8TH AFRICA PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY CHAIN AWARDS CELEBRATES PAN-AFRICAN EXCELLENCE IN GRAND STYLE
MTN, SBC among others are multiple winners, APPA launched for continental coverage, Procurement & Supply Chain Magazine (PSC Mag) and it's website inaugurated
he Grand Ball Room of the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, was transformed into an epicenter of continental prestige on July 29, 2026, as the 8th Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Awards (APSCHA) convened the foremost titans, policymakers, and corporate strategists of African procurement and supply chain sector
Celebrated as the ultimate benchmark for institutional integrity and operational distinction, this year’s landmark gala affirmed APSCHA’s position as the premier convening platform for procurement, logistics, supply chain, and transportation leadership across the African continent.
Building upon the monumental legacy of its predecessors, the 8th edition unfolded with heightened sophistication and expanded geographic reach.
The high-profile gathering brought together an elite cohort of industry pioneers to honour transformative achievements across both public and private sectors, emphasizing how modern supply networks have evolved from transactional back-office functions into strategic drivers of economic resilience, corporate governance, and sustainable development.
Elevating the Profession: InstinctWave Group CEO Sets the Strategic Tone
Setting a high-minded tone for the evening, Mr. Akin Naphtal, Group CEO of InstinctWave and Group Publisher of Procurement and Supply Chain Magazine (PSC Mag), delivered a compelling welcome address that framed the night not merely as a celebration, but as a defining moment for African trade infrastructure.
Reflecting on the preceding day of high-level deliberations, keynotes, and strategic panel discussions, Mr. Naphtal highlighted the imperative of shifting mindsets across the continent's commercial landscape.
"Yesterday, we were privileged to engage in a day of insightful conversations, thought-provoking keynote presentations, and rich panel discussions that challenged us to rethink the future of procurement, logistics, and supply chain management in Africa," declared Mr. Naphtal.
"We exchanged ideas, shared experiences, and explored practical solutions to strengthen our profession and unlock greater value across Africa's supply ecosystem."
Transitions from intense strategic dialogue to evening triumph, Mr. Naphtal emphasized that honoring excellence directly bolsters the credibility of the entire discipline.
"Tonight, however, is about celebration. It is a night dedicated to recognizing excellence, honoring outstanding achievements, and celebrating the remarkable individuals and organizations whose leadership, innovation, and commitment continue to elevate the procurement and supply chain profession across our continent," he noted.
"By recognizing excellence, we not only celebrate success, we strengthen the credibility of our profession, inspire the next generation of leaders, and reinforce the strategic role that procurement and supply chain play in driving organizational performance, economic resilience, and sustainable development across Africa."
A Night of Excellence and Continental Ambition
The 8th edition of APSCHA was characterised by an elevated sense of purpose and scale.
With a carefully curated programme that balanced rigorous professional discourse with high-energy celebration, the event cemented its reputation as the definitive convening platform for the continent’s supply chain community.
Nineteen(19) organisational (corporate) awards and thirty-two (32) outstanding individual awards were presented across diverse verticals, reflecting the depth and breadth of excellence in both the public and private sectors.
From telecommunications and energy to agriculture, public procurement and digital transformation, the winners represented the very best of African capability.
The recognition extended across multiple African markets, underscoring APSCHA’s growing continental footprint and its commitment to elevating standards beyond national borders.
Among the corporate standouts were MTN, which secured multiple accolades including the Procurement Governance & Ethical Standards Award, the Supply Chain Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award, and the Digital Supply Chain Transformation Company of the Year.
Kenya Power’s Supply Chain Department was honoured with the Supply Chain Impact Award, while IHS Towers received recognition for Infrastructure Supply Chain for Social Impact and Sustainable Supply Chain Capacity Building.
Other notable organisational winners included SLB, SBC, Bost Energies Ghana, the Association of Public Procurement Practitioners of Nigeria (APPON), the Office of the Data Protection Commission (Kenya), Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, CapitalSage Holdings, Kwara State Public FCMB, and the National Communications Authority of Ghana, among others.
