(Image Caption: Brand Africa representatives are pictured with Tracy Mpofu, who took the Lifetime Achievement award on behalf of entrepreneur Strive Masiyiwa, at the Brand Africa 100 event on 22 October 2015)
Econet Founder and Chairman, Strive Masiyiwa, was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of “leadership excellence, inspiration and service to Africa”,
Thebe Ikalafeng, Chairman of Brand Africa, described Masiyiwa as an inspiration of leadership for more than 20 years. "He is the standard of African leadership to young and old," said Ikalafeng.
In a speech read by Tracy Mpofu (Econet Wireless, CEO), Masiyiwa said that great brands met people's needs. "We are building the foundations through our brands. We must create role models that people look up to.”
"What I have seen in the past 30 years (as an entrepreneur) is that people are not just building African brands, but they are building brands that go global. In 2025, we'll be sitting in this room and you will see more African brands, especially on the New York Stock Exchange," Masiyiwa predicted. In his absence, he thanked everyone for his award.
Other admired brands included Sam Mensah of Kisua clothing brand and Swaady Martin of Yswara tea accessories, which was named Emerging African Brand. Nestlé was most admired in the consumer / non-cyclical category, Google was the most admired media brand, Toyota for most admired car maker, Samsung in the electronics category, Coca-Cola for non-alcoholic beverages and Heineken for alcoholic beverages.
The full Brand Africa 100 list will be available by Monday, 26 October.
Source: SouthAfrica.info reporter
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