Without a doubt, African women are getting the recognition they deserve for their outstanding social, economic, and technological contributions to the continent.
Many initiatives have been launched to promote women and showcase their remarkable achievements across Africa. One of such is the Africa Women Innovation Empowerment Forum (AWIEF).
Commenting on the importance of celebrating Africa’s innovative women, AWIEF’s founder, and CEO, Ms. Irene Ochem said,
“This year more than ever, it is vital to acknowledge and celebrate women entrepreneurs in Africa for their leadership and innovation”.
On December 2 and 3, 2020, AWIEF held its sixth conference and awards with over 60 African and foreign thought leaders in attendance.
The climax of the action-packed two-day event was the celebration of eight outstanding African women entrepreneurs and innovators who emerged as winners out of twenty-four finalists. These were selected across eight different categories.
Meet the 8 winners of the AWIEF 2020 awards
Hannah Lavery
About her venture: Founded by Hannah Lavery in 2012, the company which bears her name, Hannah Lavery, is a South African based company which serves as the go-to design house for women’s apparel.
Inspired by the diversity of women’s lives, shapes, and preferences, the company offers an array of clothes and accessories designed for longevity.
Their services range from design to manufacturing and getting products to its customers.
Country: South Africa
Category: Young Entrepreneur Award
Victoria Mwafulirwa
About her Venture: She is the Managing Director of Homes Industries, an agro-processing company which manufacture, process, and brands farm produce.
The company works with over a thousand farmers in an out-grower setting, not only providing them with various inputs like seed fertilizers but with capacity building to enable them to meet their needs through farming.
Country: Malawi
Category: Agri Entrepreneur Award
Marlize Holtzhausen
About her Venture: Utilizing her vast experience in the cellular network and communications industry, coupled with personal experience, Marlize created a family-focused emergency response app in times of danger.
Her company Response 24 offers a personal emergency services app, personal panic buttons that could summon help to a distressed person at their exact location, without delays common to human operators.
Through Response24, Marlize offers South Africans security with the knowledge that their phones empower them to make every second count in their favor in any emergency.
Country: South Africa
Category: Tech Entrepreneur Award
Ayanfeoluwa Olarinde
About her Venture: Though a graduate from the University of Lagos with a major in microbiology, this multi-talented young lady is the founder of Lulu Arts & UnEarthical- an enterprise under which she dissects the intricacies of arts and photography.
Ayanfeoluwa’s brand encompasses various disciplines such as photography, scribbling, painting, sculpture, and digital art.
She has been critically acclaimed and described as possessing the ability to see beyond the surface, revealing hidden depths of her subjects.
Country: Nigeria
Category: Creative Industry Award
Porcho Marguerite Sogoba
About her venture: She is the founder and CEO of MUSODEV (Association for the Promotion of Women through ICT). Through her non-profit organization, she aims to promote digital inclusion and the empowerment of women and young people through computer coding.
Country: Mali
Category: Empowerment Award
Amma Serwah Boateng
About her venture: Destra Energy Group is founded by this 29-year old enterprising and ambitious woman.
Though a young enterprise, the fully indigenous company provides ancillary services to major players in Ghana’s oil and gas industry. In addition, it delivers power solutions through the application of renewable energy technology.
As one of the vibrant African professional women, she is relentlessly using her expertise towards the growth, development, and transformation of Africa.
Country: Ghana
Category: Energy Entrepreneur Award
Rita Stryker
About her venture: She is the CEO of a Liberian youth disabled NGO called Williette Safehouse. This unique organization caters to one of the most universally marginalized groups – the disabled.
This underserved group of men, women, and children lack access to basic amenities, have fewer economic opportunities, and lower educational achievements.
Passionate about the welfare of the marginalized people who transcend color, shape age, size, and gender, Rita Stryker and her amazing team continue to serve all of the 15 counties within the country of Liberia.
Country: Liberia
Category: Social Entrepreneur Award
Daisy Mmabatho Molefhi
About her venture: She is the founder and Vice-Chancellor of ABM University College, the oldest private higher institution in Botswana.
As a seasoned entrepreneur who, through her lifetime, has contributed immensely to women empowerment initiatives, she serves at various platforms dedicated to equipping women with entrepreneurship skills in different areas of agriculture and manufacturing.
Country: Botswana
Category: Lifetime Achievement Award
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