Dr. Danisa E. Baloyi Honoured for Leadership Excellence & Economic Empowerment Impact at Clevenard 2025

Clevenard, 16 December 2025 – Dr. Danisa E. Baloyi, Executive Chairman of Glow Africa Investment Holdings (GAI), was celebrated for her outstanding contributions to leadership and economic empowerment at the Clevenard 2025 Seminar and Panel Discussion Forum. She received the prestigious award in the Leadership Excellence & Economic Empowerment Impact category, recognizing her transformative role in shaping Africa’s business and economic landscape.

Dr. Baloyi is a trailblazer whose leadership has created significant impact across Africa. She made history as the first woman elected President of the Black Business Council (BBC), South Africa’s largest business federation. In this role, she influenced national economic policy, promoted gender equality in corporate governance, and expanded opportunities for historically disadvantaged communities. She also played a pivotal role in developing South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Act, a landmark policy advancing economic participation and equity for Black South Africans.

Her influence extends beyond corporate leadership. Dr. Baloyi has chaired and guided numerous key public and private institutions. She was the first woman to chair DENEL Limited, a global defense company, overseeing subsidiaries such as DENEL Aviation, DENEL Infomatics, and DENEL Ground Artillery. She has also led organizations including the Road Accident Fund, National Skills Authority, National Skills Fund, and Gauteng Enterprise Propeller, which she founded. In addition, Dr. Baloyi has served on the boards of major financial and industrial institutions, including ABSA Bank, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), and African Merchant Bank. Her leadership also extends into academia as Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare, the alma mater of Nelson Mandela and other African liberation heroes.

At Clevenard 2025, Dr. Baloyi delivered a keynote address titled “Transforming Economies Through Inclusive Leadership: Empowering Africa’s Next Generation of Change-Makers.” She called on African leaders to prioritize sustainable development, local beneficiation of resources, and empowerment of the continent’s youth. She stressed that young Africans should have the freedom to pursue opportunities because they choose to—not because they are forced to leave the continent. “We must build a future that is secure and empowering,” she said, emphasizing that leadership today carries the responsibility to create opportunities for millions of young people across Africa.

Dr. Baloyi highlighted Africa’s immense natural and human resources, including minerals, energy, agriculture, and technology, as the foundation for sustainable growth. She underscored the importance of processing raw materials locally to generate jobs, stimulate industrialization, and retain wealth within the continent. She cited the example of a young leader in Burkina Faso who successfully implemented local gold beneficiation, demonstrating that transformative change is both possible and scalable across sectors such as mining, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Education, sports, culture, and media were also central themes in her address. Dr. Baloyi urged African nations to develop locally relevant educational systems that equip youth to lead in a uniquely African context. She emphasized the need to cultivate local talent in sports, music, theater, and media, ensuring that African creativity benefits the continent economically and culturally. By reclaiming ownership of cultural and creative outputs, African countries can create new industries, generate wealth, and strengthen their global influence.

Pan-African collaboration was a cornerstone of Dr. Baloyi’s message. She called on African nations to support each other’s innovations and development initiatives, stressing that the success of one country benefits the entire continent. She also addressed financial sovereignty, urging African leaders to reclaim control over fiscal and development policies. “Africa’s challenges are not due to failure,” she stated. “They arise because we have often followed systems imposed from outside. It is time to create rules that serve our people, control our resources, and secure the future for our children.”

Concluding her address, Dr. Baloyi called for unity, deliberate action, and sustainable leadership. She urged African leaders and communities to educate and empower the youth so they can drive the continent’s transformation with pride and confidence. “Let us build Africa with intention, sustainability, and equity,” she said. “Let us ensure that our children can remain at home, thrive locally, and shape the future of the continent. Together, we can achieve the greatness Africa deserves.”

About Dr. Danisa E. Baloyi

Dr. Danisa E. Baloyi is a distinguished African leader, business executive, and public servant recognized for her pioneering work in economic empowerment, enterprise development, and leadership advancement. Through her career, she has championed inclusive growth, transformative leadership, and the empowerment of future generations across Africa, leaving a lasting legacy on the continent’s economic and social landscape.

For more information about Clevenard Media and its initiatives, please visit https://clevenard.com

Play or download MP3 Audio : https://clevenard.com/music/view/53

Catégorie:

Pressemitteilung 

Organisation:

Clevenard

Écrit par:

Tolu Osindero

Téléphone:

+34631279811