The Africa Tech Festival Awards 2025 brought the continent’s brightest technology leaders, disruptors, and innovators together under one roof to honour excellence in digital transformation. Hosted in Cape Town, the prestigious ceremony highlighted individuals and organisations accelerating Africa’s journey toward a more connected, innovative, and inclusive digital future.
A Night Celebrating Impact and Innovation
Held on Wednesday, 12 November, the awards recognised those shaping Africa’s tech landscape across telecommunications, AI, fintech, cybersecurity, social impact, and startup innovation. Finalists and winners were chosen through a meticulous three-stage adjudication process that included public voting and a review by an expert judging panel of leading figures across business, technology, and finance.
Honouring the 2025 Champions of African Tech
This year’s winners reflect the breadth and depth of innovation across the continent:
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Connectivity for All: Orange
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AI Leader of the Year: Jean-Francois Arnod, CMO, Orange
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Telco of the Year: Vodacom
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Innovation for Impact: Mastercard Community Pass
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CXO of the Year: Dejan Kastelic, CTO, Vodacom
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Changing Lives Award: SES and the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI)
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Female Innovator of the Year: Ms Ennaifer Asma, Senior VP CSR, Orange Middle East & Africa
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Fintech Innovation of the Year: Vodacom
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Startup of the Year: Booi Industries (Pty) Ltd
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Cybersecurity Leader of the Year: Tim Theuri, CISO, M-Pesa Africa
High-resolution images of the winners are available here: https://apo-opa.co/48aH8Yh
A Distinguished Panel of Industry Leaders
The rigorous selection process was overseen by an accomplished panel of judges:
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Vukosi Sambo – Group CIO, PHA STM Healthcare & Marara Group
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John Bosco Arends – Group Head: Information & Network Technology Operations, City of Johannesburg
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Sithembile Songo – Group Head: Information Security, Eskom Holdings
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Nina Triantis – Global Head Telecoms, Media & Technology, Standard Bank
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Bas Wijne – CEO, APO Group
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Bunmi Adeleye – Chief Strategy Officer, Shoprite Nigeria
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Robert Aouad – CEO, ISOCEL Telecom
Their expertise ensured that only the most innovative, impactful, and visionary leaders were recognised.
Africa Tech Festival Continues
The awards form part of the Africa Tech Festival 2025, running from 11 to 13 November at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The festival continues to be the continent’s largest and most influential gathering for technology, featuring exhibitions, panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions aimed at driving Africa’s digital economy forward.
