The 2010 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship is built on the successes of the 2007 and 2008 Awards programmes. In 2007, more than 450 applications from 5 countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) were received, and in 2008 the Awards expanded to 10 countries (Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda) with 1,400 applications.
The 2010 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship generated a record number of 2,700 applications representing 15 sub-Saharan African countries (Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia). Legatum was joined by a new partner for the 2010 Africa Awards: Omidyar Network (www.omidyar.com) is a philanthropic investment firm which shares the conviction that entrepreneurs are vital for fostering new opportunities in Africa.
Ten companies were selected as finalists following four rounds of evaluation, onsite business audit and financial review by Ernst & Young, and made their final presentations in front of an elite panel of judges. Led by Tokunbo Talabi, the 2008 winner of the Africa Awards, the judges made their decision according to the following criteria: profitability, long-term investment in employees and community, long-term business strategy, innovation, marketing strategy, leadership and values.
On December 6th, 2010 the winners were announced at a gala awards ceremony held in Nairobi, with one of Kenya’s most renowned entrepreneurs, Dr. Manu Chandaria, as the guest of honour.
The Grand Prize winner was Craft Silicon, a software solutions company from Kenya, and was awarded US$ 100,000. Five other prizes of US$ 50,000 each were awarded to the following companies:
- Mellech Engineering & Construction Ltd (Kenya) – Construction and Infrastructure Engineering
- Planbuild Technical Services Ltd (Uganda) –Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
- Sigma Electric PLC (Ethiopia) – Electromechanical engineering
- Tutuka Software (Pty) Ltd (South Africa) – Software solutions
- Wilkins Engineering Ltd (Ghana) – Electrical Engineering
Four other companies were also honored at the awards ceremony:
- Malcom-Ezindaleni Hydraulics and Engineering Ltd (South Africa) – mining and heavy industry engineering services
- Biodeal Laboratories Ltd (Kenya) – pharmaceutical manufacturing
- NTR Technology Holdings PTY Ltd (Botswana) – industrial automation, electrical and control systems
- Steel & Tube Industries Ltd (Uganda) – manufacturing and fabrication
For more information about the Africa Awards, please contact us on info@africaawards.com or visit our website: www.africaawards.com