Celebrating business success in Africa by Mark Tran, Thursday June_9_2011

Given the growing importance accorded to the private sector in development, Mossadeck Bally winning Africa's business leadership award is a sign of the times. (Initially published online in The Guardian and relayed by the above news aggregators)

Africa's movers and shakers sipped fruit cocktails on Wednesday in the glitzy Ritz Four Seasons hotel in Lisbon as they celebrated a homegrown business success story.

The man they came to honour was Mossadeck Bally, the softly-spoken founder and chairman of the Azalai hotel group in west Africa. Bally received the African business leadership award at a side event of the African Development Bank's annual meeting taking place in the Portuguese capital.

The occasion at the Ritz represented a different side of Africa, one of high economic growth, growing private equity interest, and successful entrepreneurs. Given the growing importance accorded to the private sector in development – something that was also much in evidence at last month's UN conference on least developed countries in Istanbul – Bally's award is indeed a sign of the times.

Born in Niger to Malian parents, Bally, 50, studied in France and the US before returning to Mali. He started his hotel business in 1994 by buying the Grand Hotel de Bamako when it was privatised by the government. Other hotel acquisitions followed as he established the Azalai chain, which expanded into Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau and, most recently, Benin. Azalai is now the first African private hotel chain in west Africa, employing 700 people directly and more than 3,500 indirectly.

In his acceptance speech, Bally expressed his confidence in Africa's potential, oozing quiet optimism. This is the image of Africa that African policymakers are keen to project, a counterpoint to that of conflict, coups and hunger westerners so often associate with the continent.

Increasingly, African leaders speak of self-reliance and of the need for homegrown solutions to development challenges, moving beyond aid to financing from local capital markets and private equity, and finding growth through regional co-operation.

Fine sentiments, but there are hard facts to overcome. They can be found in the African Development Bank's 2011 review. Take the obstacles to private sector development: "African business is held back by excessive and poorly designed regulation, limited access to finance and a lack of legal mechanisms for enforcing contracts and protecting property rights. Competitiveness is undermined by insufficient access to basic infrastructure such as roads, port facilities, information and communications technology, power and water... all of this limits the ability of the private sector to invest and grow."

And despite talk of regional co-operation, trade between African countries remains low, the review notes. Trade within Africa grew from $48bn in 2005 to $76bn in 2009, but continues to be held back by cumbersome regulations and poor transport. The figures show that Africa still looks primarily for markets in the north with only 10%-12% bound for African countries. This is half the level in other emerging markets. Moreover, half of Africa's inter-regional trade occurs in the southern Africa development community (SADC), in which South Africa trades with its smaller neighbours.

Such constraints make Bally's success all the more remarkable, and it is unsurprising that he was lionised in Lisbon. He really did succeed against the odds. But it could have been so different. When Bally returned from the US from his studies to work in his father's business, he was unhappy and wanted to leave during the first six months of his homecoming.

"I wasn't intellectually at ease, things were a mess and I applied for a visa to go back to the US," he told the Guardian. "But I thought again, and realised I was being selfish and that my place was to help my father."

Bally says he has absolutely no regrets about staying. "In America, I would have been just a social security number," he said. "And I see more emigres returning to Africa because they see the place is at a turning point. And despite all the difficulties – a predatory and corrupt state sector – things are really changing. It is much less difficult to do business in Africa now than it was 26 years ago. The private sector really has a historic role to play."

Le Président Kaberuka remet le Prix des Entrepreneurs Africains 2011    /   President Donald Kaberuka presents 2011 ABLA Awards in Lisbon (published initially on afdb.org, relayed by allafrica.com and expert-comptable-international.com

One of the key events featured during the AfDB’s 2011 Annual Meetings in Lisbon, was the ceremony on Wednesday 8, marking presentation of the African Business Leadership Award (ABLA). President Kaberuka was present. Below are abstracts of his statement.

“I am pleased to present today the 2011 African Business Leadership Award to Mr. Bally, who is a great illustration of such ability as proven by the achievements, and the expansion of his company, the Azalai Hotel Group, in West Africa over the last few years"...

“…Over the last three years, we have had the chance to celebrate the best and brightest. We at the African Development Bank (AfDB), are proud of our track record of support to the African Private sector but the most effective way to illustrate that Africa is truly “open for business” is clearly in the achievements of outstanding entrepreneurs such as M. Mossadeck Mally, the recipient of the 2011 African Business Leadership Award (ABLA)”….

