Meet the Winners of the 2018 All Africa Business Leaders Awards

• Sol Kerzner receives Lifetime Achievement Award
• Paul Kagame receives African of the Year award

Finalists from all corners of the continent met at the 2018 All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) Grand Finale on 29 November to crown the All Africa winners at an exclusive gala dinner at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Now celebrating its 8th year, the AABLA, in partnership with CNBC Africa, is an empowerment driven, premium event, intended to distinguish and uphold the achievements of inspiring corporate front-runners on our Pan-African continent.

“The AABLA distinguish and honour leaders who have contributed and shaped the African economy, and are visionaries behind today’s outstanding businesses. Our huge congratulations go out to the All Africa winners and finalists of this year’s awards who all exemplify the best in African leadership. The overall winners in each category epitomise the core values of a successful leader, strength, innovation, ingenuity, knowledge and foresight – values that are imperative to carving out powerful business in a Pan-African and global economy,” said Rakesh Wahi, co-founder, ABN Group.

The event was attended by some of the biggest names in African business, including Gauteng Premier David Makhura who delivered the keynote address and the iconic Sol Kerzner who received the Lifetime Achievement Award – a highlight of the evening.

This year also included the addition of a new category, the All Africa African of the Year, which was awarded to His Excellency, Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda.

Throughout the evening, over 400 guests were entertained by the Ndlovu Youth Choir, who performed a number of local songs including a Zulu rendition of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’.

The team of judges from East, West and Southern Africa led by Sam Bhembe, CNBC Africa Non-Executive Director, evaluated the shortlisted finalists to determine the overall category winners.

Full list of AABLA 2018 All AFRICA Winners:

All Africa Business Leader of the Year 
Peter Mountford
Super Group, CEO

All Africa Business Woman of the Year  
Nomkhita Nqweni
ABSA Wealth, Investment Management and Insurance, CEO

All Africa Entrepreneur of the Year
Thembalihle Baloyi
Discovery Insure, Founder and Executive Director

All Africa Industrialist of the Year 
Quinton Uren Jendamark Automation, Managing Director

All Africa Company of the Year 
Ethiopian Airlines

All Africa Young Business Leader of the Year 
Dr. Elikem Tamaklo
Nyaho Medical Centre, Managing Director

All Africa Innovator of the Year 
James Paterson & Benjamin Meltzer
Aerobotics, Co-founders

All Africa Philanthropist of the Year  
Sir Donald Gordon
Donald Gordon Foundation, Founder

All Africa Lifetime Achievement Award 
Solomon Kerzner

All Africa African of the Year
His Excellency Paul Kagame
Republic of Rwanda, President