The winners of the AfricaCom Awards 2020 were virtually announced on 9 November. The annual awards acknowledge those that are leading the way in the telecommunications and technology sectors in Africa. The winners for the 2020 edition were selected through an open public voting system.
âIn 2019, we saw an incremental shift to partnership and collaboration in the telco and technology space across the continent. This spirit of community and cooperation has been amplified throughout 2020 with the challenges that the world has faced in dealing with a global pandemic,â says Tom Cuthell, event director of the Africa Tech Festival.
The projects and winners in this yearâs awards are therefore a representation of those building a better and more inclusive digital Africa.
The categories and winners are:
- Last Mile Connectivity Award – Vodacom Tanzania’s Smart Kitochi, enabled by KaiOS
- Most Innovative Product or Service Award – PCCW Global: Console Connect
- Covid-19 Response Award â Huawei: O&M AUTIN Grid-based Operations
- Changing Lives: Building a Better, More Inclusive, Digital World Award – Ericsson and MTN 5G launch in South Africa powered by Ericssonâs Core network
- Female Innovator of the Year Award – Aicha TourĂ©, CEO at Orange Finances Mobiles Mali, who is committed to making financial services more inclusive and accessible to all.
- Enterprise CXO of the Year Award – William Anwana, financial officer – corporate and investment banking at Sterling Bank Plc, for his insights on revenue optimisation, cost control and business strategy, as well as his expertise and abilities in forecasting and building partnerships that deliver
- CXO of the Year Award – Aminata Kane, CEO at Orange, Sierra Leone
This CXO of the Year Award is given to an African-based telecoms leader who is at the forefront of navigating their organisation through Industry 4.0, by prioritising innovation, embracing disruptive tech and elevating the continent’s digital economy.
Kane was appointed CEO of Orange Sierra Leone mid-2018 with the objectives to make the operation profitable, with good growth and good inclusion in the country environment to contribute to its development. In less than two years of time, she managed to attain and exceed the given objectives.
Kane is also an exceptional leader; she manages to make her teams always enthusiastic and eager to exceed objectives; she is very keen at identifying and developing each individual talent; she has a very high sense of humanity and is highly respectful of everyone.
The last word
Mike van den Bergh, chief marketing and strategy officer, PCCW Global, says: âGiven the difficulties many of us have endured in 2020, itâs been both encouraging and motivating to celebrate the exceptional products and services that are improving African connectivity and fostering economic growth across the continent.”
“Yet again, the AfricaCom Awards have given us the opportunity to recognise the remarkable individuals and companies behind these innovative solutions. Congratulations to all who entered and especially the respective category winners,â concludes Van den Bergh.
