ABLA was established in 2009 to honor, on an annual basis, African men and women who have made outstanding contributions to the growth of business and the private sector in Africa. The concept of ABLA and the criteria for awarding it were inspired by the vision of the AfDB to recognise concrete private sector accomplishments by responsible and ethical business leaders.
ABLA is organised as a partnership between the AfDB and a group of private African institutions led by Advanced Finance and Investment Group (AFIG Funds), a private equity fund management company, and which includes the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), BancABC, Ecobank Group, Abax Corporate Services, Dalberg, and Shelter Afrique.
ABLA is an opportunity for African business leaders, to recognise from amongst their peers, the values and dedication of those who have dared to turn their vision into action, and thus spur development and improve living standards for all Africans. Through such recognition, these exceptional achievers can be strengthened in their resolve to inspire others and ultimately contribute to the emergence of dynamic and successful African businesses both across the continent and globally.
This year marks the fourth edition of African Business Leadership Award; prior ABLA editions honored in 2009, Louisa Mojela, a South African national and group managing director of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings Ltd; in 2010, Tunde Folawiyo, a Nigerian national and chief executive offi cer of the Yinka Folawiyo Group of Companies; and in 2011, Mossadeck Bally, founder and president of the Azalaï Hotels Group in West Africa.
After two consecutive years of honoring West Africa, the 2012 edition of ABLA will be paying tribute to an East African entrepreneur, Emmanuel Katongole. Katangole is a national of Uganda and the founder and chief executive offi cer of Quality Chemical Industries Limited (QCIL), a pharmaceutical manufacturing company located in Kampala, Uganda.
Participants at ABLA 2012 will include executives and entrepreneurs from the African private sector, African public sector leaders and representatives, offi cials of the African Development Bank and representatives of the event organisers.
For more, go to afigfunds.com/abla-2012.
