Integrity and innovation take centre stage at the All Africa Business Leaders Awards

What an honour to be part of the prestigious All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) at the Sandton Convention Centre recently. The event brought together visionaries and change makers from across the continent, and the welcome address was nothing short of inspirational.

Among the evening’s most memorable moments was the welcome address delivered by Mr Sid Wahi, Managing Director of CMA Investment Holdings and founding shareholder of the group that includes CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa. His powerful opening declaration, “For decades, the world spoke of Africa’s potential. But here, in 2025, the conversation has changed. Africa is no longer waiting to arrive… Africa has arrived.” This statement set the tone for the evening, reminding us that Africa’s story is no longer one of anticipation but of achievement. From Kigali’s clean-tech corridors to Lagos’s fintech skyline, he highlighted how African innovation is shaping global conversations.

Mr Wahi’s speech focused on integrity, quoting New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, he said: “What I don’t have in experience, I make up for in integrity. And what you don’t have in integrity, you could never make up for in experience.” Mr Wahi expanded on this, noting, “In an age when expertise is abundant but ethics are scarce, integrity has become our rarest resource. It is not a skill. It is a standard.” For us, this was a defining moment of the evening. It underscored that while experience may build empires, only integrity builds legacies.

Reflecting on leadership changes at major African institutions, Mr Wahi observed, “These transitions remind us that Africa’s greatest institutions are not fragile, they are foundational. They evolve without losing their essence. That is the mark of true leadership: renewal without rupture.”

This perspective resonated with attendees, reinforcing the idea that Africa’s leadership is maturing with empathy and purpose. Mr Wahi left the audience with a timeless reminder, “Experience may build empires. But only integrity builds legacies.”

For us, attending the AABLA was more than witnessing an awards ceremony. It was a reaffirmation of Africa’s restless, radiant and resilient spirit. It was a reminder that the continent’s rise will be defined not just by innovation but by integrity.

And as we have repeatedly shown, it is the GIFS way.