KAMPALA, September 7, 2026 — The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum [AWIEF] has announced the finalists for the 2026 AWIEF Awards, with women entrepreneurs and business leaders from across Africa shortlisted in five competitive categories.
Launched in 2017, the annual awards recognise women entrepreneurs and business owners for their achievements and contributions to Africa’s economic growth and social development.
AWIEF said the finalists were selected following a competitive nominations process and represent a range of sectors and African markets.
The 2026 awards categories have been revised to reflect developments in Africa’s entrepreneurship and innovation landscape, with recognition for emerging leaders, technology pioneers, agricultural innovators, creative entrepreneurs and women driving measurable social impact.
A new Male Ally Award has also been introduced to recognise a male leader, founder, executive, policymaker or senior decision-maker whose actions have contributed to advancing women’s economic empowerment and creating sustained change for women in Africa.
The finalists, listed in alphabetical order, are:
Woman to Watch Award
- Omotoke Ajidagba — Co-founder and COO, 10mg Health, Nigeria
- Faith Nafula — Founder and CEO, Solar Spark Energy, Kenya
- Rowena Turinawe — Founding CEO, Ruka Pay, Uganda
Agri Award
- Violet Awo Amoabeng — Founder and CEO, Skin Gourmet, Ghana
- Stella Doreen Namulondo — Co-founder and COO, Essymart Africa Business Link, Uganda
- Joyce Rugano — CEO, Ecorich Solutions, Kenya
Impact for Good Award
- Ola Brown — General Partner, HealthCap Africa, Nigeria
- Nada Ghammem — Co-founder and CEO, Bionic Soul, Tunisia
- Echo Nomsa VanderWal — Executive Director, The Luke Commission, Eswatini
Creative Visionary Award
- Rasha Aita — Managing Director, SMACRS LLC, Egypt
- Renuka Methil — Managing Editor, Forbes Africa, South Africa
- Hadeer Shalaby — Co-founder and CEO, Freeziana, Egypt
Tech Pioneer Award
- Varuna Devi Bangaleea — Group CEO, nVisionIT, Mauritius
- Ndeye Fatou Mboup — CEO, The Smart Granary, Senegal
- Quinter Ochieng — Founder and CEO, Chargebyte Africa, Kenya
The recipient of the Male Ally Award will be announced during the AWIEF Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner.
The Lifetime Achievement Award, which honours a female leader whose decades of leadership, entrepreneurship or public service have contributed significantly to Africa’s economic, social or institutional development, will also be presented at the ceremony.
Winners to be announced in November
The winners of the 2026 AWIEF Awards will be announced on November 11, 2026, during the awards ceremony and gala dinner, which will serve as the finale of the AWIEF 2026 Conference.
The conference is scheduled for November 10–11, 2026, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre [CTICC] in Cape Town, South Africa.
It is expected to bring together women entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, policymakers, development partners and other stakeholders from Africa’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.
The awards ceremony will conclude the conference with recognition of the finalists and winners for their contributions to entrepreneurship, innovation, economic empowerment and social development across Africa.
https://thecooperator.news/awief-opens-next-week-in-cape-town-for-2025-conference/
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