As the curtains rise on the prestigious Global African Business Awards (GABA) at the Heartfelt Arena, in Johannesburg, South Africa coinciding with the Global Consumer Expo 2024, the National Post stands ready to spotlight the continent’s brightest stars in entrepreneurship and innovation. This event, scheduled from June 29th to June 30th, 2024, promises to be a celebration of African excellence like no other.
Africa’s economic landscape is a tapestry woven with the threads of resilience, creativity, and determination. From the bustling markets of Lagos to the tech hubs of Nairobi, African entrepreneurs have carved out niches and disrupted industries, showcasing the continent’s boundless potential.
The Global African Business Awards recognize the trailblazers who have dared to dream and turned their visions into reality. From startups making waves in the digital sphere to established conglomerates expanding their footprint globally, these enterprises are not just driving economic growth but also rewriting the narrative of Africa’s business landscape.
One cannot overlook the pivotal role of women in Africa’s entrepreneurial journey. From boardrooms to grassroots initiatives, women entrepreneurs are leading with grace and grit, challenging norms, and reshaping the future of business. Their stories of resilience and success are an inspiration to us all.
Moreover, the GABA awards go beyond business metrics; they celebrate social impact and sustainability. Whether it’s championing environmental causes, supporting local communities, or promoting ethical business practices, African businesses are leading by example, demonstrating that profit and purpose can go hand in hand.
As we gather to honor the brightest minds and boldest ventures, the National Post reaffirms its commitment to amplifying African voices and sharing stories of triumph and transformation. Through our coverage of the GABA awards and the Global Consumer Expo 2024, we aim to showcase Africa’s economic dynamism and foster greater collaboration and exchange on the global stage.
Full list of nominees include;
GABA Global African Business Awards Nomination List 2024
Philanthropist of the Year
- Patrice Motsepe (South Africa)
- Mo Ibrahim (Sudan)
- Carolyn Steyn (South Africa)
- Aliko Dangote (Nigeria)
- Strive Masiyiwa (Zimbabwe)
- Ashleigh Stewart (South Africa)
- Makaziwe Mandela (South Africa)
- Adrian Gore (South Africa)
- Joshin Raghubar (South Africa)
- Preston David (South Africa)
- Tony O. Elumelu (Nigeria)
Best Hotel in Africa
- The Royal Mansour Marrakech (Morocco)
- The Residence Zanzibar (Tanzania)
- MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa (Seychelles)
- Southern Sun (South Africa)
- Cape Grace (South Africa)
- LUX Grand Gaube (Mauritius)
- Hemingways Nairobi (Kenya)
- Londolozi Game Reserve (South Africa)
- Four Seasons Resort Marrakech (Morocco)
- Four Seasons hotel (South Africa)
- Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town (South Africa)
African Entrepreneur of the Year
- Noluvuyo Gqudu (South Africa)
- Elzyn Barends (South Africa)
- Martin Masiya (Malawi)
- Dr Talifani Banks (South Africa)
- Dr Esperance Luvindao (Namibia)
- Rich Fumani Mnisi (South Africa)
- Aliko Dangote (Nigeria)
- Patrice Motsepe (South Africa)
- Fomba Trawally (Liberia)
- Patrick Ngowi (Tanzania)
- Femi Otedola (Nigeria)
Best News/Media Outlet
- News24 (South Africa)
- Vox Africa
- Mail and Guardian (South Africa)
- BBC News Africa
- The EastAfrican (Kenya)
- Premium Times (Nigeria)
- African News
- Daily Nation (Kenya)
- ENCA (South Africa)
- CNBC Africa
Best Magazine
- Forbes Africa (South Africa)
- Biz Community (South Africa)
- Glamour (South Africa)
- New African Woman Magazine
- GQ SA
- Jeune Afrique
