The African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards committee has unveiled the winners for different categories in the just concluded polls for the African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards 2017.
The winners who shall be decorated on 24 February 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa, were unveiled by the Publisher of the Magazine Dr Ken Giami, at the UK Head Office of the group, after the awards committee working with the editorial team concluded the collation of both online and offline votes and submissions from the over 1 million subscribers base of the publication.
The winners are:
African of the Year 2017
Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda – Winner
African Female Leader of the Year 2017
Bethlehem Tilahum Alemu, Founder soleRebels, Ethiopia – Co-Winner
Susan Mashibe, Executive Director, Tanjet Aviation, Tanzania – Co-Winner
ALM Person of the Year 2017-Educational Development
Strive Masayiwa, Founder Econet, Zimbabwe – Winner
ALM Person of the Year 2017 – Employment Generation
Kwame Nana Bediako, President, Founder & CEO, Petronia Ghana – Winner
ALM Person of the Year 2017 – Political Leadership
Marc Ravalomanana, Former President of Madagascar – Winner
ALM Person of the Year 2017 – Philanthropy and Charitable Contributions to Society
Manu Chandaria, Chairman, Comcraft Group, Kenya – Winner
ALM Young Person of the Year 2017
Joel Macharia, Founder and CEO, Abacus Kenya- Winner
African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year awards total online votes cast by Africans from all around the world jumped to 288 958 from 85 000 in 2017 and offline submissions by over 400%.
A special Commendation citation shall be presented to the most distinguished runners up, including Linah Mohohlo, Bank of Botswana Governor and Fred Swaniker, African Leadership Academy South Africa and African Leadership University Mauritius Founder and Tony Elumelu, Heirs Holdings Nigeria Chairman.
“To be chosen out of the over 1.2 billion people on the continent, speaks volumes.” He further stated that,” the nominees have elevated and redefined benchmarks of service to the humanity on the continent. They are all true lovers of Africa, contributing passionately, sometimes imperfectly, but all determined to impacting society, making Africa a better place for its people,” says Ken Giami, African Leadership Magazine Publisher.
Past recipients of the African Person of the Year Awards have included Mo Ibrahim,Ibrahim Prize for Leadership Founder in 2010; Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2011; Atiku Abubakar, Former Vice President of Nigeria in 2012; Xavier Luc-Duval, Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius and Minister of Finance in 2013; President Jakaya Kikwete, Former President of Tanzania in 2014; President Goodluck Jonathan, Former president of Nigeria in 2015; Mo Dewji, MeTL Tanzania CEO in 2016.