The African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) is the continent’s premier platform for recognising exceptional corporate practices, impact-driven leadership, and transformative contributions to Africa’s evolving business and economic ecosystem. The ABLA selection process includes public nominations, editorial board screening, a global public vote, and a final evaluation based on verifiable metrics to ensure that each honoree reflects the highest standards of African excellence, innovation, and measurable impact.
In line with African Leadership Magazine’s unwavering commitment to amplifying Africa’s underreported success stories, often overlooked by mainstream global media, the African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) celebrate policymakers, industry leaders, and resilient brands that are setting standards in corporate governance, innovation, and sustainable development.
Dr. Ken Giami, Founder & CEO of the African Leadership Organisation, said in an official statement: “On behalf of the Board, we warmly congratulate the winners of ABLA 2025 for their unwavering commitment, groundbreaking achievements, and visionary leadership. Their exemplary contributions are not only transforming Africa’s business landscape but also inspiring a new era of sustainable growth and opportunity across the continent.”
The winners and runners-up will be formally presented with award trophies and other honours during the African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) Ceremony—the major highlight of The Africa Summit London 2025—scheduled for 9–10 July 2025 at The Landmark Hotel and the UK House of Lords. Additionally, all honourees will be featured in the highly anticipated ABLA 2025 Honourees Edition of African Leadership Magazine, a prized collector’s item unveiled during the event and distributed globally.
Below is the complete list of winners and runners-up in the various categories of the African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) 2025:
African Business Leader of the Year
- Ntombi Felicia Msiza, CEO, Raubex Group Ltd, South Africa – Winner
- Mohamed Ould Bouamatou, Founder & Chairman, Bouamatou Société Anomyme (BSA), Mauritania – Co-Winner
African Female Business Leader of the Year
- Esther Muchemi, CEO, Samchi Group, Kenya – Winner
- Jesca Mhoja Nkwabi, CEO, KOM Group, Tanzania – Co-Winner
African Regulator of the Year
- Brima M. Baluwa Koroma, Director General, National Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Sierra Leone – Winner
- Leonilde dos Santos, President, Multisectoral Economic Regulatory Authority (ARME), Cape Verde – Co-Winner
Business-Friendly Governor of the Year
- Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, Governor, Enugu State, Nigeria – Winner
- Oscar Mabuyane, Premier, Eastern Cape, South Africa – Co-Winner
Africa CSR & Community Development Impact Award
- Standard Chartered Bank, South Africa – Winner
- Ashanti Goldfields Corporation, Ghana – Co-Winner
African Finance Minister of the Year
- Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance, Egypt – Winner
- Bihi Iman Egeh, Minister of Finance, Somalia – Winner
- Marial Dongrin Ater, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, South Sudan – Co-Winner
Trade & Investment Promotion Agency of the Year
- Agency for Private Investment and Export Promotion (AIPEX), Angola – Winner
- Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), Morocco – Co-Winner
Central Bank Governor of the Year
- Mohamed Lemine Dhehby, Governor, Central Bank of Mauritania – Winner
- Johnson Asiama, Governor, Bank of Ghana – Co-Winner
- Rama Krishna Sithanen, Governor, Bank of Mauritius – Co-Winner
Trade & Investment Minister of the Year
- Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria – Winner
- Chipoka Mulenga, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Zambia – Co-Winner
African CEO of the Year
- Armstrong Takang, CEO, Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Nigeria – Winner
- Jeremy Awori, Group CEO, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), Togo – Co-Winner
African Brand of the Year
- Ethiopian Airlines – Winner
- Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt – Co-Winner
African Company of the Year
- Bidco Africa, Kenya – Winner
- Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Nigeria – Co-Winner
Industry Personality of the Year
- Ally Edha Awadh, CEO, Lake Oil Group, Tanzania – Winner
- Jemal Ahmed Abdu, CEO, MIDROC Investment Group PLC, Ethiopia – Co-Winner
Africa Business Integrity Leader Award
- Arab Contractors, Egypt – Winner
- Coris Bank International, Togo – Co-Winner
Young Business Leader of the Year
- Mamotake Matekane, Chief Operations Officer, MGC Matekane Group, Lesotho – Winner
- Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, Co-founder, United Africa Group, Namibia- Co-Winner
African Tech & Digital Economy Leader of the Year
- Mastercard Africa – Winner
- MTN Group, South Africa – Co-Winner
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Kwabena Kesse, CEO, Kessben Group of Companies, Ghana – Winner
Special Commendation Award for Regulatory Excellence
- Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, Director General, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Kenya – Winner
Africa Fact: The Labyrinth in the Egyptian city of Hawara with its massive layout, multiple courtyards, chambers and halls, was the very largest building in antiquity. Boasting three thousand rooms, 1,500 of them were above ground and the other 1,500 were underground.
Nessie
Shebeen – an unlicensed bar [sha-been] These are unlicensed bars usually found in low-income suburbs located outside of the major towns and cities, more commonly known as ‘the townships’.
prof. smirk
Fun South African Fact: South Africa has one of the world’s most luxurious trains.