This event marks African entrepreneurs on the map and emphasize Africa’s importance as a global economy and contributor to development internationally.
The 2010 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship was held in Nairobi, Kenya. Hamish Banks, Head of Corporate Communications Legatum Ltd., explains how the awards have ambitions to expand across sub-Saharan Africa. In the past 3 years the awards have grown from 5 countries with 450 entries to 15 countries with 2700 entries. The finalists represent a vast range of industries from manufacturing, pharmaceutical, information & technology and construction & engineering.
The purpose of the awards is to set winning entrepreneurs up to be role models to stimulate business growth in Africa and present a platform where they can inspire other entrepreneurs.
At the awards ceremony 5 companies were awarded cheques of US Dollars 50, 000 for business excellence and the Grand Prize of US Dollars 100, 000 was won by global software company Craft Silicon Ltd based in Kenya.
The finalists share their experiences with Africa Report in this video about their business plans for the future and the experience of being at the awards. Investors share their advice about entrepreneurship and how building up a critical mass of entrepreneurs who enter the awards will enable the event to give a widespread social impact.
The awards contribute to building entrepreneurship in Africa which in turn will contribute to building a wealthy continent. Business in Africa has grown over the years and is ever growing and the awards bring insight on the development of the continent, as well as the vast opportunities that lie ahead.
