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Nigerian entrepreneur and activist, Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, was named alongside Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and rap sensation Stormzy at the Powerlist UK 2020 Awards in London.
The annual awards, which was held on Friday 25 October, celebrates Britain’s most influential people of African and Afro Caribbean heritage in business, the public sector, science, technology, sports, media and the arts. This year’s Powerlist recipients include boxing champion, Anthony Joshua; actor Idris Elba; British Vogue Editor, Edward Enninful; Makeup artist and Founder Pat McGrath Labs, Pat McGrath; Formula 1 World Champion, Lewis Hamilton MBE.
Ismail Ahmed, the Somaliland-born founder and chairman of WorldRemit, a digital money transfer company with over 4 million users worldwide received the 2020 Powerlist No. 1 Award. Mr. Ahmed’s revolutionary work at WorldRemit has made it possible for people in remote parts of Africa to receive money through the use of their mobile phones.
The Powerlist UK International Award is given to a person based outside of the UK, considered to have distinguished himself or herself as a change-maker, innovator, inspiration and person of considerable influence. Dr. Balonwu received the honour for her work as founder and chair of African Women on Board (AWB), an independent, African women-led non- profit organisation focused on advancing narratives and improving realities of women and girls of African heritage around the world. AWB works with partners such as Ford Foundation, Wikimedia and other organisations on initiatives that advance and improve realties for women and girls of African descent around the world.
While accepting the award, Dr. Balonwu challenged the audience to look beyond stereotypes about women of African heritage. “What do you think of when you think of African women? Do you think of our unsung talents? Or the women on the African continent who have the highest rates of female entrepreneurship in the world?” she asked. “What if the solution to many of Africa’s problems were its women? Because clearly, you cannot win any game playing half your team” said Balonwu. As “African women, we do not leave the fate of our children to our men alone, therefore she said, we cannot leave the fate of our continent to our men alone. African women need to get on board to create a brighter future for Africa and our children. We must begin by believing in ourselves and owning our strengths.”
The other three awards of the evening went to US businesswoman Ursula Burns, the Chairman and CEO of VEON, who was presented with the Lifetime Recognition Award. Tech educator and founder of the Urban Teacher, Mark Martin MBE; the PwC Purpose Award; whilst Lord Simon Woolley of Woodford, founder and director of Operation Black Vote, who received the Powerlist 2020