Mo Dewji scoops yet another African award on leadership

PARIS-based Institut Choiseul has ranked the CEO of Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL), Mr Mohammed Dewji, top of the ‘Choiseul 100 Africa 2016: Economic Leaders for Tomorrow’.

“Mr Dewji ’s recognition in this regard sends a great message of hope to Tanzania and Africa that we are increasingly involved in championing the growth of the continent and as its citizens, we too can play an active role in building the future we want,” reads a statement from Institut Choiseul. On his part, Mr Dewji said: “I am humbly honored and delighted to receive this recognition for the work that I have been undertaking across the African continent.

Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I have continuously strived for excellence in the business arena. And through MeTL, I will continue my commitment to advancing Africa through private sector led development.”

Mr Dewji is responsible for increasing MeTL’s revenues from $30 million to over $1.3 billion between 1999 and 2014, and the journey of Africa’s youngest billionaire has only just begun.

The statement said that Mr Dewji was continuing to expand his regional footprint for the MeTL conglomerate with operations in over 11 countries and new business ventures, including the establishment of a commercial bank and a sugar manufacturing plant.

Others are garmenting division under his textile enterprise, and most recently a bid to acquire major stakes in one of Tanzania’s leading football clubs, Simba Sports Club (SSC).

For the third year in a row, the Paris-based Institut Choiseul has released its influential ranking of young African business leaders, the Choiseul 100 Africa: Economic Leaders of Tomorrow, dedicated to identifying those who carry the economic growth and development of Africa, and embody the renewal of the continent.

Eligible laureates for the Choiseul 100 Africa have to hold the nationality of one of the 54 African states, be 40 years old or below on the 1st of January 2016, and be an active contributor to the economic development of Africa.

Several weighted selection criteria were taken into account and the total scores obtained in the different categories determined the position of each laureate in the final ranking. This was not the first time Mr Dewji was featured. In 2015, the Choiseul 100 Africa ranked him second after Mr Igho Sanomii II of Nigeria.

Other Tanzanians featured in this year’s list included Ms. Elsie Kanza, Head of Africa, World Economic Forum (WEF), Mr Luca Neghesti, Founder of Bongo5 Media Group, Mr Edha Nahdi, CEO of Amsons Group, and Mr Moremi Marwa, CEO of Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE).

For several years, Institut Choiseul has been a pioneer in the anticipation of great changes, emerging opportunities and talents across the continent.

Headquartered in the heart of Paris, France, Institut Choiseul for International Politics and Geoeconomics is an independent research center that analyzes international relations, economic and political strategies as well as international cultures.