The African Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has officially opened nominations for the 2025 AWIEF Awards, celebrating the continent’s most outstanding and inspiring women entrepreneurs and business leaders. The awards will be held as part of the 11th annual AWIEF Conference and Expo, taking place on December 5–6, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa.
The AWIEF Awards recognize excellence in entrepreneurship and innovation by African women across multiple sectors, including agriculture, technology, energy, creative industries, and social impact. Nominations are open to women founders and executives across Africa, regardless of nationality, who are making significant contributions to the growth and transformation of Africa’s economy.
Since its inception in 2017, the AWIEF Awards have become a prestigious platform for spotlighting African women who demonstrate exceptional vision, leadership, and business success. The 2025 edition is expected to attract hundreds of entries from across the continent.
There are eight award categories open for nomination:
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Young Entrepreneur Award
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Tech Entrepreneur Award
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Agri Entrepreneur Award
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Creative Industry Award
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Empowerment Award
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Energy Entrepreneur Award
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Social Entrepreneur Award
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Lifetime Achievement Award
Nominees will be evaluated based on innovation, sustainability, scalability, impact, and leadership qualities. The selection process is overseen by a panel of expert judges drawn from business, policy, academia, and civil society.
AWIEF Founder and CEO, Irene Ochem, emphasized the importance of celebrating women-led impact in today’s economic climate:
“The AWIEF Awards are a powerful tribute to African women who are breaking barriers, building solutions, and changing lives. We invite everyone to nominate inspiring women leaders whose work is shaping Africa’s inclusive and sustainable future.”
In addition to the awards gala, the AWIEF 2025 Conference and Expo will gather over 1,500 delegates from 60+ countries, including entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, development partners, and media. It will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, B2B networking, and exhibitions under this year’s theme: “Leading for Impact: Women at the Centre of Africa’s Transformation.”
Nominations for the 2025 AWIEF Awards are now open and will close on September 30, 2025. Shortlisted finalists will be announced in November, and winners will be unveiled at the awards ceremony during the Cape Town conference.
For women-led businesses, startups, and organizations committed to solving Africa’s toughest challenges, the AWIEF Awards offer global recognition and a springboard to greater visibility and growth.
About AWIEF: The African Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) is a pan-African, nonprofit organization that promotes inclusive economic growth through innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership development for African women.
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