AfBC African Business Awards and Gala 2026

This award recognises exceptional business leaders and entrepreneurs whose vision, resilience, and strategic leadership have transformed and delivered measurable growth, influence, and impact across African and global markets. Honourees exemplify integrity, innovation, and the ability to inspire teams and communities while shaping industries and contributing to sustainable economic development. 

 This award recognizes visionary African entrepreneurs who are reshaping the African and global economy. It celebrates individuals delivering disruptive, innovative, and high-impact solutions that redefine business and value chains. Honoring bold ideas, scalable models, and proven execution, the award highlights the next generation of transformative leaders driving innovation, job creation, and sustainable, long-term impact.

This award recognises an outstanding start-up or small-to-medium enterprise (SME) that has demonstrated exceptional performance, innovation, and growth within its market. It celebrates businesses that combine strong leadership, sound governance, and scalable business models with measurable impact, job creation, and market relevance. Recipients exemplify entrepreneurial excellence, resilience, and the ability to turn vision into sustainable commercial success while contributing meaningfully to economic development.

 This award recognises outstanding achievement in the development and application of technology-driven solutions that deliver measurable business, economic, or social impact. It celebrates individuals, start-ups, scale-ups, or established organisations that demonstrate innovation, scalability, and leadership in areas such as digital transformation, fintech, healthtech, agritech, artificial intelligence, data, infrastructure, and emerging technologies. Recipients are distinguished by their ability to solve real-world challenges, enhance productivity, expand access to services, and position Africa and the diaspora at the forefront of global innovation. 

Recognising excellence in healthcare and social care business, health innovation, clinical entrepreneurship and HealthTech, this award celebrates individuals, businesses and organisations improving and transforming health ecosystems systems, outcomes across Africa, UK and the diaspora. Winners demonstrate leadership in medical services, driving impact, digital health, pharmaceuticals, public health, or healthcare systems strengthening. 

This award recognises outstanding achievement and leadership within the creative, media, and entertainment industries. It celebrates individuals, organisations, or enterprises that have demonstrated exceptional creativity, commercial success, and cultural impact across sectors such as film, television, music, fashion, digital media, publishing, advertising, and the performing arts. Recipients are recognised for elevating African narratives, driving innovation, expanding global reach, and contributing meaningfully to economic growth, cultural influence, and industry development.

This award recognises outstanding institutions, SMEs, technology companies, and professionals delivering exceptional performance across banking, fintech, insurance, investment, and financial services. This award celebrates organisations and leaders demonstrating innovation, trust, and strong governance while driving meaningful impact within Africa and the global African diaspora. Recipients are distinguished by their commitment to financial inclusion, regulatory excellence, and the development of accessible, transparent, and scalable financial solutions. The award honours those expanding access to capital, enabling business growth, empowering underserved communities, and strengthening the financial ecosystem through technology, sound risk management, and customer-centric models.

The Professional Excellence Award recognises individuals who have demonstrated exceptional expertise, leadership, and impact within their profession. This category celebrates professionals across industries who consistently deliver outstanding results, uphold the highest ethical standards, and influence positive change in their organisations and communities. Recipients exemplify dedication, innovation, and thought leadership, serving as role models for peers and emerging talent, while advancing the standards of excellence in their field.

 This award recognises outstanding African women leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives who have demonstrated exceptional excellence, influence, and impact in business. It celebrates women who drive innovation, build sustainable enterprises, create jobs, and lead with vision and integrity across diverse industries. Recipients exemplify transformative leadership, economic empowerment, and inclusive growth, serving as powerful role models who inspire future generations and advance gender equity within Africa’s business ecosystem and the global diaspora. 

This category honours organisations, business or leaders driving cross-border trade, exports, investments and international partnerships. It recognises excellence in market expansion, trade facilitation, supply chains, and strengthening Africa’s position in global commerce.

Rooted in the spirit of Ubuntu—“I am because we are”—this award recognises African social entrepreneurs and enterprises delivering sustainable social impact alongside financial viability. It celebrates purpose-driven models and innovative solutions addressing social challenges while empowering communities.

This category recognises individuals and businesses that champion and effectively leverage the global African diaspora to drive economic empowerment, innovation, and trade, while creating meaningful local opportunities. It celebrates those who mobilise diaspora skills, capital, networks, and knowledge to build high-growth SMEs, create jobs, strengthen capacity, accelerate investment, and deliver sustainable economic growth and community impact across the World and Africa region.

Edward Obi - Chartered, CEO, HR Hub Plus Limited

Bank of Africa UK