, and Informative Leadership Conferences worldwide.