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The African Leadership Magazine (ALM) (www.AfricanLeadershipMagazine.co.uk) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA), following the conclusion of a rigorous, four-tier, points-based selection process. In keeping with our established tradition, this year's evaluation combined 65% of the final score from the global online poll with 35% from verified documentation, including evidence of institutional growth, innovation, sustainability, and measurable impact.

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

1. Ntombi Felicia Msiza, CEO, Raubex Group Ltd, South Africa – Winner
2. Mohamed Ould Bouamatou, Founder & Chairman, Bouamatou Société Anomyme (BSA), Mauritania – Co-Winner

African Female Business Leader of the Year

1. Esther Muchemi, CEO, Samchi Group, Kenya – Winner
2. Jesca Mhoja Nkwabi, CEO, KOM Group, Tanzania – Co-Winner

African Regulator of the Year

1. Brima M. Baluwa Koroma, Director General, National Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Sierra Leone – Winner
2. Leonilde dos Santos, President, Multisectoral Economic Regulatory Authority (ARME), Cape Verde – Co-Winner

Business-Friendly Governor of the Year

1. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, Governor, Enugu State, Nigeria – Winner
2. Oscar Mabuyane, Premier, Eastern Cape, South Africa – Co-Winner

Africa CSR & Community Development Impact Award

1. Standard Chartered Bank, South Africa – Winner
2. Ashanti Goldfields Corporation, Ghana – Co-Winner

African Finance Minister of the Year

1. Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance, Egypt – Winner
2. Bihi Iman Egeh, Minister of Finance, Somalia – Winner
3. Marial Dongrin Ater, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, South Sudan – Co-Winner

Trade & Investment Promotion Agency of the Year

1. Agency for Private Investment and Export Promotion (AIPEX), Angola – Winner
2. Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), Morocco – Co-Winner

Central Bank Governor of the Year

1. Mohamed Lemine Dhehby, Governor, Central Bank of Mauritania – Winner
2. Johnson Asiama, Governor, Bank of Ghana – Co-Winner
3. Rama Krishna Sithanen, Governor, Bank of Mauritius – Co-Winner

Trade & Investment Minister of the Year

1. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria – Winner
2. Chipoka Mulenga, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Zambia – Co-Winner

African CEO of the Year

1. Armstrong Takang, CEO, Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Nigeria – Winner
2. Jeremy Awori, Group CEO, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), Togo – Co-Winner

African Brand of the Year

1. Ethiopian Airlines – Winner
2. Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt – Co-Winner

African Company of the Year

1. Bidco Africa, Kenya – Winner
2. Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Nigeria – Co-Winner

Industry Personality of the Year

1. Ally Edha Awadh, CEO, Lake Oil Group, Tanzania – Winner
2. Jemal Ahmed Abdu, CEO, MIDROC Investment Group PLC, Ethiopia – Co-Winner

Africa Business Integrity Leader Award

1. Arab Contractors, Egypt – Winner
2. Coris Bank International, Togo – Co-Winner

Young Business Leader of the Year

1. Mamotake Matekane, Chief Operations Officer, MGC Matekane Group, Lesotho – Winner
2. Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, Co-founder, United Africa Group, Namibia- Co-Winner

African Tech & Digital Economy Leader of the Year

1. Mastercard Africa – Winner
2. MTN Group, South Africa – Co-Winner

Lifetime Achievement Award

1. Kwabena Kesse, CEO, Kessben Group of Companies, Ghana – Winner

Special Commendation Award for Regulatory Excellence

1. Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, Director General, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Kenya – Winner

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Leadership Magazine.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ehis Ayere
+44 23 9265 8276
ehis@africanleadership.co.uk

About African Leadership Magazine:
The African Leadership Magazine is the flagship publication of the African Leadership Organisation (UK) Limited. For the past 19 years, the organisation has been dedicated to promoting impactful leadership in Africa and showcasing African opportunities globally. Through its various initiatives, including quality Afro-positive content, trade facilitation, market entry solutions, business networking platforms, and public sector training and consulting, the African Leadership Magazine plays a vital role in driving positive change and development across the continent.

