Telecom hosts Annual Namibian Businesswoman Award launch

The 15th Namibian Businesswoman of the Year 2011 awards, scheduled for October this year, where launched at the Telecom Namibia Head Office in Windhoek recently.

Telecom Namibia has contributed N$160,000 towards the activities of the Namibia Businesswomen Projects, which include hosting the businesswomen awards.

 “As a company, Telecom Namibia is cognizant of the fact that to achieve our empowerment objectives we require more women to be mentors to young aspiring businesswomen,” said Oiva Angula, Senior Manager: Corporate Communications, at the launch on 15 June.

 “It is our belief that the recognition of women through the Awards can contribute to encouraging greater gender diversity and equality in business and other areas of human endeavours,” Angula added.

Event organiser Desere Lundon-Muller said the event has become an integral part of the Namibian business calendar, and celebrates the achievements of some truly remarkable women.

Four awards will be handed out, namely the Business Owner Award, Private and Corporate Sector Award, Community and Government Award, and the Young Businesswoman Award.

Lundon-Muller said in the Business Owner category, candidates must own a 50 % share or more in a business, with the responsibility of making key management decisions, while the Private and Corporate Sector category is open to employees or business owners in that sector with less than 50 % share in the business.

In the Community and Government category, nominees must be employees of any government department, statutory body or not-for-profit organisation; and in the Young Businesswoman category, nominees should be under the age of 30.

The organiser thus called on interested businesswomen or any individuals who meet the criteria to collect the nomination forms at any Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) branch countrywide. Lundon-Muller said anyone can nominate a person as a candidate in any of the categories, and this includes spouses, employees, bankers, small business agencies and business consultants.

Other sponsors of the event include the Namibia Economist and Castle Brewing Namibia.