- New African Magazine
- African Business
Best Television Station
- TV5Monde Afrique
- Enca (South Africa)
- Africa Magic (Nigeria)
- South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)
- Channels Television (Nigeria)
- Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC)
- Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC)
- Citizen TV (Kenya)
- eNCA (eNews Channel Africa)
- E.tv (South Africa)
Business of the Year
- Dangote Group (Nigeria)
- MTN Group (South Africa)
- Solly’s Energy (Malawi)
- Safaricom (Kenya)
- Shoprite Holdings (South Africa)
- Naspers (South Africa)
- Zenith Bank (Nigeria)
- Bidvest Group (South Africa)
- Orascom Construction (Egypt)
- Camitex (Cameroon)
Best Company (across every industry)
- Clicks Group (South Africa)
- Sonatel (Cote D’Ivoire)
- Tanzania Breweries (Tanzania)
- Woolworths Holdings (South Africa)
- Gold Fields (South Africa)
- Camitex (Cameroon)
- Delta Corporation (Zimbabwe)
- Dis-Chem Pharmacies (South Africa)
- Vodacom Group (South Africa)
- Dangote Cement (Nigeria)
- Maroc Telecom (Morocco)
- Geregu Power (Nigeria)
Most Innovative Company
- Deus Brands (South Africa)
- Flutterwave
- YOCO (South Africa)
- Omnisient (South Africa)
- Turaco (Kenya)
- Twiga Foods (Kenya)
- Legends Barber (South Africa)
- Camitex (Cameroon)
- Pick N Pay Stores (South Africa)
- Tongoro (Senegal)
- Kobo360 (Nigeria)
Fastest-growing Company
- Camitex (Cameroon)
- Dis-Chem Pharmacies (South Africa)
- Microsoft Africa
- Deimos Cloud (PTY) Ltd (South Africa)
- Flutterwave
- Clicks Group (South Africa)
- Mastercard (South Africa)
- Blue Sky Digital Solutions (South Africa)
- Deus Brands (South Africa)
- Altech (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Best Insurance Company
- Sanlam (South Africa)
- AIICO Insurance (Nigeria)
- Jubilee (Kenya)
- MiWay (South Africa)
- Liberty Holdings (South Africa)
- Old Mutual (South Africa)
- WAFA Assurance (Morocco)
- Misr Insurance (Egypt)
- Botswana Life Insurance (Botswana)
- SICOM Life (Mauritius)
Best Start-up company
- M-KOPA
- Minx Leather
- Dragonfly Aerospace
- MOOVE
- Nuru
- Sabi
- Paws-itive Paws-abilities
- Lulalend
- Jetstream Africa
- Adumo
Employer of the Year
- ABSA Group (South Africa)
- DHL
- Novaties (South Africa)
- SAFRICOM (Kenya)
- Float (Ghana)
- Microsoft Africa
- Flutterwave
- Clicks Group (South Africa)
- Macro (South Africa)
Best Beauty & Cosmetics Brand in Africa
- Cosmetix (South Africa)
- Evita Joseph (Ghana)
- Kryolan (South Africa)
- Blot Beauty Cosmetics (Nigeria)
- Sk+Muse (Nigeria)
- Salwa Petersen (Chad)
- Hanahana Beauty (Ghana)
- African Botanics (South Africa)
- Malée (South Africa)
- Emolyne Cosmetics (Uganda)
Best Fashion Designer
- Laduma MaXhosa (South Africa)
- Imane Ayissi (Cameroon)
- Thebe Magugu (South Africa)
- Lisa Folawiyo (Nigeria)
- Maxhosa (South Africa)
- Shelley Mokoena and Keneilwe Mothoa (South Africa)
- Tongoro (Senegal)
- Katungulu Mwendwa (Kenya)
- Maki Osakwe (Nigeria)
- Loza Maleombho (Ivory Coast)
Best Business Institution in Africa
- University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (South Africa)
- Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), University of Pretoria (South Africa)
- Strathmore Business School, Strathmore University (Kenya)
- Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa)
- African Leadership University School of Business (Rwanda)
- Stellenbosch University Business School (South Africa)
- University of Ghana Business School (Ghana)
- Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University (Nigeria)
- Kenya School of Government (Kenya)
Best African Bank
- FirstRand Limited (South Africa)
- Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (Togo)
- Attijariwafa Bank (Morocco)
- UBA Group (Nigeria)
