Regional All Africa Business Leaders Awards in Nigeria this week

Regional winners will then vie for the title of Africa's business icon in their sector at the AABLA Grande finale in Johannesburg on 13 November 2015. The awards, in partnership with CNBC Africa, are hosted by Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela.

Finalists

The finalists for each category in the West African round are:

Young Business Leader of the Year - West Africa, presented by Lancaster University Ghana

• Ahonsi Unuigbe, Chief Executive of Petralon Energy Nigeria
• Nteff Alain, Co-founder of The Gifted Mom
• Yetunde A. Odugbesan, CEO of Yetunde Global Consulting

Entrepreneur of the Year - West Africa, presented by Sea Harvest

• Paul Orajiaka, CEO of Auldon Limited
• Swaady Martin-Leke, Founder and CEO of YSWARA Luxe
• Obinna Ekezie, CEO of Wakanow

Business Leader of the Year - West Africa, presented by Bosch

• Segun Agbaje, MD of GTBank
• Issam Darwish, CEO of IHS Holding Ltd.
• John Bonoh Sisay, CEO of Sierra Rutile

Business Woman of the Year - West Africa

• Adenike Ogunlesi, Founder of Ruff 'N' Tumble
• Dr. Leticia Osafo Addo, CEO of Samba Foods
• Nimi Akinkugbe, CEO of Bestman Games Ltd
• Adepeju Adebajo, MD of WAPCO Operations, Lafarge Africa Plc

Philanthropist of the Year - West Africa

• Fred Swaniker, Founder of African Leadership Academy
• Patrick Awuah Jr, Founder and President of Ashesi University

The Lifetime Achievement Award Presented by IHS will once again be selected by the judging committee and announced on the night. As a new category to the fold, the Industrialist of the Year category presented by Ecobank will take on a similar format.

"Reviewing some of the West African 2015 finalists, the region presents some very strong candidates and we look forward to seeing who will take this year's regional honours and represent West Africa at the All Africa Finale," comments Alexander Leibner, Head of ABN Productions, producers of the AABLA.

For more information, go to www.aablawards.com.