Africa CEO Forum 2025 Honours Change-Makers, Charges Leaders to Empower Communities
Abuja, Nigeria – The 2025 edition of the Africa CEO Forum Award transformed the halls of the iconic Nicon Luxury Hotel into a continental stage for Africa’s boldest change-makers. From visionary chief executives and pioneering entrepreneurs to reform-driven policymakers and humanitarians, the gathering was a powerful showcase of leadership that creates impact, innovation that drives economies, and service that redefines the meaning of success in Africa.
The award ceremony transcended recognition—it emerged as a continental manifesto for the future of leadership, enterprise, and humanitarian service in Africa.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Mainasara Umar Kogo, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), challenged Africans to embrace brotherhood and unity as a foundation for the continent’s growth.
“We must prepare to fight injustice, insecurity, and bad leadership,” he declared to resounding applause. Stressing the critical need to close the distance between leaders and their people, he urged:
“We should bridge the gap between leadership and followership.”
In a pointed message to Africa’s business community, Dr. Kogo distinguished between transient trade and transformative entrepreneurship.
“Learn to be a businessman, not a merchant. Create your own business.”
His lecture resonated with the CEOs present, many of whom oversee enterprises that directly impact the continent’s economic fabric.
The convener, Ambassador Chris Odey, celebrated the honorees for their outstanding contributions while emphasizing humanitarian service as a cornerstone of development. He urged the awardees to remain worthy ambassadors of Africa, channeling influence and resources toward empowering the less privileged and deepening social progress.
“True leadership is measured not by positions or wealth,” Odey said, “but by the capacity to uplift communities, foster relationships, and build a legacy of hope.”
Awardees from diverse fields—ranging from finance and technology to healthcare, energy, and philanthropy—were recognized for their roles in shaping Africa’s transformation. Each honoree’s work underscored the event’s theme: “Humanitarian Service as the Bedrock of Development.”
The Africa CEO Forum Award 2025 reaffirmed itself as more than a platform for accolades—it is a continental call to action. From Dr. Kogo’s passionate lecture on leadership and entrepreneurship to Ambassador Odey’s appeal for humanitarian focus, the message was clear: Africa’s future will be built by leaders who serve, innovate, and create.
The Africa CEO Forum Award 2025 did more than celebrate the achievements of its honorees; it redefined the mandate of African leadership for the years ahead. From the passionate charge of Dr. Mainasara Umar Kogo, urging Africans to embrace brotherhood, confront injustice, and close the gap between leaders and their people, to Ambassador Chris Odey’s clarion call for service-driven leadership, the event became a blueprint for the continent’s renewal.
The CEOs, policymakers, and humanitarians gathered at the Nicon Luxury Hotel represented not only the best of Africa’s present but also the architects of its future. Their stories reminded the continent that wealth and influence gain true meaning only when translated into empowerment, innovation, and shared progress.
The awards illuminated a crucial truth: Africa’s transformation will not be imported—it will be created by Africans who dare to lead with vision, integrity, and compassion. The honorees were not only recognized for what they have done, but also challenged to deepen their legacy, inspire the next generation, and shape a continent that thrives on unity and enterprise.
As the lights dimmed in Abuja, one message lingered across boardrooms and communities alike:
Africa must rise on the shoulders of leaders who fight injustice, build sustainable businesses, and empower the least among us. This is not merely the conclusion of an event—it is the beginning of a continental awakening
As the evening drew to a close, the event left behind a resonant reminder: Africa’s greatness lies in leaders who bridge divides, fight injustice, and create opportunities that empower generations.
