13 Jul 2016

Women in Business Association (WIBA) has called upon business women to submit entries for awards scheduled for August 26.

The closing date for the awards is July 15.

A press release from WIBA says entry forms may be downloaded from the association’s website or collected at WIBA office, Local Enterprise Authority offices and Gender Affairs offices for those outside Gaborone.

This year’s awards categories to be competed for are; Young Entrepreneur Award, Innovation Award, Male Dominated Industry Award, Female Collaboration Award, Social Entrepreneur Award and the Informal Sector Award.

The release states that the award nominees will be selected by expert judges from each of the categories.

“The Male Dominated Industry category has been added to this year’s awards and seeks to celebrate women making a mark in areas previously dominated by male counterparts, such as construction, mining, architecture and engineering.”

The Female Collaboration category winner will go towards a business with 100 per cent female shareholders, whose collaboration has yielded positive results, thus having their business recognised as a key market player in their respective industry.

“Winners will be selected from entries across the country and these are businesses deemed to have made significant strides in various business aspects throughout the year,” it says.

It further says the overall Business Woman of the Year will win P50 000 cash, courtesy of Stanbic Bank, diamond jewellery sponsored by Debswana and a business training course wholly sponsored by Ba Isago University, whilst all categories’ winners will each pocket P10 000 cash and training by Ba Isago University.

“As an association, we continue to request for assistance to ensure an even more successful and highly embraced event this year. One woman’s win, is a win for all,” said awards coordinator, Ms Tshatsha Diraditsile, as stated in the release.

Ms Diraditsile hailed WIBA’s efforts in uplifting all businesses including the informal sector ones emphasising that focus by all business women should be on the awards, as they gear towards the national BOT50 celebrations.

WIBA president, Ms Tumi Mbaakanyi was also quoated in the release saying “business women should strive for that infinite sparkle, whilst they carve their business success stories.”

The association is aimed at unearthing, nurturing, developing and navigating a better business change for women entrepreneurs in Botswana by promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst the women. ENDS