Leading Pan African entrepreneurship and innovation non-profit, the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) (www.AWIEForum.org), has announced the top finalists in its annual awards to celebrate women business leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa.

24 outstanding women founders and entrepreneurs, were selected by an independent panel of judges, as top finalists for the 2021 AWIEF Awards across 8 different categories. The 24 finalists represent women-owned businesses operating in 11 African countries: Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The AWIEF Awards winners will be announced at a ceremony and gala dinner on 3 December 2021, following on from the 2021 AWIEF Conference. AWIEF hosts the 7^th edition of its prestigious and benchmarking annual AWIEF Conference this year as a hybrid (virtual and in-person) event, on 2 and 3 December 2021. The venue for the in-person AWIEF Conference and AWIEF Awards ceremony will be the Marriot Hotel Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, South Africa. The theme for AWIEF 2021 Conference is: ‘Advancing inclusive, resilient and sustainable growth in a post-COVID-19 African economy’.

“AWIEF remains steadfast in its efforts to promote and support women entrepreneurship development and innovation in Africa. With the AWIEF Awards, we identify and shine the spotlight on inspirational women entrepreneurs and innovators, driving growth for Africa,” said Irene Ochem, AWIEF Founder and Chief Executive Officer.

“It was an absolute delight to judge the AWIEF Awards once again this year. The standard and quality of the nominations and businesses continue to be high. The judging panel had a hard time choosing the top finalists from the numerous inspirational and outstanding women entrepreneurs who, through their businesses, are creating opportunities and positively impacting lives and communities,” commented Birgitta Cederstrom, Frost & Sullivan's Business Development Director for Middle East and Africa.

The finalists for the 2021 AWIEF Awards are (names in alphabetical order):

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
Phyllis Addo, Co-Director, Rhema Engineering Solutions (Ghana)
Tao Boyle, Co-founder and COO, FoondaMate (South Africa)
Alexandria Procter, Co-founder and CEO, DigsConnect.com (South Africa)

TECH ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
Ivy Barley, Co-founder, Developers in Vogue Foundation (Ghana)
Evelyn Kaiingu, CEO, Lupiya (Zambia)
Kathryn Malherbe, CEO, Medsol AI Solutions (South Africa)

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
Gudula Naiga Basaza, Managing Director, Gudie Leisure Farm (Uganda)
Zandile Mkhwanazi and Tinyiko Simbine, Co-founders, GirlCode (South Africa)
Angela Juliana Odero, Managing Director, Rio Fish Ltd (Kenya)

AGRI ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
Hadia M. Gondji, Founder and Managing Director, Hadiya Seed Production and Agro Industry Plc (Ethiopia)
Jo-andra Cloete Greegory, CEO, Our Poultry Place (South Africa)
Fortunatha Mmari, Co-Founder and Managing Director, AFCO Investment Co. Ltd (Tanzania)

CREATIVE INDUSTRY AWARD
Cynthia Asije, Creative Director, The Adirelounge (Nigeria)
Nadia Takyiwaa-Mensah, Founder and CEO, Sai Wine Café (Ghana)
Susan Wanjiru, Founder and Creative Lead, Lockhem Kids Entertainment (Kenya)

ENERGY ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
Ifeoma Malo, CEO, Clean Technology Hub (Nigeria)
Tumi Mphahlele, Founder and Director, Amperion Energy (South Africa)
Josephine Takundwa, CEO, Earthlink Technologies (Zimbabwe)

EMPOWERMENT AWARD
Jackie Bomboma, Founder and CEO, Young Strong Mothers Foundation (Tanzania)
Djénéba Gory, Co-founder and COO, Suadela (Mali)
Gehad Hamdy, Founder and Manager, Speak Up (Egypt)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Margaret Hirsch, Co-founder and Executive Director, Hirsch's Homestores (South Africa)
Tabitha Karanja, Founder and CEO, Keroche Breweries (Kenya)
Lucia Quachey, Founder and President, Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs (Ghana)

To register to attend the AWIEF 2021 Conference and the AWIEF Awards either virtually or in-person, please click here: https://bit.ly/3bwSMyz

Click to view: https://bit.ly/2ZKRopo