Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore has been named the 2016 International Business Leader of the Year at the 9th annual Africa Investors (Ai) CEO Investment Summit in New York.
Collymore was honoured alongside three other business leaders for their contributions to investments in Africa and for raising the continent's profile as a viable international investment destination.
Speaking after receiving the award on Wednesday, Collymore reiterated his personal and organisational commitment to facilitate positive transformative change within his sphere of influence.
“Business leaders have the unique opportunity to drive change that can transform not just economies, but whole communities,” he said.
He said the private sector can play a complementary role in national development alongside governments and non-governmental organisations.
“More than any other group, the private sector has the ability to accelerate inclusive growth and drive sustainability at great speed and scale.” he added.
Collymore confirmed that Safaricom Limited would be deploying significant resources in Kenya to facilitate national development within its Sh32 billion operating budget this year.
Collymore also added that the
mobile network operator has already managed to align its corporate strategy to the United Nations-fronted Sustainable Development Goals.
“This is because we stand on the threshold of a new world order; one that could see more people access the services that they need – but only if we use our influence as the business sector to help them reach those goals,” Collymore said.
The award also celebrates Safaricom’s market innovations and their transformation, socio-economic impact on all segments of society.
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Nigeria’s entrepreneur and philanthropist Tony Elumelu was also honoured as Africa Investor Person of the Year, while Daniel Matjila, the CEO of South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation (PIC) was recognised as the African Institutional Investment Personality of the Year.
The New York State Common Retirement Fund Chief Investment Officer Vicki Fuller was honoured as Ai Global Institutional Investment Personality of the Year.
The business leaders were honoured at an African Heads of State Luncheon hosted by Africa investor (Ai) in partnership with NASDAQ, the American Stock Exchange in New York on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings saw Collymore picking the award.