This month, Uganda is celebrating the achievements of three of its most inspirational women, all recognised by the prestigious 2015 MTN Women in Business Awards. Barbara Ofwono, founder of Victorious Schools took home the much coveted overall award of MTN Women in Business SME CEO of the Year, applauded for her outstanding use of MTN Business’s overall service and value propositions to grow her business substantially, from one small enterprise to the current chain of Victorious Schools which offer quality education from day care and kindergarten, to primary and boarding schools.
Other award winners on the evening were Lindsay Handler, the Managing Director of Fenix International a venture-backed renewable energy company that is helping to power up the lives and homes of Ugandan citizens using innovations such as ReadyPay Solar Power Systems. Lindsay took home the MTN Women in Business Award for Excellence in Financial Services recognising her company’s outstanding use of MTN’s Mobile Money service offering to grow her business to new heights.
The third award went to Kembambazi Sabiiti, the country manager of Amadeus Travel Company in the category of MTN Business Excellence in ICT, for her company’s outstanding use of MTN’s ICT proposition to expand her business. Amadeus is at the forefront of innovation in travel sector technology, providing cutting edge technology that keeps travel sector moving - from initial search to making a booking, from pricing to ticketing, from managing reservations to managing check-in and departure processes.
Each of the winners received an incredible prize comprising a business trip to South Africa with the objective of meeting and networking with the country’s biggest and most successful SMEs, and learning from their experiences and businesses. They were also awarded MTN office Wi-Fi for six months, $10,000 from the Y’ello Rose programme, CUG activation and free subscription for six months, 5 MTN fixed lines, 1 year hosting at Mutundwe data centre from MTN Uganda, advertising space for 3 months on NTV, free business advisory services from Uganda Development Bank and a free strategic plan review for sustainable growth.
All three women were presented with their awards at a prestigious MTN Women in Business Award dinner attended by over 300 industry professionals and influencers.
Lionesses of Africa is proud of these pioneering women in Uganda who are proving that Africa is a thriving and expanding entrepreneurial environment in which innovation and pioneering approaches to doing business are at the heart of its growth.