The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) hosted a spectacular celebration of African women’s excellence at the2025 AWIEF Awards, held on Friday evening at the Cape Town South Africa, which drew over 500 delegates from more than 50 countries.
Founded in 2016, the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum has established itself as the premier pan-African platform that spotlights female entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders.
The 2025 awards underscored AWIEF’s broader mission of closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship and stimulating inclusive growth across Africa.
This year’s winners and finalists came from across Africa, showcasing diverse industries including technology, agriculture, energy, creative arts, and social entrepreneurship, united by a shared vision of advancing Africa’s growth through innovation.
Several features set this year’s AWIEF Awards apart, notably the diversity of sectors and geographies represented, which reflected the expanding scope of women’s enterprise across Africa.
The event’s integration with the AWIEF2025 conference created a dynamic platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and investment-focused dialogue, transforming it from a standalone awards gala into a comprehensive ecosystem for empowerment.
Above all, the ceremony reinforced the growing narrative that supporting women entrepreneurs is vital to achieving inclusive economic growth and driving job creation across the continent.
The list of eight outstanding winners spanned sectors including agriculture, energy, technology, creative industries and social enterprise:
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 of Falcon Corporation (Nigeria)
Audrey Joe-Ezigbo’s recognition, in particular, highlighted a career spanning the energy sector and entrepreneurship and underscored the growing importance of women in leadership positions in historically male-dominated fields.
For Soraya da Piedade, founder of Soraya da Piedade LDA and winner of the Creative Industry Award, the recognition marks a defining moment in her journey as a designer and entrepreneur.
“I’m deeply honoured and grateful to AWIEF for creating platforms like this, where we celebrate women’s creativity and leadership,” said Soraya. “This award reminds me that when we create from a place of passion and purpose, we not only build brands but also inspire others to dream bigger.”
From Kenya, Linda Davis, founder and CEO of Giraffe Bioenergy and winner of the Agri Entrepreneur Award, described the moment as “surreal.”
“It’s my first time winning an award like this, and I am beyond excited,” said Davis. “AWIEF has given women like me a powerful space to share our work, connect with others, and be recognized for driving change in our communities. This win belongs to every woman farmer and entrepreneur working to build a sustainable Africa.”
Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem is growing rapidly, yet women-led businesses still face structural hurdles including limited access to finance, networks and markets.
Platforms like AWIEF help to highlight the strides being made and the distance still to travel. The recognition of winners from Kenya (two awards), Nigeria, Angola, South Africa and Morocco reflects a more balanced regional representation than in earlier years.
The corporate and investor community’s attention towards women-led ventures is increasing. The expansion of categories such as Tech Entrepreneur and Agri Entrepreneur signals a recognition that women are active across high-growth sectors, not just traditionally ‘female-dominated’ industries.
Beyond the awards themselves, AWIEF serves as a catalyst. By creating a high-profile stage for women entrepreneurs, the organisation helps to shift narratives, attract investment and strengthen networks. The 2025 edition reaffirmed the importance of such platforms in accelerating gender equality in business and innovation on the continent.
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