The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has officially announced the finalists for AWIEF Awards 2018. The aim of the AWIEF Awards is to promote excellence in entrepreneurship and innovation among women-owned businesses in all sectors and across the 54 African countries.
“Women-owned businesses are a vital part of our African economy,” Irene Ochem, AWIEF founder and chief executive officer, said in a press release. “The massive response to the AWIEF Awards underscores the fact that women in Africa are resilient and seeking recognition and celebration for their achievements and contribution to the economy and Africa’s sustainable development.
“Given the huge number and quality of the nominations received this year, I must say that female entrepreneurship is strong and thriving all across African countries,” Ochem, AWIEF founder added.
The AWIEF Awards’ panel of judges is made up nine high-calibre industry experts and thought leaders spread across the continent.
A total of 40 women founders- and entrepreneurs have been selected as finalists, from 12 different African countries, across eight categories.
The AWIEF Awards will follow the 2018 AWIEF conference and exhibition held on 8 – 9 November at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa. AWIEF 2018 conference features keynote speakers, interactive panel sessions, exhibitions, masterclasses, high-profile and quality networking, B2B matchmaking and a Pitch n Grow™ for our 2018 Growth Accelerator powered by Nedbank.
AWIEF Awards category winners will be announced at a glamorous black-tie ceremony and gala dinner on Friday, 9 November at the prestigious The Westin Cape Town Hotel.
Here are the list of finalists per category:
Young Entrepreneur Awards Category Finalists
- Jane Kagiri – CreativeEdge Solutions – Kenya
- Nomso Faith Kana – Sun n Shield 84 Tech – South Africa
- Juliet Namujju – Kimuli Fashionability – Uganda
- Kunmi Otitoju – Minku – Nigeria
- Bidemi Zakariyau – LSF|PR – Nigeria
Tech Entrepreneur Award Category Finalists
- Benji Coetzee – Empty Trips – South Africa
- Faith Kimeu – Dial A Pad – Kenya
- Beth Koigi – Majik Water – Kenya
- Darlene Menzies – Findfind – South Africa
- Juliana Rotich – BRCK.Org – Kenya
Social Entrepreneur Award Category Finalists
- Essma Ben Hamida – Enda Inter-Arabe – Tunisia
- Madalitso Chidumu – IMPACT-CEED – Malawi
- Shamim Nabuma Kaliisa – Community Dental and Reproductive Health – Uganda
- Lorna Rutto – EcoPosts – Kenya
- Amina Slaoui – Groupe AMH – Morocco
Global Brand Award Category Finalists
- Sarah Collins – Wonderbag – South Africa
- Adele Dejak – Adèle Dejak, Kenya
- Renchia Droganis – Africology – South Africa
- Njeri Rionge – Wananchi Group – Kenya
- Bethlehem Tilahun-Alemu – SoleRebels – Ethiopia
Agri-Entrepreneur Award Category Finalists
- Ngabaghila Chatata – Thanthwe Enterprises – Malawi
- Elorm Goh – Agrisolve – Ghana
- Jeanne Groenewald – Elgin Free Range Chickens – South Africa
- Joyce Kyalema – Josmak International – Uganda
- Jane Maigua – Exotic EPZ Ltd – Kenya
Empowerment Award Category Finalists
- Emma Dicks – CodeSpace – South Africa
- Kate Ekanem – Kate Tales Foundation – Nigeria
- Chiedza Daneek Nobuhle Kambasha – Hemmingworth Cartwright – Zimbabwe
- Irene Kiwia – The Women of Achievement – Tanzania
- Marvella Odili – Save Our Need Organisation – Nigeria
Creative Industry Award Category Finalists
- Folake Folarin-Coker – Tiffany Amber – Nigeria
- Nana Akua Oppong-Birmeh – Archxenus – Ghana
- Soraya Piedade – Soraya da Piedade Ltd – Angola
- Abai Schulze – ZAAF Collection – Ethiopia
- Winnifred Selby – Afrocentric Bamboo – Ghana
Lifetime Achievement Award Category Finalists
- Iyalode Alaba Lawson – NACCIMA Business Women Group – Nigeria
- Margaret Hirsch – Hirsch’s Homestores – South Africa
- Tabitha Karanja – Keroche Breweries – Kenya
- Wendy Luhabe – Women Private Equity Fund, South Africa
- Jennifer Riria – Echo Network Africa/Kenya Women Holding – Kenya
On Twitter, you can follow the event’s hashtag #AWIEFAwards.
