All awardees pose for photos with host, publisher Africa Informer, Prince Ike Onwuka Smarty in white
The Luncheon and awards
presentation was the second part and grand finale of the 2nd West
Africa SME Conference and International Awards of Excellence, 2016. The
exciting presentation saw deserving accolades go to 12 organizations in the SME
Finance, micro insurance, micro investments, waste management, agro allied and
event management sectors.
Speaking at the presentation,
host and publisher of African Informer, the organizers, Ike Onwuka-Smarty, said “All the organizations here
today have been innovative, creative, outstanding, efficient and deserve
accolades for their exemplary performances over the years. That is why the West
Africa SME International Awards of Excellence is being presented to them to
encourage them to continue to do more.”
ALL THE AWARDEES AT A GLANCE
IZWE LOANS GHANA, a micro finance firm with roots in South Africa
and operations spanning 5 African countries received the WEST AFRICA SME INTERNATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE AS GHNA’S TOP
QUALITY INDIGENOUS FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS BRAND OF THE YEAR, with its
concentrated financial products for local businesses and governmental
institutions like police personnel.
LEGACY MICRO FINANCE COMPANY LTD, which started 5 years ago as a
one man business from a bedroom with Ghc5,000 ($1,200), has grown to become one
of Ghana top SME finance institutions with 160 employees, 7 branches, 30,000
customers and financial portfolio in the region of GHc 80 million ($20.2M). A
remarkable story that earned the company the
WASCA 2016, AWARD OF EXCELLENCE AS GHANA’S EMERGING MICRO FINANCE INSTITUTION.
The company’s CEO, Mr. Mark Opoku is one of Ghana’s most amazing serial
entrepreneur.
For NATIONWIDE MICROFINANCE LTD, adjudged GHANA’S MOST EFFICIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION FOR MSME GROWTH,
the growth over the past 6 years has been tough but worth the sweat. With
humble beginnings in 2010, the company now has a current turn over in the range
of Ghc 15million ($3.95) and an asset base which stands at over Ghc45 million
($11.45 million). Its platforms for business transformation and networking has
impacted on its efficiency in the growth of its more than 100,000 customers
across the length and breadth of Ghana and beyond.
Led by one of the youngest CEOs
in the mould of Alhaji Salamu Amadu, AFRO-ARAB
MICRO FINANCE CO. LTD, receives the SME INTERNATIONAL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 2016
FOR SERVICE EXCELLENCE IN MICRO AND SAMLL ENTERPRISE FINANCING, for its
focus on the smallest traders, artisans and the indigenous small businesses etc
in the MSME sector, thus providing and creating employment for a vast majority.
Amadu decade in business management sees him oversee the Afro Arab group that has
interests in properties, travel and tours, sports, jewelry, telecom and
charity.
MAN CAPITALMICRO FINANCE has in the past 5 years been committed to
the building and fuelling of the capital engine of its thousands of valuable
customers in Ghana. This why it emerged the MOST REMARKABLE MICRO FINANCE COMPANY IN GHANA.
With an astounding innovation
that is rare in the insurance world STAR
MICROINSURANCE SERVICES LTD, started a revolution 8 years ago with the
concept of micro insurance, that insures the micro business that has been
neglected by the sector. Today it is reaping the benefits of this foresight
that has of course been emulated by some. It has even gone a step further by
insuring the risks of micro finance institutions. The organization is WEST AFRICA SME INTERNATIONAL AWARD OF
EXCELLENCE RECIPIENT AS GHANA’S BEST MICRO INSURANCE COMPANY FOR SMALL
ENTERPRISE GROWTH.
Lagos Nigeria based SPARROW DÉCOR PLUS emerged WEST AFRICA’S MOST OUTSTANDING EVENT DÉCOR
COMPANY for its over 25 years existence, remarkable experience, creativity
and outstanding skills are the hallmark of the brain behind the brand, Mrs.
Sikeade Adetu. The company continues to manage events for some of the global
multinationals in West Africa; Cadbury, GSK, Zenith bank, Cocal Cola and a host
of others. She has also conducted training for event managers in the US, UK
South Africa, Nigeria.
AUDYLOT SEASONING, started a couple of years back as an agro
processing company packaging a lot of local Ghanaian seasonings to add spice to
the preparation of local delicacies. It also packages less processed products
like packed okro, garden eggs, sliced yam/plantain/cassava etc. The brain child
of former research consultant Audrey Allotey, the company is a testament to
resilience and ingenuity of the youth to carve a niche. This is why we honor Audylot with the WEST AFRICA SME INTERNATIONAL AWARD OF
EXCELLENCE AS GHANA’S FASTEST RISING INDIGENOUS FOOD SEASONING BRAND
With focus on areas like asset
finance, business loans and savings accounts, SIC LIFE SAVINGS AND LOANS has become one of Ghana’s most sort
after SME Finance organizations. Led by UK trained Richard Appietu, the company
has within a few years stamped its feet firmly in the SME finance firmament. It
received the WASCA AWARD as GHANA’S
FASTEST GROWING SAVINGS AND LOANS COMPANY FOR ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT 2016.
Another salute to entrepreneurial
spirit is the award of GHANA’S MOST
EFFICIENT WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY
presented to ASADU ROYAL WASTE
MANAGEMENT COMPANY which was founded by Germany trained Edward Asadu.
Starting from humble beginning 20years ago, the company has become one of
Ghana’s top organizations in that sector.
The awesome innovation brought
into investment banking by the Founder of GLORYGATE
CAPITAL, Mrs. Fransisca Karikari,
deserves all the accolades. Another insight to the large funds available in the
SME sector for investment, the company in a deviation from the norm where
investment banking institutions focus mainly on huge financial assets, seeks
fund from SMEs for interest yielding investments which also help the SME secure
their profits. The company received awards as WEST AFRICA SME INTERNATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE AS GHANA’S FASTEST
GROWING INVESTMENT INSTITUTION FOR SME GROWTH.
GROFIN GHANA is one of the pioneering SME development financiers in
Africa. Headquartered in Mauritius, it has offices in Nigeria, Zambia, Uganda,
Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria (2), Ghana, Eqypt, Oman and Jordan. It manages
funds on behalf of more than 30 international development finance institutions,
development organizations, foundations, large companies and private funders
with committed funds in the range of $500M. Its unique funding package of
guiding SMEs through important skills acquisitions, business development trainings
and analysis etc before funds release has since high percentage of growth in
SME lucky enough to partner with it. Its unique approach since 2004 has won it
many global accolades. GROFIN received the WEST AFRICA SME AWARD OF EXCELLENCE AS
GHANA’S BEST AND UNIQUE ORGANIZATION FOR SME DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH 2016.