“…In addition to the several global and local challenges faced by African economies, we, at the AfDB, are noting the increasing prevalence of rapid change as amply illustrated in North Africa and the rest of the Arab world this year. Such rapid change can be destabilizing and thwart business initiative. However, the same rapid change can represent tremendous opportunities for the nimble entrepreneur with a clear vision”….

Patrice Backer, Directeur général adjoint, AFIG : « C’est pour honorer un homme sérieux et rigoureux que ABLA célèbre l’excellence ce soir à Lisbonne »

Question : Que vous inspire ce partenariat qui a permis l’attribution du prix African Business Leadership Award (ABLA) à Mossadeck Bally aujourd’hui à Lisbonne?

Comme vous l’avez entendu dans toutes les allocutions, M. Bally est un modèle pour tout Africain. C’est un homme modeste et discret, qui démontre depuis une décennie que l’homme africain peut réussir dans des secteurs clés de nos économies. La vision de M. Bally se base sur une perception optimiste de l’Afrique et de son développement économique et social. Nous ne pouvons qu’être fiers de lui. C’est donc pour Advanced Finance Investment Group (AFIG) un honneur d’être associé aux institutions sponsors de l’African Business Leadership Award (ABLA) : la Banque africaine de développement, BancABC, Africa Finance Corporation, Ecobank, Africa Capital et le Groupe SIFCA.

Nous sommes à la troisième édition de ce qui, à l’origine était une idée ambitieuse que le Président Donald Kaberuka a spontanément soutenue et qui, de plus en plus, s’ancre dans le rituel des Assemblées annuelles de la BAD. Quiconque a séjourné dans un hôtel du Groupe Azalaï, reconnaîtra que M. Bally a cru, avec raison, que la nouvelle classe d’hommes d’affaires qui parcourt l’Afrique aurait envie d’un espace de confort où l’excellente qualité du service revêt la touche africaine. M. Bally a commencé son incursion dans l’industrie hôtelière africaine en se concentrant d’abord sur son pays d’origine, le Mali. Depuis lors, la société est devenue un groupe avec une solide réputation basée sur la qualité du service et la gestion rigoureuse. C’est cette excellence que nous célébrons aux côtés de la BAD ici à Lisbonne.

Mossadeck Bally, récipiendaire, Prix d’excellence ABLA 2011 en entreprenariat africain

Nous félicitons et remercions la BAD et son président, pour cette initiative destinée à primer les entrepreneurs du continent africain. C’est un immense plaisir et un grand honneur que je participe à la cérémonie des ABLA, ici à Lisbonne, parmi tant d’estimables personnalités du continent africain et du monde. Le Groupe Azalaï et moi-même sommes fiers de recevoir ce prix, qui est une preuve que les filles et les fils de l’Afrique oeuvrent pour le développement du continent. Je pense aussi que l’homme africain ne doit plus se soumettre aveuglement à l’afro-pessimisme implanté dans nos esprits et qui nous a empêchés, pendant longtemps, de faire valoir notre savoir et notre savoir-faire. L’heure est à l’action. Le chemin vers une Afrique émergente et prospère, où il fait bon vivre sera certes long et truffé d’obstacles, mais ce chemin existe et les entrepreneurs africains l’arpentent déjà. Je suis vraiment fier que le Groupe Azalaï soit primé. Toute la famille au sens large vous en sait gré.

Le Groupe Azalaï hôtels primé

Son président-fondateur, M. Mossadeck Bally, a reçu le prix Abla 2011, délivré par la Bad, et son partenaire l’Advanced finance & investment Group, dirigé par le Sénégalais Papa Madiaw Ndiaye. La semaine dernière, dans un hôtel de luxe de Lisbonne, la capitale portugaise, s’est tenue la troisième cérémonie de remise des prix des African business leadership award 2011 (Abla), en marge des assemblées annuelles de la Banque africaine de développement (Bad). Initiées par Advanced finance & investment Group (Afrig), une société de gestion des fonds d’investissement dirigée par M. Papa Madiaw Ndiaye, qui en est aussi le créateur, les Abla sont attribués en partenariat avec plusieurs institutions financières, parmi lesquelles la Bad est la première.

