African Leadership Network Announces 5 Winners for the 2013 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship

At the Gala Awards ceremony in Mauritius, the African Leadership Network yesterday announced winners for the 2013 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship (AAE). 

In its seventh year since establishment, AAE is today the most distinguished Africa-focused awards programme, that each year gives over USD 200 000 prize money to outstanding African entrepreneurs who demonstrate business excellence and social impact. The AAE Gala Ceremony was held as part of the ALN Annual Gathering, which took place at the Le St. Geran Resort in Mauritius. 

Omidyar Network, the philanthropic investment firm dedicated to harnessing the power of markets to create opportunity for people to improve their lives, is sponsoring the awards for the fourth consecutive year.

We’re pleased to announce the winners. This year’s winners are an impressive mix of companies from 4 African countries with business operations in economic sectors including manufacturing, technology, FMCG, agriculture, automotive and social development. 

By category, these are:-

Lifetime Achievement Award Dr. Manilal Premchand Chandaria, OBE, EBS is the winner for this year’s award. One of the most accomplished industrialists and entrepreneurs in Africa, Dr. Chandaria is the Chairman and CEO of Comcraft Group, a billion dollar industrial sector conglomerate with business operations in over 40 countries.

Transformational Business Award Interswitch Limited (Nigeria) is an integrated payment and transaction processing company that provides technology integration, advisory services, transaction-processing and payment infrastructure to government, banks and corporate organizations.

Outstanding Mature Business Award QuantumNet (Gambia), Gambia’s first and largest Internet Service Provider (ISP), leading distributor of global technology brands and luxury vehicles, with business operations in Gambia and Sierra Leone.

Outstanding Small and Growing Business Award Guanomad (Madagascar), a company that produces and supplies natural fertilizers and organic manures from bat droppings in Madagascar’s caves for use in organic agriculture.

Outstanding Social Entrepreneur Award Sustainable Development For All (Kenya), a company that aims to improve livelihoods and education in areas without electricity, by providing households with solar energy.