Ogunsanya Wins at African Business Leadership Awards 2020

By Dipo Olowookere

It was a day of honour for the MD/CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, recently when he was recognised as the Africa Industry Personality of the Year.

The honour was bestowed on him at the prestigious African Business Leadership Awards 2020 organised by the African Leadership Magazine.

Mr Ogunsanya clinched the coveted award in a category that had great business leaders on the continent like the CEO of Moza Banco, Mozambique, Mr Joao Figueiredo, who emerged first runner-up, and the CEO of Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr Paul Gbededo.

The Airtel Nigeria chief emerged winner after a three-step points-based selection process that included a call for nomination; a call for online voting for shortlisted nominees; and the editorial board’s final review of the nominations and voting submissions.

The online voting was responsible for 65 percentage points and supporting evidence responsible for 35 per cent in the final selection process for the 2020 winners.

The Industry Personality of the Year award recognises the individual whose vision and innovations have become drivers of growth in particular industry sectors and permanently impacted the way of doing business in that particular sector.

At an event held on Wednesday, September 30, 2020, Mr Ogunsanya was presented his award in the presence (virtual) of former President of Sierra Leone, Mr Ernest Bai Koroma; Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, Mr John Rwangombwa; Ethiopia’s Finance Minister, Mr Ahmed Shide; the Group MD of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, among others.

“This award is a special present to me, as we celebrate our 60th anniversary. This couldn’t have come at a better time. Thank you,” the Airtel Nigeria boss said.

“Our winners and all the nominees truly deserve to be recognised for the outstanding work they have done over the last year, and they continue to do for the development of our continent,” the Publisher of the magazine, Mr Ken Giami.

“Africa depends on businesses and its leaders for sustenance, jobs and wealth creation,” he noted, adding that “at this time when there are widespread disruptions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the role and place of the business community to not only serve their clients, but become strong positive references for society on how to thrive amidst uncertainties, and inspire hope in people’s ability to aspire to solve more of the problems facing the African people today, is more important than ever.”