L’édition de cette année a récompensé un grand capitaine de l’industrie hôtelière en Afrique de l’ouest, le Malien Mossadeck Bally, propriétaire et fondateur de la chaîne hôtelière Azalaï. De lui, le Directeur général de Afig, M. Ndiaye a déclaré, lors de la remise de sa récompense : «Il y a seulement 10 ans, le secteur hôtelier ouest africain était dominé par des groupes internationaux et quelques initiatives individuelles à une échelle nationale. Rien ne pouvait véritablement encourager un entrepreneur africain à se lancer dans un tel secteur et dans une course que beaucoup auraient jugé perdue d’avance. Mais Mossadeck Bally a eu cette vision, celle de créer un groupe mû par l’excellence et répondant aux standards internationaux tout en mettant à profit les valeurs de l’hospitalité africaine. Quiconque a séjourné dans un hôtel du Groupe Azalaï reconnaîtra que le pari de la combinaison d’un professionnalisme rigoureux et d’un accueil chaleureux est réussi.»

M. Bally, âgé de 50 ans à peine, a déjà plus de 25 ans de carrière professionnelle. Pour une petite affaire qui a commencé au Mali, avec un premier hôtel acquis en 1994, le Groupe Azalaï est aujourd’hui présent dans 5 pays d’Afrique de l’ouest, et comme le dit Papa Madiaw Ndiaye, il a des ambitions toujours plus grandes. Premier groupe hôtelier de l’Uemoa, ayant à son service plus de 700 employés, la chaîne Azalaï hôtel devrait d’ailleurs, de source sûre, ouvrir une filiale à Dakar, avant la fin de l’année.

L’African business leadership award a été créé en 2009, pour, selon les organisateurs, «honorer des hommes et des femmes issus du continent africain dont le parcours a contribué de manière exceptionnelle au développement du monde des affaires et du secteur privé en Afrique». L’Afrig et la Bad organisent cette récompense en partenariat avec des institutions comme Africa finance corporation (Afc), BancAbc, Ecobank, Africa capital et le Groupe Sifca. Avant Mossadeck Bally, Abla avait honoré, en 2009, Mme Louisa Mojela, une Sud Africaine, Directrice générale du Groupe Women investment portfolio holdings Ltd (Wiphold), et en 2010, le Nigerian Tijani Babatunde Folawiyo, Pdg du Groupe Yinka Folawiyo. / Par Mohamed Gueye

Guiné-Bissau vai ultrapassar problemas e alcançará estabilidade política - empresário maliano galardoado

Lisboa, 08 jun (Lusa) -- A Guiné-Bissau vai ultrapassar os seus problemas internos e conhecerá a estabilidade política, disse hoje, em Lisboa, o vencedor do prémio African Business Leadership Award (ABLA) 2011, Mossadeck Bally, presidente do grupo Azalaï Hotels. Mossadeck Bally falou à Agência Lusa à margem da cimeira do Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (BAD), que decorre até sexta-feira em Lisboa, no âmbito da qual receberá hoje o prémio. O galardão, que vai na sua terceira edição, é oferecido anualmente pela AFIG (uma sociedade de gestão de fundos de investimentos em África) e por outros patrocinadores do setor privado, tendo o BAD como parceiro do evento. 

"Nós fizemos uma aposta de que a Guiné-Bissau vai conseguir ultrapassar as dificuldades e conhecer a estabilidade", disse Bally. O Hotel 24 de setembro -- em Bissau - tem 200 quartos, emprega cem pessoas e criou 300 empregos indiretos no setor hoteleiro. "É muito importante um país como a Guiné-Bissau ter 400 empregos diretos e indiretos", constatou. De acordo com o empresário maliano, "não há desenvolvimento económico sem estabilidade política."

"É verdade que as condições são um pouco difíceis. Muitas pessoas perguntaram-me o que ia fazer para a Guiné-Bissau, já que era um país instável, com golpes de Estado e assassinatos políticos", revelou. "Entretanto, fizemos uma análise e nos disseram que o país vai reencontrar a estabilidade, que é uma nação pequena que não é difícil de gerir, que tem recursos, destinos maravilhosos e está no meio do Oeste de África", avaliou.

O presidente do grupo hoteleiro disse estar contente, porque "nos últimos dois anos o país está estável, as instituições estão tomando os seus lugares, a reforma das Forças Armadas está em curso e o país é apoiado por várias entidades." 

"Cada vez mais pessoas vão para o nosso hotel, o que quer dizer que as pessoas têm confiança em estar no país. Foi uma aposta arriscada que deu certo e nós estamos muito felizes de estar na Guiné-Bissau", indicou.

