Cape town: The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has announced the finalists for its 2026 AWIEF Awards. This prestigious annual event aims to acknowledge and celebrate women entrepreneurs and business owners across Africa for their significant contributions to the continent’s economic growth and social development.
According to African Press Organization, the AWIEF Awards, initiated in 2017, have become a notable platform to highlight the achievements of women across various industry sectors in Africa. This year’s finalists showcase talent and innovation from a diverse range of African markets, reflecting the broad spectrum of impact emerging across the continent.
The 2026 Awards categories have been updated to align with the changing entrepreneurial and innovation landscape in Africa. The categories now include emerging leaders, technology pioneers, agricultural innovators, creative visionaries, and women making measurable impacts. Additionally, a new Male Ally Award has been introduced to honor male leaders whose efforts have significantly advanced women’s economic empowerment in Africa.
The finalists for the 2026 AWIEF Awards include several notable women. For the Woman to Watch Award, nominees include Omotoke Ajidagba from Nigeria, Faith Nafula from Kenya, Rowena Turinawe from Uganda, Violet Awo Amoabeng from Ghana, Stella Doreen Namulondo from Uganda, and Joyce Rugano from Kenya. The Impact for Good Award features Ola Brown from Nigeria, Nada Ghammem from Tunisia, and Echo Nomsa VanderWal from Eswatini.
In the Creative Visionary Award category, the finalists are Rasha Aita from Egypt, Renuka Methil from South Africa, and Hadeer Shalaby from Egypt. The Tech Pioneer Award nominees are Varuna Devi Bangaleea from Mauritius, Ndeye Fatou Mboup from Senegal, and Quinter Ochieng from Kenya. The recipients of the Male Ally Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced at the AWIEF Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner.
The winners of the 2026 AWIEF Awards will be unveiled at a ceremony on 11 November 2026, marking the conclusion of the AWIEF 2026 Conference. The event will be held from 10 to 11 November 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in South Africa. It will gather women entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, policymakers, and other stakeholders from Africa and beyond to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women to the continent’s economic future.