Ghana’s female entrepreneur Winnifred Selby has emerged winner of the 2016 New African Woman in Science, Technology & Innovation award, beating 5 other nominees to the title. Ms Selby, who’s 20 years old, is the co-founder of Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative which produces 60 to 100 bicycles a month.
The judging panel noted that Selby “is an outstanding leader and social entrepreneur who has been dedicating her life to the economic empowerment of young people, notably women,” adding that she primarily employs women who train each other. She is the previous winner of Cartier Women’s Initiative Award and was a participant of the 2013 UNFCCC.
Other nominees in the category were JamilaAbass (Kenya), ChinweOhajuruka (Nigeria), HabibaBouhamedChaabouni (Tunisia), Sara Menker (Ethiopia) and ThérèseIzayKirongozi (DR Congo).
The 2016 New African Woman award winners were announced at the Andaz Hotel in London in honour of Africa’s most influential women. They recognise African women who have been instrumental in shaping their societies and pay tribute to individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields within and outside the continent.
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission was honoured with the 2016 New African Woman in Politics & Public Office award.
The 2016 New African Woman of the Year award went to Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, the Special Envoy on Gender at the African Development.
Education activist Zuriel Oduwole won the 2016 New African Woman on the Rise Award for her work on advocacy for the education of girls in Africa.
Obiageli Ezekwesili, the face of the #Bringbackourgirls campaign was rewarded with the 2016 New African Woman Award in Civil Society.
The 2016 New African Woman in Education award was given to Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Director of the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development programme, designed to equip women agricultural scientist across sub-Saharan Africa to accelerate agricultural gains by strengthening their research and leadership skills.
Olajumoke Adenowo received the award for 2016 New African Woman in Business.
Arunma Oteh received the award for the 2016 New African Woman in Finance and Banking.
The New African Woman Award for Media was given to Mo Abudu, the first African woman to launch a Pan-Africa TV channel.
Ethiopian long-distance runner Almaz Ayana received the 2016 New African Woman in Sport Award.
The award for the 2016 New African Woman in Arts and Culture went to BAFTA award-winning director, Amma Asante. The Ghanaian is the woman behind the British production, “Belle” which sparked off a debate about Britain’s slave history.
The Awards were held under the high patronage of the African Development Bank.
The event also saw the launch of the New African Woman Social Media Campaign which will run until the end of 2016. The campaign will ask the magazine’s readers, as well as prominent African women, how they define the New African Woman.
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