O grupo de hotéis, com dezasseis anos de existência, tem sete hotéis em cinco países, emprega setecentas pessoas e gera cerca de 3.500 empregos indiretos. Sobre o galardão, "é uma grande honra ter sido nomeado e escolhido para este prémio", considerou. "Penso, sobretudo, que é um exemplo para os africanos, porque infelizmente na imprensa internacional quando se fala sobre África é em termos negativos, a guerra civil, as eleições contestadas", referiu. "O prémio coloca em destaque os empresários africanos que se debatem com condições difíceis, mas que conseguem vencer e realizar coisas", sublinhou.

Segundo Papa Madiaw Ndiaye, um dos organizadores e diretor executivo da AFIG, os requisitos para ser indicado para este prémio é ser africano, ter lutado e conseguido vencer, ter comprovadamente habilidade para uma boa gestão e que seja conhecido no seu país e em outros. "O prémio serve para que mais pessoas conheçam o galardoado e se inspirem no seu trabalho", disse Ndiaye.

CSR. / Lusa / fim

BAD: Desafio dos países lusófonos é conseguirem uma maior integração regional - responsável da AFIG

Lisboa, 08 jun (Lusa) -- O grande desafio para os países africanos de língua portuguesa é relaizarem uma maior integração regional, disse hoje, em Lisboa, o diretor-geral de uma sociedade de gestão de fundos de investimentos em África, a AFIG. "O grande desafio para estes países (africanos lusófonos) é uma maior integração regional", afirmou Papa Madiaw Ndiaye, fundador e diretor-geral da AFIG, sociedade de gestão de fundos de investimento em África.

Ndiaye falou à Agência Lusa à margem da cimeira do Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (BAD), que decorre até sexta-feira em Lisboa. "Penso que há muitas oportunidades nestes países (africanos lusófonos), há muito por fazer nestes países, que estão abertos", revelou o diretor-geral.

Ndiaye acredita que é preciso quebrar a barreira linguística, realizar negócios com outros países que não sejam lusófonos, mas que fiquem na sua vizinhança, apostando numa regionalização. "Hoje, por exemplo, Cabo Verde tem relações comerciais com o oeste de África, mas muito mais com os Estados Unidos e com os países da mesma língua (português)", referiu.

Sobre o impacto da crise financeira mundial, Ndiaye acredita que a ajuda aos países africanos diminuirá, sendo que já está a presenciar-se esta situação, devido aos problemas orçamentais dos países doadores. "Neste cenário de crise, entretanto, a África oferece muitas oportunidades de negócios e investimentos para o mercado internacional", considerou o presidente da AFIG.

A AFIG tem uma carteira com seis clientes principais, o Banco Europeu de Investimento (BEI), o BAD, o CDC (empresa do governo britânico), a organização africana "África RE", a entidade finlandesa FINFUND, e a corporação financeira IFC, do Banco Mundial, atuando em diversos países africanos.

A gestora de fundos de investimento também tem alguns projetos sociais. "Não basta investir em determinado país e depois tirar os lucros, é preciso também contribuir para o desenvolvimento das nações onde atuámos", declarou Papa Madiaw Ndiaye. Entre os vários projetos sociais, está um que consiste na recuperação de computadores vindos dos Estados Unidos e que depois são enviados para escolas no Gana.

A AFIG atribui também anualmente um prémio de excelência a um gestor do setor privado. Hoje, durante a cimeira do BAD -- que decorre até sexta-feira, em Lisboa -- a AFIG e outros patrocinadores vão entregar o prémio African Business Leadership Award (ABLA) 2011 a Mossadeck Bally, presidente do grupo Azalaï Hotels, do Mali.

CSR. / Lusa / fim

ALLAFRICA.COM AfDB Business Leadership Award Winner Advocates People-Friendly Governance

South African business woman, Louisa Madiako Mojela, who became the first recipient of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group's African Business Leadership Award, has urged governments in Africa to create people-friendly environments, where all men and women can thrive and attain their maximum leadership potential.

Governments should start creating not only women-friendly environments, but also the political space where all could develop leadership and personal capacities, Mrs. Mojela emphasized after receiving her prize from AfDB Group President, Donald Kaberuka, on Sunday in Dakar, Senegal. "I believe that we now need to start creating not only women-friendly environments, but also people-friendly ones where all team members can thrive and reachtheir maximum leadership potential," she said.

