For the first time, the annual pan-African business conference, Africa CEO Forum included a new category in its annual award dinner; the Disrupter of the Year award.
Nigerian logistics startup Kobo 360 won the inaugural award, owing to its success in Africa’s logistics sector by reducing the cost of logistics. Kobo 360’s co-founder and CTO Ife Oyedele, who received the award on behalf of the startup, remarked that Kobo 360 was glad to contribute to the success story of logistics in Africa.
The award came on the back of the startups recent announcement to expand its services to Ghana and Kenya later this year.
Moroccan investor and Banker Mohamed el Jetta was also given the 2019 African CEO of the year award at the Forum. He was recognised for his role as an avid investor around the continent in the past seven years, having invested more than $1 billion around Africa. He is also credited for the development of Morocco’s leading bank, Attijariwafa Bank, and an avid backer of relations between developing countries.
The recently embattled pan-African airline Ethiopia Airlines was given the award of ‘African Champion of the year‘ for their intra-African partnerships, reaching 40 countries on the continent. The airline lifted more than 10 million passengers between 2017 and 2018. The award was received by the airline’s CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam.
“I would like to start by thanking everyone who has supported us after the tragic accident that happened to us two weeks ago. We promise to keep up the good work for the good of the African continent,” Gebremariam said in his acceptance speech.
Energy company Engie Africa also beat other international companies to the ‘International Company of the year’ award.
Engie Africa was recognised for having three executive board members coming from Africa and having a significant impact on local communities in one of the most important sectors for Africa’s future.
The awards wouldn’t have ended without recognition of gender and Access Bank were the victors, going home with the ‘Gender Leader’ award. The emancipation of women forms the backbone of the Bank’s strategy.
In their 7th year in a row, the 2019 Africa CEO Awards took place in Kigali, Rwanda, recognising outstanding performance of business leaders, companies and investors in Africa.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
African CEO of the year- Mohamed El Kettani
African Champion of the year- Ethiopian Airlines
International Company of the year- Engie Africa
The Disrupter of the Year – Kobo 360
Gender Leader- Access Bank