- Banque du Caire (Egypt)
- GTBank (Nigeria)
- Nedbank Group (South Africa)
- Standard Bank (South Africa)
- Absa Group Limited (South Africa)
Best Airline in Africa
- Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopia)
- South African Airways (South Africa)
- Kenya Airways (Kenya)
- Egypt Air (Egypt)
- Rwand Air (Rwanda)
- Air Mauritius (Mauritius)
- Royal Air Maroc (Morocco)
- TAAG Angola Airlines (Angola)
- Air Seychelles (Seychelles)
Best Retailer in Africa
- Makro (South Africa)
- Naivas Supermarket (Kenya)
- Choppies Enterprises (Botswana)
- Pick n Pay (South Africa)
- Mr Price Group (South Africa)
- Shoprite Holdings (South Africa)
- Checkers (South Africa)
- Woolworth Group (South Africa)
- SPAR Group (South Africa)
- Game Stores (South Africa)
Most Inspiring Entrepreneur
- Ashish Thakkar (Uganda)
- Yveette Ishmwe (Rwanda)
- Rapelang Rabana (South Africa)
- Iyinoluwa Aboyeji (Nigeria)
- Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu (Ethiopia)
- Magdalene Apenteng (Ghana)
- Moky Makura (South Africa)
- Salwa Akhannouch (Morocco)
- Wendy Appelbaum (South Africa)
- Hajia Bola Shagaya (Nigeria)
- Bridgette Radebe (South Africa)
- Tabitha Karanja (Kenya)
- Sibongile Sambo (South Africa)
Agribusiness of the Year
- Zambeef Products Plc (Zambia)
- Twiga Foods (Kenya)
- Khula! (South Africa)
- UjuziKilimo (Kenya)
- House Harvest (South Africa)
- Afgri (South Africa)
- Complete Farmer (Ghana)
- Butterfly Foods (Kenya)
- Summerhill Farm (Zimbabwe)
Inspirational Women in Business Award
- Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (South Africa)
- Divine Ndhlukula – Zimbabwe
- Halima Dangote (Nigeria)
- Isabel dos Santos (Angola)
- Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu (Ethiopia)
- Magdalene Apenteng (Ghana)
- Moky Makura (South Africa)
- Salwa Akhannouch – Morocco
- Wendy Appelbaum (South Africa)
- Hajia Bola Shagaya – Nigeria
- Bridgette Radebe (South Africa)
- Tabitha Karanja – Kenya
- Sibongile Sambo (South Africa)
Best Property Company
- Broll Property Group (South Africa)
- Grit Real Estate Income Group (Mauritius)
- Shelter Afrique (Kenya)
- AMS Africa (Morocco)
- RE/MAX (South Africa)
- Pam Golding Properties (South Africa)
- Eris Property Group (South Africa)
- Mara Delta Property Holdings (Pan-African)
- Redefine Properties (South Africa)
Best E-commerce Platform
- Takealot – South Africa
- MAKRO – South Africa
- Konga – Nigeria
- Jumia – Nigeria
- Bid or Buy – South Africa
- Twiga Foods – Kenya
- Copia Global – Kenya
Best Business Travel Destination in Africa
- Kigali, Rwanda
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Cairo, Egypt
- Accra, Ghana
- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Douala, Cameroon
- Port Louis, Mauritius
Best Healthcare Brand
- Life Bank – Nigeria
- Broadreach Group – South Africa
- MPHARMA – Ghana
- Kpay- Kenya
- MedAtlas – Uganda
- iLara Health – Kenya
- Waspito – Cameroon
- Dawaswift – Kenya
- Nawah Scientific – Egypt
- Africa Health Holdings – Ghana
- MedsToGo – South Africa
- Healthlane – Cameroon/Nigeria
Best Manufacturing Company
- Dangote Cement – Nigeria
- Mavi Demin – Morocco
- Bakhresa Group – Tanzania
- BKKM Group – Ethiopia
- Nampak – South Africa
- Group Five Construction (Pty) Ltd – South Africa
- Naspers – South Africa
- Safaricom – Kenya
- MTN Group – South Africa
- Bidvest Group – South Africa
- Unilever Africa (Various African Countries)
In conclusion, as the world turns its gaze towards Africa, let us seize this moment to celebrate the continent’s entrepreneurial spirit and potential. The Global African Business Awards are not just about recognizing success; they are about inspiring the next generation of African leaders and entrepreneurs to dream big and reach for the stars.