The yearly Award, which is a partnership between the AfDB, Advanced Finance and Investment Group LLC (AFIG), African Banking Corporation (ABC), African Finance Corporation(AFC), AfriSearch and Ecobank Senegal, was established to honour outstanding contributions in African Business and Private Sector Development. The award supports and directs attention to efforts made to benefit shareholders, customers, employees, governments and all economic actors in Africa's private sector.

Mrs. Mojela, who is the chief executive officer of the Johannesburg-based Women Investment Portfolio Holdings Limited (WIPHOLD), specifically made a case for a women-friendly environment, adding that "the onus is on us to take advantage of the environment to develop leadership and personal capacities in women andfor women. "Noting that the continent was constantly seeking ways to become a credible player in the global marketplace, the award winner stressed that, "our economies can never be sustained or developed by male productivity alone."

"Unlocking women's productive capacity and leadership role is one of the most dynamic ways a society can multiply its efficiency and global competitiveness. This means awareness must be raised so that women can and must participate in all sectors of the economy for a myriad of reasons, most often out of necessity," she explained.

The AfDB President, Donald Kaberuka, for his part, said private sector development was the key to unlock the huge potential represented by African women in business. "our experience tells us that the much-anticipated emergence on the world stage of the African private sector can only take place if Africa can produce exceptional men and women who are capable of turning their vision into concrete actions," he added. "This is the only way to lay the foundation for Africa's future blue-chip companies," he said. "I take this opportunity to salute Mrs. Louisa Madiako Mojela's track record as well as her courage in carving out a meaningful role for women in the corporate boardroom. This is a remarkable feat anywhere in the world and we welcome it even more in Africa," Mr. Kaberuka added.

The AFIG Chief Executive Officer, Papa Madiaw Ndiaye, noted that "Today, we recognize the best amongst ourselves. We also try to give back in some small way to our sister, Louisa Mojela, a truly exceptional woman who was able, very early on, to identify gaps in the African private sector and devise innovative solutions to launch South African enterprises on the path of value and wealth creation."



African Business Leadership Award atribuído a empresária sul-africana

Dakar - Um grupo de instituições privadas panafricanas e o Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (BAD) concederam domingo em Dakar o prémio "African Business Leadership Award" a Louisa Madioka Mojela, empresária sul-africana directora-geral do grupo WIPHOLD, primeira empresa da África do Sul detida por mulheres a entrar na Bolsa de Joanesburgo.

O prémio African Business Leadership foi entregue a Mojela durante uma cerimónia presidida pelo presidente do grupo do BAD, Donald Kaberuka, em prelúdio às 44ª Assembleias Anuais da instituição financeira previstas na capital senegalesa de 13 a 14 de Maio.

A distinção, na sua primeira edição e cujo montante não foi revelado, apoia os esforços de indivíduos, empresas ou organizações a favor do sector privado africano, precisam os promotores. Por seu turno, a laureada disse estar "honrada" por este prémio e sublinhou que esta recompensa vem reconhecer as realizações dum grupo de mulheres na origem do fundo de investimento privado sul-africano Women Investment Portfolio Holdings Limited (WIPHOLD).



La Sud-Africaine Louisa Madiako Mojela, lauréate 2009 du Prix africain de leadership d’entreprise

La Sud-Africaine Louisa Madiako Mojela, lauréate 2009 du Prix africain de leadership d’entreprise, a reçu son prix dimanche à Dakar des mains du président de la Banque africaine de développement (BAD), Donald Kaberuka. « Je salue Mme Mojela qui se distingue non seulement par son parcours remarquable maisaussi par son courage dans un contexte où la femme en général, et la femme africaine en particulier, n’est que trop peu attendue dans les plus hautes instances du monde des affaires », a poursuivi le président de la BAD. Pour Kaberuka, « l’Afrique a aujourd’hui plus besoin d’affaires que d’aide », et c’est pour cela qu’il faut « que les pays adoptent des politiques de genre qui aillent dans le sens de la
promotion de la femme africaine ».

« Il faut que nous identifions et magnifions nos leaders d’entreprises ; Mme Mojela est une fierté pour nous tous, et elle personnifie le courage et l’abnégation de la femme africaine », a déclaré M. Pape Madiaw Ndiaye, le directeur général d ‘Advanced Finance and Investment Group’ (AFIG). En plus d’AFIG, la cérémonie, qui s’est déroulée en prélude des 44è Assemblées annuelles de la Banque africaine de développement (BAD) qu’abrite Dakar du 10 au 14 mai, est cosponsorisée
par Ecobank Sénégal, Afric Search, Africa Finance Corporation, African Banking Corporation.

