Award Categories

• Nordic–Africa Sustainable Investment Award
  
  

• Innovation & Digital Transformation Award
  
  

• Green Economy & Climate Impact Award
  
  

• Diaspora Economic Bridge Builder Award
  
  

• Youth & Emerging Leader Award
  
  

• Education & Skills Partnership Award
  
  

Selection Criteria

• Cross-border collaboration
  
  

• Measurable impact
  
  

• SDG alignment
  
  

Scalability & innovation

The awards segment celebrates transformative leadership, diplomatic excellence, and entrepreneurial achievements that strengthen relations between Africa and the Nordic region.

7 Award Categories:

• The Ousainou Darboe Statesmanship Award – Recognizing exceptional political leadership and statesmanship. (Named after the former Vice President of the Gambia on 21st September 2025 in the presence of His Excellency ANM Ousainou Darboe)

• The Nana Kodwo Addae II Crown of Legacy Award – A distinguished honour established in recognition of the living legend and influence of Nana Kodwo Addae II for exemplary recipients.

• The Africa Diplomatic Excellence Award – Recognizing diplomats promoting strong bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

• The Global Leadership Legacy Award – Honoring top-level executives or government officials shaping global partnerships.

• The Women in Diplomacy and Leadership Award – Changing Narratives – Celebrating women leaders redefining diplomacy, governance, and corporate influence across continents.

• The Africa Global Excellence in Innovation Award – Empowering Sustainable Growth– Recognizing entrepreneurs, business leaders and innovators whose work strengthens Africa's position and partnership in the wider International community.

• The Global Influential Impact Award – Celebrating Visionaries in Music, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship and Ambassadorship - Honour leaders with global influence on the world stage and inspire cross-continental collaboration

Find out the 2026 Award Nominees

A distinguished honour established in recognition of the living legend and influence of Nana Kodwo Addae II for exemplary recipients.

1. Lord Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe, City of Banjul, Republic of Gambia

2. Lukumanu Iddrisu, Ghanaian-Finnish HR professional, academic, and politician & the first Ghanaian elected as a municipal councilor in Finland 

Honoring top-level executives or government officials shaping global partnerships.

1. Professor Samuel Jacobs Abbey, scientific researcher, consultant, Diplomat , Entrepreneur and expert in Public Health Policy 

2. Amara Doumbouya , Nordic Solar (African Nordic Investor)

3. Kitari Mayele , Finland's first iconic cultural producer who has mentored 1'000's of artists in the Nordics for over 30 years 

Recognizing diplomats promoting strong bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

1. Landing B. Sanneh, Mayor / Chairman , Mansakonko Area Council, Lower River Region, The Gambia 

Changing Narratives – Celebrating women leaders redefining diplomacy, governance, and corporate influence across continents.

1. Mrs Kati Kivisaari, Honorary Consulate of Ghana, Helsinki 

2. Plamena Cherneva – Founder & CEO of WonderCoders & Co Founder of Nordic Women In Tech Awards

3. Honourable Mariam B Secka, Secretary General of UDP, Republic of The Gambia also known as Aji Yam Secka 

Empowering Sustainable Growth– Recognizing entrepreneurs, business leaders and innovators whose work strengthens Africa's position and partnership in the wider International community.

1. Benedicto Bena Nkhoma, Serial Entrepreneur 

Celebrating Visionaries in Ambassadorship , Entertainment and Entrepreneurship - Honour leaders with global influence on the world stage and inspire cross-continental collaboration

1. Timo Heiskala, Autismisaatio , Finland CEO (Over 640 staff members) 

2. Ayisat Yusuf, Nigerian Footballer & First Female Head Coach in Finland