As part of the efforts targeted at promoting access to finance and strengthening entrepreneurship in Africa, EMRC is launching the annual Africa Finance and Investment Forum (AFIF) Entrepreneurship Award, 2017, calling all African-based entrepreneurs to participate in this renowned award.

This year’s award ceremony which is scheduled to hold for the first time in the vibrant city of Nairobi, Kenya, from 15th - 16th February 2017 will be sponsored as usual by Rabobank Foundation and the winner, an existing African small-medium business, will receive a cash prize of US$10.000, 00 including a yearlong media promotion support in and out of Africa, free participation in the AFIF 2017, including the pre-conference Training.

The Senior Project Manager at EMRC and head of AFIF 2017, Inês Bastos, in a press statement issued to CEOAfrica, announced that this year’s award ceremony will focus on “Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Growth.” She noted that “The AFIF Entrepreneurship Awards aims to spotlight leading innovation private sector projects happening today in Africa.”

Bastos stated that “This is the moment when entrepreneurs can showcase their remarkable achievements, where partners and participants get to know about outstanding projects which are pushing boundaries in their community and country and where other entrepreneurs can be inspired and receive much-needed know-how.”

According to the statement, participants in the AFIF Awards will enjoy several benefits that will promote their businesses as the event will be followed by international partners, leading African businesses and international media. The event which will receive considerable international press coverage, will also afford participating African entrepreneurs the opportunity to present their businesses to an international audience.

Speaking about some of the benefits he has enjoyed, the current holder of the Award, Lazaro Mwakipesile, Head of Raphael Group (Tanzania) asserts that he has seen a vast change since participating in the competition. He explains “I am now internationally known. Since AFIF 2015, I have travelled abroad four times for presentation and defending of proposals. Furthermore, I expect to travel to USA this December 2016 for a meeting at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.”

Also speaking about the benefits enjoyed after participating in the Awards is Wachira Kariuki, CEO of Classic Foods, who was named runner up in 2015. He said “During AFIF 2015, I met the team from Rabobank who have since provided funding to Classic Foods. Rabo Rural Fund gave Classic Foods a US$1 Million as part of matching grant for soya bean project in Kenya and Uganda that have partnered with UKAID (DFID) as well as matching grant for a new camel milk factory we are constructing in Northern Kenya which is arid area. We couldn’t have asked for more, and this is all thanks to having gone to AFIF 2015 and participated in the Entrepreneurship Award.”

Since its inception, AFIF Entrepreneurship Awards have been won by a unique group of African entrepreneurs which include; Derek Kwesiga (2009) head of Derekorp from Uganda; Suzanne Belemtougri (2011), Head of Sophavet from Burkina Faso; Anastácio Roque representing CESACOPA (2012) from Angola; Marie-Claire Matamba (2013) Head of Agrimat from Gabon and Magloire N’Dakon (2014) awarded the prize for his innovative project, Extended Finance, in Ivory Coast.

According to the statement, AFIF 2017 Entrepreneurship Awards which will be hosted by the Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya will gather over 300 delegates from all over Africa, Europe, America and Middle East. EMRC will organise a pre-conference training on "A Road-map for Entrepreneurship Growth" on the 13th -14th February 2017. The training is addressed exclusively to AFIF 2017 participants and will be divided in two linguistic groups - English and French.

Wachira Kariuki concludes, “My advice to participants especially the entrepreneurs is to make use of the opportunity to make the right contacts and learn from participants. The training session for the entrepreneurs is critical for fund raising. Sharing ideas and experiences with other business people is key to success.”