World 5000m reigning champion Hellen Obiri won the Forbes Woman Africa Sports Award in a virtual ceremony with an audience of more than 2,000 attendees from across the world.
Kenyan comedian Elsa Majimbo also won the Entertainer Award in the event that took place on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.
"It has been a tough year for me and everyone around the world but hopefully there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” an Obiri told Forbes Woman Africa (FWA).
The award recognizes Africa’s most influential women in business, sports, science, entertainment and leadership who inspire confidence through rewriting the narrative, leaders who advocate positive change and are committed to economic and social transformation on the continent.
The winners were named following a dynamic two-day virtual interaction focused on this year’s theme, Africa Reloaded: The Power of The Collective.
Since its inception in 2016, hosted as a prestigious gala event, the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit has been a platform bringing together a unique collection of female leaders and trail-blazers from across Africa and the world.
2021 Forbes Woman Africa Award winners:
- FWA Sports Award (World 5000m champion Hellen Obiri)
- FWA Entertainer Award (Elsa Majimbo)
- FWA Lifetime Achievement Award (Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former president of Liberia)
- Rabia Ghoor, Founder of Switch Beauty (FWA Young Achievers Award)
- FWA Social Impact Award (Isabelle Kamariza, Founder of Solid'Africa)
- FWA Technology and Innovation Award (Temie Giwa Tubosun, Founder of Lifebank)
- FWA Academic Excellence Award (Professor Rudo Mathivha, Academic Head of Intensive Care Services at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital)
- FWA Business Woman of the Year (Ada Osakwe, Founder of Agrolay Ventures)