Dr. James Mwangi, the CEO and Managing Director of Equity Group, was recently presented with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the All-Africa Business Leaders Awards in Sun City, South Africa. The award, given by Africa Business News (owners of CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa), recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact on their industry, country, and the entire continent over the course of their career.
Dr. Mwangi received the award from His Excellency Paul Mashatile, the Deputy President of South Africa, and Dr. Rakesh Wahi, Co-Founder and Chairman of Africa Business News Group. The judges of the All-Africa Business Leaders Awards acknowledged Dr. Mwangi’s exceptional character, his contributions to business growth and education, and his use of personal wealth to establish one of Africa’s largest programs for educating orphans.
The honor was bestowed upon Dr. Mwangi in recognition of his vision, lifelong dedication, and commitment to the progress of Africa and its people. Through his work at Equity Group, he has inspired others and provided transformative opportunities for the empowerment of individuals across the continent.
Dr. Mwangi previously received the Forbes Africa Person of the Year award and is known for championing Equity Group’s focus on social and economic impact.
In terms of social impact, Dr. Mwangi is celebrated for the Wings to Fly scholarship program, which has provided comprehensive scholarships to nearly 60,000 academically gifted but needy students. The program covers school fees, uniforms, transportation, pocket money, and medical expenses. Additionally, Equity Group Foundation, under Dr. Mwangi’s leadership, established Equity Afia Medical Centers, a medical franchise run by Equity Leadership Program scholars. These centers have provided healthcare services to over 1.5 million patients.
Equity Group Foundation, through its Young Africa Works program, has facilitated the growth of over 1.3 million jobs by supporting 539,241 Micro and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) with loans and training. The foundation has also empowered women through the Fanikisha program, which offers them access to affordable credit facilities.
Equity Group has also demonstrated its commitment to agriculture, with 14% of its loan book allocated to the sector. Equity Group Foundation has trained 3.87 million farmers and supported 251,360 MSMEs in agriculture to enhance their capacity and fuel their growth.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Mwangi has shown immense generosity. He contributed Ksh. 450 million from his family’s savings toward COVID-19 mitigation efforts in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. He also oversaw the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to numerous hospitals in Kenya as the Chairman of the Health Committee of the Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board.
Equity Group Foundation has prioritized financial inclusion for Social Safety Net beneficiaries and households, enabling them to receive payments through free bank accounts while maintaining their privacy and dignity. The organization has also established branches in refugee camps to promote economic activity and integration.
Dr. Mwangi has positioned Equity Group as a global thought leader in the areas of environment, climate, and sustainability. The group has embraced Purpose Driven Business and the concept of “Building Back Better” in the post-COVID-19 environment. Equity Group has sought accreditation to the Green Climate Fund and is involved with international initiatives such as the United Nations Global Compact and the Taskforce on Nature Related Financial Disclosures.
Dr. Mwangi’s achievements extend beyond the financial sector. He has actively contributed to knowledge through over 40 case studies conducted by prestigious business schools around the world.
Under Dr. Mwangi’s leadership, Equity Group has evolved into a systemic financial services group in East and Central Africa. The group’s asset base has grown significantly, and it is now among the top three banks in five countries. Equity Group Holdings Plc is listed on various regional exchanges and has a market capitalization of USD 1.02 billion.
Equity Group Foundation, the social impact arm of Equity Group Holdings, has implemented various high-impact development programs in the fields of health, education, energy, environment, agriculture, enterprise development, financial inclusion, and social protection.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Mwangi attributed his success to the influence of his upbringing, particularly the teachings of his widowed mother. He emphasized Equity’s philosophy of inclusion, shared prosperity, and the transformative power of entrepreneurship. He also acknowledged the support of Equity Group’s staff, management team, Board of Directors, shareholders, and customer base.
Dr. Mwangi dedicated the Lifetime Achievement Award to African mothers and women who play a vital role in nurturing, inspiring, mentoring, influencing, and shaping children, enabling them to make a lasting impact on society.
generic cialis tadalafil 20 mg from india: TadalAccess – cialis free