Two Kenyan companies have been announced finalist for this year’s Africa Entrepreneurship Awards slated for today, November 6 in Kigali Rwanda.
Regional edible oil marketer, Bidco and a non-governmental organization, Shine Hope for communities are among 12 shortlisted for demonstrating business excellence and social impact.
The event organizer, Africa Leadership Network (ALN) ventures has selected Bidco to battle it out with a Morrocan, retail and luxury goods manufacturer, AKSAL group and Botswana’s largest retailer, Choppies for transformational business awards cartegory.
ALN Ventures is a pan-African startup accelerator that links early-stage entrepreneurs with mentors, coaches, and investors-It has offices in Nairobi-hosting the event for the eighth year in a row.
Shine Hope for communities has been slated for the outstanding social entrepreneur awards cartegory with Uganda’s BanaPads that manufactures eco-friendly sanitary pads using banana stems and Nigeria’s Wecyclers that gives incentives for cleaning up neighbourhoods.
The Kenyan NGO helps to combat gender inequality and poverty in slums by linking tuition-fees schools for girls to social services.
“These finalists represent the strong emerging entrepreneurial class that our continent needs.They are not only business owners: they are Africa’s new innovators, investors, and drivers of social change. This year’s finalists represent the future of the African continent,” said ALN’s Chief Executive Officer, Isaac Kwaku Fokuo.
The finalists represent nine African countries and many different industries including retail, manufacturing, consumer services, e-commerce, agriculture, ICT, transportation and logistics, education, health, and sanitation.
Winners will be announced and awarded Sh 176 million ($200,000 USD) at the annual gathering in Kigali next month.
The 2014 winner for the Lifetime Achievement Award—awarded to a senior African business leader who has been an entrepreneurial icon for several decades and has left an enduring legacy of success in Africa—will also be announced during the Awards Gala Ceremony.
