IN PICTURES: CEO Global awards Africans best men and women for their great work in various fields
JOBURG – Suits, ties, dresses, heels and plenty of awards.
Africa’s very best were honoured and celebrated at CEO Global’s Pan African awards ceremony.
The Apollo Hotel in Randburg was the venue for the event on 27 November and celebrated the efforts of the continent’s business leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. With representatives from countries such as Namibia, Uganda, Malawi, Ghana, Seychelles, and Mauritius the night was truly a Pan African ceremony.
The awards recognised the valuable contribution to the development of the continent by small and medium enterprises, agriculture, civil society organisations, arts and culture, education, pharmaceutical, mining, manufacturing and many others.
In total, 22 awards and 10 lifetime achiever awards were handed out on the night. One of the lifetime achiever awards was given to the Randburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Linda Blackbeard. Upon receiving the award, she said, “I’m very proud and very humble and very grateful for this award. It’s not an easy task to stand here in a room full of skilled and qualified people doing such amazing things in all industries and sectors throughout our continent.”
She shared with the audience that she had worked in the hospitality industry for 30 years. In that time she had travelled the continent visiting various hotels helping them find their niche in the market. “I’ve met amazing people, young, old, poor, wealthy and influential, and the best people are from Africa.”
Blackbeard dedicated her award to a very special individual person in her life, her mother. “For all the sacrifices she made, for all the discipline that I got from my mother. Her hard work, her strict laws of values, morals and principles. Today I stand her in my late 60s and I’m very grateful to her.”
The event which was thoroughly enjoyed into the late hours of the evening wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the dedication of Annelize Wepner, the founder of CEO Global. She and her team had worked tirelessly to ensure that every guest, representative and award winner had an unforgettable night.
Judging by the smiles, cheers and photos being taken throughout the night, it’s safe to say that her mission was achieved.