Visionary Vanguard: 32 Exceptional Leaders Celebrated
The pinnacle of the ceremony shone a bright spotlight on human capital, celebrating 32 outstanding individual winners, whose personal grit, strategic foresight, and ethical stewardship have redefined corporate and public governance across Africa.
Top executive accolades were conferred upon industry heavyweights who have turned supply networks into competitive moats. Dr. Marcus O. Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary , Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Nigeria bagged, Exceptional Leader in Public Procurement Award, Cyrell Odede Wagunda, Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management, PPP Kenya won Public Sector Procurement Asset Management Leader Of The Year award. Also, Moses Mpae, Head of Procurement, National Communications Authority (NCA)Ghana awarded Digital Procurement Leadership honour Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, Director General/CEO of Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), was crowned the Africa Public Procurement Man of the Year, Fatai Idowu Onafowote, Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, was named Public Procurement Icon of the Year. Dr. John Kibyegon Ngeno, General Manager of Supply Chain & Logistics at Kenya Power, achieved double acclaim as the Africa Public Sector Procurement Trailblazer of the Year* and Supply Chain Transformation Leader of the Year.
In the private sector, Cephas Afebuameh, Group Director of Supply Chain at Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, was inducted as the Supply Chain Icon of the Year, while Radhe Jha (Seven-Up Bottling Company) and Adeola Oduntan (MTN) were celebrated as Africa Chief Supply Chain Officers of the Year in FMCG and Technology, respectively.
Emerging leaders and innovators were equally exalted. Oluwatosin Stephanie Olapo (Head, IT Value Management and FinOps at FCMB) and Temitope Adedeji (GM, Supply Chain Business at Ekofin Nig Ltd) shared top honors for Procurement & Sourcing Personality of the Year. Young visionaries such as Bukola Egbetokun (Flairways Integrated) earned Procurement Rising Star, while Monicah Mwangi(PPP Directorate Kenya) and Diana Ihinosen Ofeimun (Arla Global Dairy Products) were recognized as Emerging Procurement Leaders of the Year.
Institutional Milestones: Unifying the Continent via APPA and PSC Magazine
Beyond the presentation of accolades, the 8th APSCHA gala served as the launchpad for two monumental industry initiatives destined to shape the future of African commerce.
First was the historic Unveiling and Official Launch of the Africa Public Procurement Association (APPA), performed by Dr. Emem James Kanico, National President of the Association of Public Procurement Practitioners of Nigeria (APPON).
APPA was established as a unified institutional canopy designed to harmonize public procurement frameworks, enforce ethical standards, drive capacity building, and foster intra-African trade integration across all sovereign nations on the continent.
In his launch declaration, Dr. Kanico urged practitioners, agencies, and regional bodies across Africa to formally align with APPA to build a single, formidable voice for public sourcing.
Simultaneously, the event marked the Official Global Launch of the Procurement & Supply Chain Magazine (PSC Mag) and its accompanying digital intelligence portal, spearheaded by Mr. Akin Naphtal.
The inaugural edition showcased Dr. John Kibyegon Ngeno of Kenya Power on its cover, commemorating his transformative overhaul of Kenya’s energy supply ecosystem. During the launch, Mr. Naphtal presented special ceremonial editions to featured institutional leaders, including delegations from MTN, APPON, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and the Kwara State Public Procurement Agency (KWPPA).
In a heartwarming gesture of mutual respect, the professional community turned the spotlight back onto the organizer. Dr. Emem James Kanico presented a special Leadership Award to Mr. Akin Naphtal in recognition of his tireless dedication, vision, and extraordinary contributions to elevating the procurement and supply chain profession across the African continent over the past decade.
A Defining Legacy for African Procurement and Supply Chain Landscape
The 8th Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Awards concluded on a triumphant note, establishing a benchmark of corporate rigor, technological integration, and ethical governance. By bridging public sector policy with private sector innovation, the event proved that Africa's procurement and supply chain professionals are no longer passive back-office administrators—they are the strategic architects of the continent's economic future.
As delegates departed Lagos bound for capital cities across Africa, the legacy of APSCHA 2026 stood clear: a unified, highly sophisticated, and value-driven supply ecosystem poised to propel African enterprise onto the global stage.