La récipiendaire a à son tour exprimé toute son « émotion et satisfaction », avant de dédier son prix à ses collaborateurs mais aussi à toutes les femmes africaines. « Je suis honorée et très enthousiaste de voir que c’est une institution africaine qui me décerne ce Prix », a déclaré Mme Mojela qui a fondé en 1994 ‘Women Investment Portofolio Limited (WIPHOLD). Il est temps que les politiques de développement prennent en compte la « promotion des femmes à travers l’Afrique avec le renforcement des capacités de cette catégorie de la population », a-t-elle plaidé. « Les femmes africaines jouent un rôle phénoménal » et leur mise à l’écart ne milite pas en faveur du développement du continent, a encore prévenu Mme Mojela qui a été reconnue parmi les 40 premières femmes entrepreneurs les plus puissantes du monde, selon le classement d’une institution de Californie, aux Etas-Unis. En 2008, elle a également été désignée parmi les femmes les plus puissantes d’Afrique du Sud.



 

"African governments should start to create a supportive environment for women." Those were Mrs.Madiako Mojela's words after receiving her prize from the ADB President. She adds, "but also to men so that all team members can develop and reach their full potential. "

REUTERS / Louisa Madiako Mojela is a businesswoman from South Africa, who became the first winner of the "Business Leadership Award" from the African Development Bank Group. Ms. Mojela is the Director of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings Limited (WIPHOLD), based in Johannesburg. She has distinguished herself by creating a welcoming environment for women.

According to her: "our economy will never be supported or developed solely by the productivity of men." She adds, "freeing the productive capacity of women, assuming the leadership role is one of the most dynamic ways for a company to increase its efficiency and global competitiveness. This means that awareness must be increased so that women participate fully in all sectors of the economy.

This annual award, which is a the result of partnership between the ADB, ADVANCED Finance Investment Group LLC (AFIG), African Banking Corporation (ABC), the African Finance Corporation (AFC), and Ecobank AfriSearch Senegal, was created to honor outstanding contributions in African business and in private sector development. The award is intended primarily for supporting value adding initiatives for shareholders, customers, employees, government and for all African private sector economic stakeholders.

The ADB president Donald Kaberuka, for his part, stated that private sector development is the key to unlocking the huge potential of African women. And he continues on saying that the long-awaited African sector appearance on the world stage
can only be achieved if Africa can produce men and women of exceptional ability to transform their vision into concrete actions. / Abdoulaye KAMA and translation by Ibrahima BARRY

Award Winner Seeks Atmosphere for Leadership

Chief Executive Officer of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings Limited (WIPHOLD), Johannesburg, Mrs. Louisa Madiako Mojela, recipient of the first-ever African Development Bank’s African Business Leadership Award, yesterday urged governments in Africa to create people-friendly environments, where all men and women could thrive and reach their maximum leadership potential.

Mojela, who spoke at the presentation of the award in Dakar, Senegal, said authorities should start creating not only women-friendly environments but an environment where all could develop leadership and personal capacities. “I believe that we now need to start creating not only women-friendly environments, but also people-friendly ones where all team members can thrive and reach their maximum leadership potential,” she said.

The award, which is a partnership between the African Development Bank (ADB), Advanced Finance and Investment Group LLC (AFIG), African Banking Corporation (ABC), African Finance Corporation(AFC), AfriSearch and Ecobank Senegal, was established to honour outstanding contributions in African business and private sector development once a year. The award supports and directs attention to efforts made to benefit shareholders, customers, employees, governments and all the economic actors who interact within any field related to the African private sector.

Mojela, specifically made a case for a women-friendly environment for women saying,”the onus is on us to take advantage of the environment to develop leadership and personal capacities in women and for women.” Noting that the continent was constantly seeking ways to become credible player in the global market place, the award winner however stressed that, “our economies can never be sustained or developed by on male productivity alone. Unlocking womenís productive capacity and leadership role is one of the most dynamic ways a society can multiply its efficiency and global competitiveness. This means awareness must be raised that women can and must participate in all sectors of he economy for a myriad of reasons, most often out of necessity,” she said. / From Kunle Aderinokun in Dakar, Senegal
 

www.AfDB.org / Interview with Tijani Babatunde Folawiyo, Nominated as 2010 Best African Entrepreneur 
Yinka Folawiyo Group Director General, Tijani Babatunde Folawiyo, is the winner of the 2010 African Business Leadership Award. The prize was awarded to him on May 25, 2010, by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group President, Donald Kaberuka, on the sidelines of the institution’s Annual Meetings taking place in Abidjan, from May 26-27, 2010.
 

