Nairobi — Kenya’s Chief Justice, Martha Koome and Benin’s Vice President, Mariam Chabi Talata, have both been nominated for the prestigious African Female Leader of the Year Award in the African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards.
This accolade is bestowed upon an African woman who has defied societal norms and made a significant positive impact on the continent, while also inspiring other women to strive for excellence across various fields.
The nominations follow a call for submissions that garnered responses from Africans across the continent and in the diaspora. Justice Koome’s nomination was supported by a diverse group of readers and followers, who responded to a call for nominations distributed by the African Leadership Magazine’s media partners.
Martha Koome, a prominent human rights and gender advocate, emerged as a candidate for the position of Chief Justice in Kenya after the retirement of David Maraga in January 2021.
During the selection process, she was shortlisted for the Chief Justice position and participated in a public interview on April 14, 2021.
She was among the 13 candidates who applied for this crucial role. Koome’s dedication to human rights and gender issues has earned her recognition and made her a prominent figure in the legal and advocacy community. Her commitment to these causes has been a defining aspect of her career.
The African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards is a premier vote-based recognition event in Africa, held annually to honor individuals who contribute to the advancement of the continent and challenge negative perceptions of Africa.
The selection process involves nominations and voting, allowing individuals from around the world to participate in choosing winners across various categories.
Justice Koome’s nomination is in line with the magazine’s commitment to showcasing the often underrepresented achievements of African leaders who may not receive sufficient recognition on global media platforms.
Among the notable nominees in other categories are Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS; Nonkululeko Nyembezi, Chairman of Standard Bank Group, South Africa; and Naseem Lahri, Managing Director of Lucara Diamonds, Botswana.
Voting is currently open on the official awards website, www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk, and will remain so until December 14, 2023. The winners of the ALM Persons of the Year Awards for 2023 will be determined based on the results of the online poll.
The official announcement and award presentation for the winners will take place during the ALM Persons of the Year Awards Ceremony 2024, scheduled for February 22-23, 2024, at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ethiopia, as the headquarters of the African Union (AU), holds strategic significance on the continent.
The event, organized in partnership with the Ethiopian Customs Commission (ECC), will be held under the theme ‘Building Resilient African Economies through Leadership and Integration.’ The ALM Persons of the Year (POTY) awards ceremony is a flagship annual event hosted by the African Leadership Magazine for the past 12 years.
It convenes policymakers, private sector leaders, civil society leaders, thought leaders, and stakeholders from across Africa and around the world to discuss issues pertaining to Africa’s socio-economic growth and development.
Additionally, this event serves as a prestigious platform for recognizing leaders who prioritize the well-being of their people and Africans who are dedicated to advancing a pan-African agenda within their respective fields of expertise.