Deadline: October 31, 2026
Applications are open for the Forty under 40 Africa Award 2026. The Forty under 40 Africa Award is to identify, honour and celebrate a cross-section of the continentâs most influential and accomplished young business leaders under the age forty from a wide range of industries, who are committed to business growth, professional excellence and community service and have risen up the ranks of their companies or industries at a relatively young age as result of this.
They believe that in putting the spotlight on these young achievers it will not only celebrate them but also build a strong platform for them by giving a voice and opportunities to the next generation of industry pacesetters whiles building a positive attitude in our youth to strive for excellence at a tender age.
Categories
- Agriculture and Agro-Processing
- Architecture/Design & Decor
- Aviation
- Education
- Authorship and Creative Writing
- Banking and Finance
- Beauty and Lifestyle
- Environmental And Climate Sustainability
- Community Development
- Consultancy and Professional Services
- Energy/Oil and Gas
- Event Management / Planning
- Food/Catering and Beverage
- Fashion
- Family business
- Governance and Government Agencies
- Health and wellness
- Human Resource and development
- Hospitality
- Insurance
- Journalism (Radio / TV / Newspaper)
- Law
- Logistics and Supplies
- Manufacturing
- Media (Digital and Social)
- Music & Entertainment
- Mining and Natural Resources
- Pensions
- Printing / Press and Publishing
- Philanthropy and Charity
- Real Estate Development / Construction
- Marketing And Communications
- Science, Technology and Innovation
- Safety and security
- Sports
- Shipping and Maritime
- Theatre and Arts
- Transport / Automobile
- Social Enterprise
- Telecom and Mobile / Software Development
Eligibility
- Nominees must be a citizen of any of the 55 African nations, living on the continent or in the Diaspora.
Must be nominated by someone else other than the proposed award recipient - Nominees with repeat submissions will have no advantage over those with one nomination. The selection process is not swayed by the number of nominations an individual receives.
- Nominations cannot be anonymous and letters of recommendation, Social Security, and Company Tax Documents may be required.
- Nominee must still be under the age of 40 or 40 in the year of the event.
- Nominee must be an Entrepreneur, Shareholder, Founder, or Co-Founder of a company.
Application
Before you start, have these ready as PDFs â youâll need them in section four:
- A passport copy and a professional portrait of the nominee
- Company registration documents
- A financial statement*
- Any awards, media coverage or evidence of their work
For more information, visit Forty under 40 Africa Award.
