African Leadership Academy host Anzisha Prize ceremony

African Leadership Academy recently hosted a successful, star-studded awards ceremony.

African Leadership Academy (ALA) students, alumni and staff were celebrated for their innovated businesses and social interaction.

This was the second annual Anzisha prize awards and they were attended by the former president of Botswana, Festus Mogae, and global music stars, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and hip-hop mogul, Russel Simmons.

South Africa’s Nozipho Mbanjwa and Siya Mdlalose were recognised for their contribution to African media.

Mbanjwa has been working with CNBC Africa and since 2013 she has been involved in broadcasting five shows to 48 African countries. The show focuses on youth entrepreneurship in relation to economic affairs happening in specific countries.

Mdlalose has played numerous roles in television and radio broadcast. He was nominated this year for the SABC1 series, Kulcha Kwest, which is a show that profiles local entrepreneurs and exposes them so they can grow their businesses and projects.

The Anzisha prize ceremony is an initiative created by the academy that seeks to give recognition to young entrepreneurs. These business orientated nominees have developed and implemented innovative solutions to challenges faced in their communities.

Finalists were selected from countries across the African continent and had participated in entrepreneurship workshops and conferences. Over US$100 000 (about R1.4 million) was invested into the awards for prizes, accommodation and other expenses.

ALA has had a very successful year as members of the academy have won awards in other competitions. Eighteen-year-old Tanzanian, Asha Abbas (first-year student) was selected as one of Internet Society’s 25 U25s in September.

She was awarded this honour for her work in providing sexual health education to adolescents. Economics teacher, Divine Kangami, won an award from the University of the Witwatersrand for having the best presentation across the commerce faculty for his PhD thesis.

ALA prides itself on creating young adults who are critical of the communities they live in and that seek to find solutions for challenges faced in those communities. Award ceremonies such as the Anzisha prize allows the participants to have their hard work celebrated, and motivates them to be innovative and optimistic for the future.

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