NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL AWARDS

Why the National Professional Awards? 

The  National Professional Awards (NAPA) is a pan-African initiative that  was initiated in October 2014 to recognise individuals and organisations  – both foreign and national –  that are playing an important role in  advancing the socioeconomic development of Africa. Their participation  is essential to the success of the national development agenda and  programme priorities. Over the years, new entrants – both citizens and  foreigners – have been playing a leading role in pushing the national  agenda forward. 

The African  Consulting Group, African CEO Media Ltd. and Ecomedia Corporation  established the awards to engage those men and women at the centre stage  and recognise excellence, commitment and innovation in enhancing  sustainable development across every sector on the continent. The work  of the awards is anchored in the belief that recognising and empowering  individuals and organisations that are playing a tremendous role in  society is essential in moving the continent forward. It is vital to  empower individuals and organisations to realise their potential as  resources. 

Brief History: The first awards ceremony was held in conjunction with the Sierra  Leone CEO & Business Awards at the Bintumani International  Conference  Centre in Freetown on 23rd October, 2014. There were over  850 people in attendance, including diplomats, ministers, CEOs and heads  of parastatals, NGOs and international organisations.  The combined  ceremony drew people from both the public and private sectors to  celebrate the excellence of the outstanding men and women working hard  to move Sierra Leone forward. The awards ceremony has been organised  every year.

Awards Profile

The National  Professional Awards aim to raise the profile of dedicated individuals  and committed organisations and to highlight the contributions they are  making towards developing a fairer, sustainable, peaceful, and  prosperous future for all Africans. The awards honour excellence,  leadership and the creative use of professional services and expertise,  development efforts, finance and other resources to move African  countries and communities forward. 

As a  multi-sector-driven initiative, the awards select and honour  donor agencies, UN institutions, national regulatory authorities, and  private foundations and corporations that have exemplified through their  leadership excellence, hard work, innovation and commitment, above and  beyond their expected responsibilities, the principles upon which  the National Professional Awards were founded.

Selection Requirements 

• An  Individual Awardee must have been engaged in professional   services or  development work for five or more years in a professional  capacity; 
• An Organisation or Corporate Awardee must be presently engaged in social or economic development work; 
• An individual honouree must have a university degree and a professional qualification.
• An honouree shall be between the ages of 30 years and 59 years; 
• An  honouree must not have been engaged in any criminal act or  convicted or  found guilty of any unprofessional or unethical behaviour,   crime or  corrupt practice(s) in any court of law, either at home or   abroad;
• The winners must agree to take part in publicity generated by the organisers. 

Awards Process

There  will be 100 finalists (Top 100 Professionals) in the overall award  programme in the yearly national editions. In addition,  selected awardees of the top entry receiving the “Best of the Year” and  the second top winner category receiving the “Special Recognition of  the Year” Award in that particular category for each national annual  edition. 

The honourees  will each receive a trophy and a certificate of recognition at an  official ceremony during the awards banquet and gala dinner.

Organising Committee

The Organising  Committee consists of seven independent and outstanding personalities  in different sectors across Africa. It recognises outstanding  achievements, organises and reviews the nominations for specific and  general categories, and selects a recommended winner for each award. The  goal of the Committee is to recognise the accomplishments of the  outstanding professionals through an awards programme, and raise the  prestige of the National Professional Awards programme through enhancing  opportunities for recognising award winners and increasing the pool of  diverse, qualified applications and nominations for the awards.

Cost of Participation

In  some countries, the National Professional Awards are self-sponsored. In  such a case

, we encourage all honourees and guests to help cover the  cost of their participation, including participating in the reception  and gala dinner. This covers meals, drinks, entertainment, red carpet  and photographs, and an annual magazine.