The African Business Chamber (AfBC) held its inaugural African Business Awards on 3 July 2025 at the Millennium Conference and Hotel Kensington in London, honouring exceptional contributions by African business leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers operating across the UK and internationally. The evening brought together a distinguished array of high commissioners, diplomats, parliamentarians, and industry leaders to recognise innovation, resilience, and leadership across fourteen diverse sectors of African enterprise.
The event served as a formal recognition of the strength and growing global relevance of African and diaspora-led businesses, with awards spanning finance, technology, healthcare, international trade, creative industries, and social enterprise. Among the most notable accolades was the Top 100 Business Leader of the Year, awarded to Said Adren, CEO of Bank of Africa UK, who was also the recipient of the Business of the Year award. His dual recognition marked a strong statement about the increasing prominence of African-led financial institutions within the UK.
Other distinguished awardees included Professor Rotimi Jaiyesimi for Healthcare Excellence, Codilia Gapare as Entrepreneur of the Year, Fungai Ndemera for Women in Business Excellence, and Juliana Olayinka, who received the Creative Industry Excellence Award. The list of recipients reflected the extraordinary breadth and depth of African business activity across the UK economy and beyond. A complete list of winners is published on the AfBC website.
The ceremony also honoured eleven individuals with Special Recognition and Honorary Awards for their sustained impact in African business and community leadership. These included Prof. Gibril Faal OBE, Dr. Justina Mutale, Dr. Chinyere Almona, Cllr Abigail Marshall Katung, and Dentaa Amoateng MBE, among others. Their contributions extended from policymaking to mentoring, from sustainable investment to community empowerment—marking them as figures of enduring influence within the African diaspora.
Diplomatic presence added considerable prestige to the event. The keynote address was delivered by His Excellency Johnston Busingye, High Commissioner of Rwanda to the United Kingdom, whose remarks emphasised the strategic importance of African diaspora communities as engines of innovation and trade. In his speech, he stated:
“We are living in a moment where African talent, capital, and ambition are converging like never before. The African diaspora is not merely an extension of the continent—it is a dynamic force of influence, entrepreneurship, and global connection. Events like the AfBC African Business Awards not only celebrate success, but they also symbolise how Africans abroad are shaping inclusive economies, advancing technology, and building transcontinental bridges that matter.”
His Excellency Busingye further called for sustained collaboration between the UK and Africa in the areas of green development, digital transformation, and youth entrepreneurship, stating that “we must continue to transform the African growth narrative from one of potential to one of performance.” His participation underscored Rwanda’s commitment to economic diplomacy and practical engagement with diaspora stakeholders.
The event also welcomed Her Excellency Macenje Mazoka, High Commissioner of Zambia to the UK; Her Excellency Dineo Mathlako, Deputy High Commissioner for South Africa; His Excellency Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh, High Commissioner of Sierra Leone; representatives from the Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Namibia diplomatic missions; and UK Members of Parliament Taiwo Owatemi and Bell Ribeiro-Addy. Civic presence was also noted, with Councillor Jason Jackson, Mayor of Islington, in attendance.
The atmosphere was celebratory and dynamic, punctuated by musical performances and artistic showcases that celebrated African heritage and cultural pride. Attendees reflected on the strong message the event sent about the contributions of Africans in the UK—both economically and socially. With over 100 finalists assessed by a panel of independent judges, the awards underscored the breadth of entrepreneurial excellence and the diversity of industries in which African professionals excel.
Ruth Adams, Director at AfBC, offered closing remarks: “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended and supported the inaugural AfBC African Business Awards 2025. Congratulations to all nominees and winners for their bold leadership, outstanding achievements, and the powerful impact they are making across the UK and beyond.”
The evening concluded with the announcement of two forthcoming events: the UK–Africa Business Forum, scheduled for 24–25 September 2025, and the AfBC African Business Awards 2026, set for 29 May 2026. Both events will further advance the chamber’s mission of strengthening trade, investment, and professional collaboration between Africa and the United Kingdom. For details and registration, visit www.african-chamber.com/afbc-awards.
As a proud media partner of the 2025 Awards, The Southern African Times commends the AfBC for providing a platform that not only celebrates excellence but also strengthens the foundation for future prosperity led by African talent, vision, and leadership.
