Afreximbank President Jean-Louis Ekra on 28 August 2013 took home the trophy for the West Africa Business Leader of the Year at the Johnnie Walker Blue Label CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards held in Lagos, Nigeria.
With that award, President Ekra joins the contention for the All African Business Leader of the Year award scheduled to take place in Durban, South Africa, in October. The other contenders will be the winners that will emerge from other sub-regional award ceremonies across Africa.
The All Africa Business Leaders Awards, organized by CNBC Africa in collaboration with Johnnie Walker Blue Label, seeks to recognise the diversity of the African business landscape, with the West Africa finals celebrating “those who have forged and helped shape the West African business world”.
Other awards at the West Africa finals were:
– Entrepreneur of the Year – Sim Shagaya, Founder and CEO, Nigerian online shopping portal, konga.com;
– West African Businesswoman of the Year – Biola Alabi, Managing Director, Mnet Africa;
– West African Young Business Leader – Jason Njoku, CEO and Co-founder, Nollywood distribution portal, iROKO TV; and
– Lifetime Achievement Award – Dr Pascal G Dozie, founder and former chairman and CEO, Diamond Bank PLC.
The event, which was attended by leaders of the West African business community and senior government officials, featured Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, as guest speaker.
The All Africa Business Leaders Awards for the East Africa region will take place in Kigali on 9 September while the round for Southern African is scheduled for Johannesburg, South Africa, on 19 September.
Afreximbank President Jean-Louis Ekra poses with his West African Business Leader of the Year trophy.
Award winners (from left) Jason Njoku of iROKO TV, Dr. Pascal G. Dozie of MTN Nigeria, Biola Alabi of Mnet Africa and Afreximbank President Jean-Louis Ekra.
Afreximbank President Jean-Louis Ekra (left) stands next to Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Nigerian Central Bank Governor, for group pose with other award winners and guest.