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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr Xola Nqola, is pleased to note the appointment of retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe as head of the judicial commission of inquiry to determine whether attempts were made to prevent the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes.

Mr Nqola said the move to appoint Judge Khampepe is welcomed as survivours and families of victims can see some urgency from government on this matter. “This is indeed a positive step. Too many families and survivours of apartheid-era crimes have waited to long for justice.

“Claims of attempts to prevent the investigation and prosecution of such crimes have been doing the rounds for years. The announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa of the commission to investigate these claims, followed by the speedy appointment of the head of the inquiry, is indeed progress the country needed,” emphasised Mr Nqola.

Yesterday, President Ramaphosa announced that Judge Khampepe will chair the commission. Retired Northern Cape Judge President Frans Diale Kgomo and Adv Andrea Gabriel SC will assist her.

Mr Nqola further stated that the committee noted that the establishment of the commission of inquiry is part of an agreement reached in settlement discussions in a court application brought by families of victims of apartheid-era crimes.

“On our part, since the establishment of this committee in the 7th Parliament last year, we have held a few engagements with the National Prosecuting Authority to get updates on the progress of prosecuting TRC [Truth and Reconciliation Commission] matters. Earlier this month we were informed of positive progress by all the stakeholders that presented to the committee and the committee resolved to further monitor closely the commitment made to us. We are committed to ensure that justice is done without unnecessary delays,” said the Chairperson.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr Xola Nqola, has commended the entire team that secured life sentences for all three accused in the human trafficking of the young Joshlin Smith.

“We can see that it was all hands-on deck to ensure justice for this little girl. The sentencing in this case is a critical step in the pursuit of justice for Joshlin and a stern reminder that our legal system will not tolerate crimes against children. While no sentence can undo the pain and loss, the committee trusts that this outcome reaffirms society's collective commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of every child in South Africa,” said Mr Nqola.

Joshlin disappeared in February 2024. South African had to face the heart-breaking reality that her mother, Ms Kelly Smith, alongside her partner Mr Jacquen Appollis and friend Mr Steveno van Rhyn, sold her for R20,000.

He said these sentences should send out the message that South Africa will not be a breeding ground for child trafficking. This is what the legislature had in mind with the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, Mr Nqola said, when it made provision for stiff penalties for robbing people of their freedom of movement. It is a heinous crime.

“Furthermore, we want to appreciate all the role players – the judiciary, the National Prosecuting Authority, and law enforcement agencies and the community at large – for their tireless efforts to ensure justice is seen to be done.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the passing of theologian, former Member of Parliament and former Speaker of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature, Dr Tshenuwani Simon Farisani, who has passed away at the age of 76.

President Ramaphosa offers his condolences to the family, friends and comrades of Dr Farisani who was a co-founder, alongside the President and the late Tshifhiwa Isaac Muofhe, of the Black Evangelic Youth Organisation in the early 1970s.

Rev Farisani was a Lutheran minister who fought apartheid from the pulpit and was arrested for his activism in the Black Consciousness movement and the Black People's Convention, where he was a close associate of Steve Bantu Biko.

After the end of apartheid, Dr Farisani represented the African National Congress in the National Assembly and later served as a Member of the Limpopo Provincial Executive, following which he served as Speaker of the Limpopo legislature.

President Ramaphosa said: “Dr Farisani has left us as part of a succession of stalwarts who have passed on recently and whose dedication to our freedom and national development demands both our mourning and reflection.

TS Farisani preached the gospel of humanity and liberation in ways that energised our struggle and shook the apartheid regime into targeting him and depriving him of his personal freedom.

From the pulpit of his congregations in Venda and the then Transvaal, to the podiums of Parliament and the Speaker's chair in Limpopo, Dr Farisani's commanding baritone oratory conveyed his love for humanity and his fearless, sacrificial fight for our freedom.

May his soul rest in peace.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.