Kenyans emerged general winners at the African International Achievers (AfIA) Awards in Bradford. AfIA Awards recognize Africans who have excelled in different fields.

The event was hosted by the UK based Kenyan entrepreneur Pauline Long, CEO/Founder of  BEFFTA Awards & TV.

A total of 1,670 nomination applications were received for the 2011 awards and only 20 awards were up for grabs. Kenya was the star of the evening as the country scooped the AfIA Country Special award while four Kenyans bagged awards making them the largest group in the award history to win many awards.
 

They were Dr. Stanley Kamau of Ahadi Trust Kenya who walked away with two awards (Promoting & Improving Community Sanitation and General Health, and Improving Child Mortality); Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg of Akili Dada (Promoting Education for All); George Onyango of SIDAREC (Positive reporting and Community Media) and Doreen Nakuti and Ruth Deacon of CARE-cfe (Africa 2015 Special Award for Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering women).

Other winners were: Dieudonne Tantoh Nforba of SYFA, Cameroon (Promoting Environmental Sustainability); Elizabeth Davis of The Akilah Institute for Women, Rwanda (Improving Maternal Health); Mark Elaigwu of Otabo Care Givers/Support for Orphans, Nigeria (Combating HIV/AIDS); Morris Yeagar Matadi of Initiative for the Development of Former Child Soldiers, Liberia  (Promoting Community Peace); Isikwenu Oghenefego of Inspiro Communication & Media, Nigeria (Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation); Francis Mensah of Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation, Ghana (Promoting global partnerships and connecting communities); Isaac Fwemba of Civil Society MDG Campaign/GCAP, Zambia (Combating Extreme Poverty and Hunger); Betty Makoni of Girl Child Network, Global/Zimbabwe (Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering women); and Dr. Mohamed Ghazala of ASIFA, Egypt (Promoting Arts and Culture).

The Africa 2015 AfIA Special Awards went to: Jessyca Dudley of The Building Fund, Ghana; Doreen Nakuti & Ruth Deacon of CARE-cfe UK/Kenya; Topollo Joseph Lephat’Soe of POVERTY REDUCTION (PReP) Maseru Lesotho from Lesotho; and Marvelous Mbulo of King George VI Centre, Zimbabwe.

“I am proud to be African as this event tonight proved we (Africans) are making a difference around the world and are addressing the MDGs,” said Tantoh Nforba.

Some of the special guests at the award giving ceremony included the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Naveeda Ikram, Mr. Friday Nyemba from Zambian High Commission UK, Dr. Clive Opie from Bradford College, Dr. Anna Mdee, Deputy Director, Centre for Africa Studies University of Bradford, Mr. Jonathan Ellis, Director of Policy and Research, Refugee Council, Ms. Jayne Clark, Head teacher Ryecroft School, and Pastor Sammy Miller, Gateway Christian Centre.


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