Interview avec Tijani Babatunde Folawiyo, nommé meilleur entrepreneur africain 2010 : Directeur général du Groupe Yinka Folawiyo, Tijani Babatunde Folawiyo est le lauréat de l’African Business Leadership Award 2010, prix remis le 25 mai 2010 par le président de la Banque africaine de développement (BAD), Donald Kaberuka, en marge des Assemblées annuelles de l’institution à Abidjan, 26-27 mai 2010.

Question : Quels commentaires suite à ce prix que vous avez reçu?

Réponse : C’est avec beaucoup d’humilité, beaucoup de joie et également avec  beaucoup de bonheur que j’accepte le prix de l’African Business Leadership Award 2010. Je suis surpris, mais heureux de savoir que mon travail à la tête du Groupe Yinka Folawiyo, de MtN Nigeria et de membre du conseil d’administration de la nouvelle Access Bank ait été reconnu.

Question : L’Afrique peut-elle rehausser la tête avec des talents comme vous?

Réponse : Nous avons toujours appliqué des règles d’éthiques et préconisé des valeurs qui ont permis cette réussite. Il y a évidement des hommes d’affaires qui essaient de réussir hors des règles. Ils arrivent à se hisser au sommet parfois, mais n’y restent jamais longtemps. Dans le cas de mon entreprise, nous avons toujours voulu faire ce qui est juste et moral. Ce genre d’évènements où on reconnait le travail de ses pairs, où les Africains reconnaissent leurs mérites,  constitue une prise de conscience. Il faut faire ce qui doit être fait, en respectant les règles d’éthique et de déontologie. Une fois que l’Afrique aura compris cela, les valeurs d’intégrité deviendront la norme et favoriseront d'autant le développement du secteur privé.  

Question : Qu’est ce qui selon vous a fait la différence par rapport aux autres dirigeants?

Réponse : Ce qui caractérise mon entreprise, c’est qu’elle repose sur la motivation de créer la meilleure société possible. Si des personnes estiment que ce modèle mérite d’être récompensé, tant mieux. Certes, mon objectif premier n’est pas d’être reconnu par mes pairs. Cependant, je suis heureux de savoir que d’autres personnes ont pris note de mon engagement, en récompensant les efforts de création d'entreprise, en souligant la gestion qui a conduit à cette réussite.

Question : Que pensez-vous de l’environnement délétère des affaires en Afrique?

Réponse : La situation s’est améliorée. Il y a quinze années, lorsque nous démarrions, toutes les banques nigérianes combinées ne pouvaient financer un investissement de plus 50 millions USD. Aujourd’hui, une seule banque au Nigeria peut financer ce genre d’investissement. S’il est vrai que les entreprises éprouvent toujours des difficultés de financement, les conditions sont aujourd’hui nettement meilleures. Dans le milieu financier, il y a également de nouveaux acteurs, des sociétés de gestion de fonds notamment, qui apportent du capital aux entreprises africaines. Certes, l’environnement des affaires est toujours difficile, au niveau juridique, fiscal, mais il y a eu une énorme amélioration. Beaucoup de gouvernants africains se sont rendu compte qu’ils ne peuvent plus être les «adversaires» du secteur privé. Ils doivent travailler de concert avec les entrepreneurs. Il y a donc des efforts énormes qui ont été consentis pour améliorer le cadre réglementaire, à différents niveaux.

Question : Quels conseils donnés à la jeunesse africaine?

Réponse : Le travail est dur, mais il est plus reconnu qu’auparavant. Il faut que la jeunesse sache qu’il y a une bonne façon de réussir, et une  mauvaise façon de réussir. Si elle commence à prendre des raccourcis, à pratiquer des méthodes peu recommandables, elle ne pourra réussir dans le long terme. Il faut pouvoir créer des modèles de réussite, et agir dans les normes et en toute intégrité.
 

Rédigé par Francis Yedan. Source BAD