The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) hosted a spectacular celebration of women’s achievements at the 2025 AWIEF Awards, held on Friday evening in Cape Town.
The glittering ceremony honoured eight outstanding African women entrepreneurs and leaders whose initiatives are transforming industries, driving sustainability, and promoting inclusive growth across the continent.
Since its establishment in 2016, the AWIEF Awards have become a powerful platform for recognising excellence and inspiring women in business and leadership. The initiative not only celebrates success but also nurtures future innovators and changemakers, building a collaborative pan-African network of impact-driven women.
This year’s winners and finalists represented a wide range of sectors — from technology and agriculture to energy, creative arts, and social enterprise — united by their commitment to advancing Africa’s economic transformation through innovation.
The Awards concluded the two-day AWIEF 2025 Conference, which gathered over 500 delegates from more than 50 countries for discussions, exhibitions, masterclasses, and networking sessions.
Read Also: West Africa’s Energy leaders to convene in Accra for clean energy cooperation summit
2025 AWIEF Award Winners:
- Young Entrepreneur Award: Norah Kimathi – Zerobionic, Kenya
- Empowerment Award: Mampho Sotshongaye – Golden Rewards 1981, South Africa
- Energy Entrepreneur Award: Nidal Tafah – MIRRIAH, Morocco
- Creative Industry Award: Soraya da Piedade – Soraya da Piedade LDA, Angola
- Social Entrepreneur Award: Farana Boodhram – MiDesk Global, South Africa
- Agri Entrepreneur Award (Sponsored by OCP Africa): Linda Davis – Giraffe Bioenergy, Kenya
- Tech Entrepreneur Award: Maryanne Gichanga – AgriTech Analytics, Kenya
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Audrey Joe-Ezigbo – CEO, Falcon Corporation, Nigeria
Voices of Inspiration
For Angolan designer Soraya da Piedade, winner of the Creative Industry Award, the recognition marks a defining moment in her journey.
“I’m deeply honoured and grateful to AWIEF for creating platforms where we celebrate women’s creativity and leadership,” she said. “This award reminds me that when we create from a place of passion and purpose, we inspire others to dream bigger.”
Kenya’s Linda Davis, CEO of Giraffe Bioenergy and winner of the Agri Entrepreneur Award, described the moment as “surreal.”
“AWIEF has given women like me a powerful space to share our work and be recognised for driving change in our communities,” she said. “This win belongs to every woman farmer and entrepreneur working to build a sustainable Africa.”