Zimbabwe security firm wins Africa investor award

A Zimbabwe-based security firm, Securico, has beaten nine other finalists to the Sh9 million Africa Award for Entrepreneurship.

Securico was named the winner during a dinner for Africa Convergence Conference participants held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi last week.

Ms Divine Ndhlukula, the founder and managing director of Securico, told an inspiring story of how she started the business from scratch and raised capital for expansion to a point where it employs 3,000 people today.

“I hope that my story of creating Securico will help to inspire other African entrepreneurs to seek opportunity, embrace risk, and believe in themselves,” she said describing the other finalists as “a talented, dynamic group of entrepreneurs.”

Legatum, a private international investment group, and Omidyar Network, an investment firm, are the main sponsors of the annual awards which recognise and reward business leaders who have the spirit and qualities needed to succeed and inspire future African entrepreneurs.

Other winners were entertainment company Chocolate City Group of Nigeria, Expand Technology of Mauritius, Unique Solutions of The Gambia, Pepperoni Foods of Nigeria, and footwear company Sole Rebels of Ethiopia.

Each was awarded $50,000. Victoria Seeds, an agribusiness based in Uganda, received a $50,000 prize offered by Coca-Cola Company to an outstanding business owned and managed by a woman entrepreneur.

Over 3,000 entries were received from across the country, with 10 finalists representing eight countries announced in November.

The finalists were drawn from Ethiopia, The Gambia, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Since inception of the awards four years ago, Kenya has had a strong representation with Craft Silicon, a software company, winning last year’s grand prize.

Other winners from the country have included agribusiness AAA Growers, KenCall, Virtual City, AAR Health, and Mellech Engineering.

This year’s nomination from Kenya was InvesteQ Capital, a financial service company. The finalists were among other entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers, and business people who attended the Convergence Africa Conference held at the same venue.

The one day conference brought together different players to discuss ways of accelerating Africa’s growth and network. Speakers included Tony O Elumelu, chairman Heirs Holdings Group and former Group CEO of United Bank of Africa, billionaire Richard Branson of Virgin Group, James Mwangi of Equity Bank, Nik Nesbitt of Kencall, and Fred Swaniker, founder of the African Leadership Academy.

pmaina@ke.nationmedia.com