Segun Ogunsanya, outgoing CEO of Airtel Africa Group, has been recognised for his exemplary leadership skills and significant contributions to the world of business.
Ogunsanya received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) 2024, Airtel said in a statement seen by Technology Times.
The Africa Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) is an annual event organised by Africa Leadership Magazine (ALM) to honour and celebrate exceptional business leaders, including policymakers, private sector leaders, and civil society leaders from across the continent. This year’s event, themed “Africa Unleashed: Navigating Disruptions, Enhancing Opportunities,” is scheduled to take place on July 17-18, 2024, at the UK House of Lords.

The selection process for this award involves a three-step points-based system: a call for nominations, an online poll, and a comprehensive review by the ALM editorial board of the vote entries and supporting evidence of the nominees’ achievements over the past year and beyond. The online poll, which concluded on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, accounted for 65% of the points, while supporting evidence contributed 35% to the final selection process, according to ALM.
On May 31, about 20 winners from across Africa were announced, including prominent leaders such as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Segun Ogunsanya, outgoing CEO of Airtel Africa. These winners will be recognised at a special ceremony during the 9th ALM Africa Summit.
This recognition serves as a testament to Ogunsanya’s outstanding contributions over his 35-year career in the business world, particularly in the banking, consumer goods, and telecoms sectors, showcasing his exemplary leadership skills.
Ogunsanya’s dedication and vision have not only driven Airtel to success but have also positively impacted the continent. While his retirement marks the end of an era, his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of business leaders, according to Airtel.
Segun Ogunsanya: Highlights of career journey
Ogunsanya, an Electronic Engineer and Chartered Accountant, has made significant contributions across various sectors throughout his career pursuit. Prior to joining Airtel Africa in 2012, he accumulated over 35 years of business management expertise in banking, consumer goods, and telecommunications.
Also, he served at Coca-Cola Bottling operations in Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya. Additionally, Ogunsanya held the position of Managing Director at Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd (Coca Cola Hellenic-owned) and served as the Group Head of retail banking operations at Ecobank Transnational Inc, overseeing operations in 28 African countries.
Ogunsanya also led the Nigeria operations of a telecommunications and mobile money company, Airtel, for nine years before assuming the role of CEO of the Group in 2021, a position he held until his retirement. After dedicating 12 years to the Airtel Africa Group, his retirement was officially announced by the firm in January, with the date set for July 1, 2024.