Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London
20th Grand Africa Awards Recognize Excellence Across Institutions and Leadership
By Chekole Alemu
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The 20th Grand Africa Organizational and Leadership Awards ceremony was held on December 22, 2025, at the Adwa Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa, honoring institutions, leaders, and professionals for outstanding performance across multiple sectors.
The awards are traditionally presented at the end of each Ethiopian calendar year. However, the 2017 Ethiopian Calendar edition was postponed and held in December 2018 Ethiopian Calendar due to various national events, according to organizers.
The Grand Africa Awards program evaluates performance across public and private institutions, recognizing excellence in service delivery, leadership, innovation, and impact. This year, more than 1,250 institutions were assessed under the program’s evaluation framework. From this pool, 49 institutions received awards across graded levels, including Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Standard.
The ceremony was managed by Melese Mekasha Woldeyes (PhD), Organizational and Leadership Award Manager. It was attended by former President of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and Patron of the Grand African Organizational and Leadership Award Organization, Mulatu Teshome (PhD), alongside senior federal government officials, representatives of the Addis Ababa City Administration, prominent figures from various sectors, and invited guests.
Award categories spanned a wide range of fields, including service companies, manufacturing, small business, government institutions, education, healthcare, non governmental organizations, arts, sports, fashion, and mass media. Both government and private sector organizations were recognized for excellence in service and product delivery, as well as for leadership achievements that demonstrated measurable results and institutional impact.
The awards are organized by the Grand African Organizational and Leadership Award Organization (GAOLAO), an Addis Ababa based institution that focuses on promoting quality, efficiency, and leadership excellence across Africa. GAOLAO aims to highlight organizations and leaders contributing to economic growth, innovation, and sustainable development, while encouraging global competitiveness and market leadership.
Over the years, GAOLAO has recognized institutions and leaders from diverse sectors. Past recipients include Kerchanshe Group for industrial leadership, Fana Media Corporation for organizational excellence in media, Oromia Bank and its chief executive officer for institutional and leadership performance, and the Addis Ababa City Culture and Art Bureau for public service contributions.
Organizers said the awards are intended to strengthen a culture of accountability and excellence by publicly recognizing achievements that contribute to national and continental development. GAOLAO operates from Addis Ababa and can be reached through its official contact channels.
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