mPedigree's Bright Simons picks CNBC AABLA award

Bright Simons, President of mPedigree Network has picked the Innovator of the Year Award (West Africa) in the CNBC All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) 2016.

The Ghanaian innovator beat fellow nominee Bilikiss Adebiyi Abiola, CEO of Wecyclers, to the prize.

mPedgree has developed a technology that helps to detect counterfeit medicines. Its vision is to “see a near-future in which consumers can assert their choices in the marketplace with freely accessible technologies, communicating directly with brand owners, to confirm to their satisfaction the quality of their purchases.”

“In our view, the 20th Century supply chain, in which consumers were passive recipients of goods, and at the mercy of middle-men, and brand owners struggled to get their message across, has no more place in the current century. Manufacturers and brand owners should be confident that they will obtain a just reward for their investment and research efforts. Patients and consumers should not feel that every time they buy an important item, such as medicine or cosmetics, they are gambling with their lives. Regulators should not look on powerless as better resourced criminals lay waste to the health and well-being of consumers. Our Vision is a better life for all by ensuring and communicating the quality of all life-impacting products,” it said on its website.

The finalists in the 2016 AABLA in Partnership with CNBC Africa were announced during a live broadcast on DStv Channel 410 in mid-August, marking the start of the award that will travel to East, West and Southern Africa, to recognise the best in business across the continent.

The live finalists’ announcement on CNBC Africa brought together members of the press, key stakeholders and sponsors to reveal this year’s contenders for the sixth season of the awards.

Working through over a hundred qualifying submissions, judges spent well over two months examining, analysing and deliberating the candidates for 2016, narrowing it down to only a handful of business leaders per category, in each region.

The 2016 AABLA finalists for each region were as follows:

• Young Business Leader of the Year – East Africa presented by Lancaster University Ghana and Transnational Education Africa

• Darshan Chandaria, Director and Group CEO of Chandaria Group
• Trushar Khetia, Founder and CEO of Tria Group
• Jean de Dieu Kagabo, Founder and CEO of Soft Group

• Young Business Leader of the Year – Southern Africa presented by Lancaster University Ghana and Transnational Education Africa

• Linda Olagunju, Founder and Managing Director at DLO Energy Resources
• Jackie van Niekerk, CEO of Pivotal Property Fund
• Siya Beyile, Founder of The Threaded Man

• Young Business Leader of the Year – West Africa presented by Lancaster University Ghana and Transnational Education Africa

• Tope Aroge, Managing Director of the Arog Bio Allied Agro Services
• Seun and Seyi Abolaji, Founder’s and Managing Director’s of Wilson’s Juice Company
• Uneku Atawodi, Founder of Bamboo Green Concepts
• Entrepreneur of the Year – East Africa
• Ashok Shah, CEO of APA Insurance
• Bimal Kantaria, Director of Elgon Kenya
• Entrepreneur of the Year – Southern Africa
• Stephen Saad, Group CEO of Aspen Pharmacare
• Magda Wierzycka, CEO of Sygnia Asset Management
• Mark and Brett Levy, Joint-CEO of Blue Label Telecoms

• Entrepreneur of the Year – West Africa

• Paul Orajiaka, is the Founder of Auldon
• Wole Faroun, CEO of Netplus Advisory
• Suleiman Yusuf, CEO of Blue Camel Energy
• Business Women of the Year – East Africa
• Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Founder of soleRebels
• Joseline Kateeba, Managing Director of Crest Foam
• Business Women of the Year – Southern Africa
• Lindani Dhlamini, CEO of SekelaXabiso
• Monica Singer, CEO of Strate

• Business Women of the Year – West Africa

• Sola David-Borha, CEO of Stanbic IBTC Holdings
• Udo Okonjo, CEO and Founder of Fine & Country West Africa
• Bilikiss Adebiyi Abiola, CEO of Wecyclers
• Innovator of the Year – East Africa
• Danson Muchemi, Founder of Web Tribe
• Patrick Buchana, Founder of AC Group
• Ernest Kayinamura, CEO of Hexakomb
• Innovator of the Year – Southern Africa
• Thato Kgatlhanye, Founder of Rethaka
• Stacey Brewer and Ryan Harrison, Founders of SPARK Schools

• Innovator of the Year – West Africa

• Bilikiss Adebiyi Abiola, CEO of Wecyclers
• Bright Simons, President of mPedigree Network

• Company of the Year – East Africa

• APA Insurance
• Bank of Kigali
• National Microfinance Bank (NMB)
• Company of the Year – Southern Africa
• Discovery
• Bidvest
• Aspen Pharmacare

• Company of the Year – West Africa

• Dangote Group
• LafargeHolcim
• Nestlé Central & West Africa
• Zenith Bank

• Business Leader of the Year – East Africa presented by Bosch

• Juliet Umutoni, Country Manager of DHL Express Rwanda
• Egide Gatera, Chairman of Rwanda Mountain Tea
• Fatima Abubakar, Country Manager of DHL Express Uganda

• Business Leader of the Year – Southern Africa presented by Bosch

• Adrian Gore, Founder and CEO of Discovery
• Mike Brown, CEO of Nedbank

• Business Leader of the Year – West Africa presented by Bosch

• Abdulsamad Rabiu, Founder of BUA Group
• Issam Darwish, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of IHS Holding
• John Bonoh Sisay, CEO of Sierra Rutile

The Lifetime Achievement Award in each region and for All Africa will once again be selected by the judging committee and announced on the night. The Industrialist of the Year category presented by the IDC along with the Philanthropist of the Year, will take on a similar format.

The AABLA, now in their sixth year, recognise Africa’s bold leaders and change-makers of business in East, West and Southern Africa. The regional events will be staged in Kigali on September 8, Johannesburg September 29 and Lagos October 20 with the Finale taking place in Johannesburg on November 11.

The winners of each region will go through to the Finale to crown an All Africa winner per category.