The Women in Business Association (WIBA) has announced that it will hold its second instalment of the Women in Business excellence awards on August 26, 2016. The event which will be held under the theme, “An infinite sparkle, her success story,” has been endorsed by the Ministry of Labour & Home Affairs, through the Department of Gender Affairs.
Women led businesses will compete under six exciting categories, with the overall Business Woman of the year walking away with a cash prize of P50, 000, courtesy of Stanbic Bank Botswana. More details of prizes will be shared with the public as soon as the 2016 WIBA Awards sponsors are unveiled. Most of the 2015 WIBA Awards sponsors will be retained and more are expected to be added on the list.
Some sponsors include Stanbic Bank Botswana, Botswana Oil, Debswana, Village Imaging, Earth Vitamins, Dee Zone Productions, Resource Logic, Ba-Isago University, 03 and Mobile Enterprises.
WIBA has also promised that this year’s awards will be taken a notch up in both scope and magnitude.
Women will compete in the following categories: Young Entrepreneur Award, Innovation Award, Male Dominated Industry Award, Female Collaboration Awards, Social Entrepreneur Award and the Informal Sector Award. One exciting addition to this year’s awards is ‘the male dominated industry’ category, which seeks to celebrate those women making a mark in areas previously dominated by male counterparts such as construction, mining, architecture, engineering amongst many.
Only women who have made significant strides in various business aspects throughout the year will be considered for the awards. Entries to enter the campaign are ongoing and the entry forms are available on the WIBA website, WIBA office and throughout all Department of Gender Affairs offices in the country. Distribution partners are being explored to ensure maximum outreach in as far as participation is concerned. These will be revealed soon through media.
The awards coordinator, Tshatsha Diraditsile mentioned that the awards are the biggest event before the much hyped BOT50 celebrations “because one woman’s win is a win for all”. WIBA President Tumi Mbaakanyi says business women should strive for ‘that infinite sparkle’ whilst they carve their business success stories.
Founded in 1990, WIBA’s mandate is to unearth, nurture, develop and navigate a better business change for women entrepreneurs in Botswana. It is an organisation focused on promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst the womenfolk. It has, despite resources constraints, made bold strides in promoting business education and sustenance of this economic framework.
