Strong support for Achievers Awards

Date: 25 August 2003	Issue: 25 Aug (Computing S.A.)
Category: SA News	Partner editorial

Building on the strong support and recognition that the African ICT Achievers Awards programme attracts each year, the 2003 awards ceremony promises, once again, to surpass that of previous years.
The 2003 awards programme presents an awesome line-up of truly worthy partners and sponsors again this year. This includes the Department of Communications (DoC) and Sita as co-partners. “Their continued support and strategic input are invaluable in ensuring that Forge Ahead, together with all stakeholders and industry organisations, realises the African ICT Achievers Awards vision of a truly African Premier ICT Awards programme,” says Jane Mosebi, Forge Ahead MD.
“We are delighted to have Dimension Data as the platinum sponsor, the SABC has elected to act as broadcast media partner and Johnnic ICT Media as print media partner,” she adds.
Additional sponsors include Matomo Group and Savant, well-respected brands, and strong contributors to the ICT sector in SA. “KPMG is our audit partner for the Achievers programme, and the list of industry organisations pledging their endorsement for the Achievers Awards grows each day,” Mosebi adds. The Computer Society of South Africa, Isett Seta, the BITF, ITA, Innovation Hub, Information Society of South Africa and the Electronics Industry Forum, are amongst these endorsements.
Nominations will close on September 8, and participation is strongly encouraged from user companies, who wish to publicly recognise achievement of ICT achievers in their organisations. All stakeholders should also nominate the individuals and companies within the ICT environment who, continue to delight their customers. It is as easy as visiting ictachievers.co.za and nominating your favourites, but has lasting value for those finalists and winners.
Jane adds: “Ongoing support from both Public and Private Sector business is indicative of the acceptance of the awards programme as a strong, credible, brand that stakeholders want to be a part of. The African ICT Achievers Awards has really come of age over the last two years, with the continued enhancements to the programme itself, the quality of the nominations and winners and also the excellent support from partners and sponsors.”
To stimulate the growth of the ICT sector in SA, as well as in the Black ICT environment, Forge Ahead BMI-T, in partnership with the Department of Communications launched an annual ICT Achievers Award programme.
The reason for this was, primarily, to recognise and honour excellence in black ICT professionals who have made a significant contribution to the ICT sector, and, secondly to encourage the continued growth of black entrepreneurship and role models of Black ICT excellence.
The African ICT Achievers Awards banquet will take place on November 8 at the Sandton Convention Centre.