The Papyrus Global to Host Global Distinguished CEOs Awards (GLODICEA) 2026 in Abuja

The Papyrus Global, an international media and publishing platform, has announced the Global Distinguished CEOs Awards (GLODICEA) 2026, the 9th edition of its flagship business leadership recognition programme, scheduled to hold on Friday, 30 October 2026, at The Brookside, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria.
The Awards build on the established tradition of the Papyrus Magazine Distinguished CEOs Awards (PAMDICEA), through which The Papyrus Global has recognised outstanding business leaders and entrepreneurs across Nigeria for almost a decade. The 2026 edition marks the evolution of that programme into a broader international platform, extending recognition to distinguished business leadership across 11 African countries — Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Botswana — alongside selected representatives and business personalities from the United States, Europe, and Asia.
This year’s edition is themed “Industries of Impact: Leadership Powering Africa’s Transformation,” reflecting the Awards’ expanded focus on leadership across ten major sectors of the continent’s economy.
Our Journey: From the 1st Edition to the 9th Edition
The Papyrus Magazine Distinguished CEOs Awards (PAMDICEA) began in 2017 as an initiative of The Papyrus Magazine to recognise and celebrate outstanding chief executive officers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs whose vision, leadership, and contributions have made significant impacts within their industries and communities.
Over the years, the Awards have continued to evolve, expanding their reach and recognition across different sectors and countries. While the global COVID-19 pandemic and other circumstances resulted in interruptions and the skipping of some editions, the vision and commitment behind the Awards remained unwavering.
Past editions have honoured a broad range of personalities across business, public service, and the arts — including Prince Arthur Eze, recognised for innovative business models; Sen. Rochas Okorocha; entertainment figures such as Juliet Ibrahim; and Ghanaian media personality Ameyaw Kissi Debrah, among many others recognised during the Awards’ international and continental editions.
From its humble beginning in 2017, PAMDICEA has grown into a respected platform for celebrating leadership excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, and outstanding corporate achievement. The 2026 edition marks a historic milestone as the 9th edition, reflecting the resilience, growth, and enduring vision of an initiative that has continued to honour exceptional leaders across Africa and beyond.
As the Awards enter this new chapter under the Global Distinguished CEOs Awards (GLODICEA) identity, the 9th edition in 2026 represents not only a celebration of outstanding CEOs but also the beginning of an expanded global journey of recognising excellence, leadership, and transformational impact.
“GLODICEA was established on the conviction that exceptional leadership deserves to be recognised, celebrated and documented. Behind every successful organisation is a leader whose vision, resilience, innovation and commitment contribute not only to business growth but also to economic development and the transformation of lives. As we celebrate the 9th Edition in 2026, we remain committed to providing a credible global platform that honours outstanding CEOs and inspires the next generation of visionary leaders across Africa and beyond,” said Hon. Chief Doofan Damsa-Justin, Publisher, The Papyrus Magazine and Project Initiator, GLODICEA.
Ten Major Industries Under the Spotlight
The 2026 edition broadens the scope of recognition to cover ten major industries and sectors shaping Africa’s economic future:
I. Technology, Digital Innovation & AI — This category recognises founders and executives building software, fintech, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure solutions that are reshaping how African businesses and consumers operate. It celebrates leaders using emerging technology to solve real-world challenges across the continent.
II. Manufacturing, Industrialization & Production — This category honours leaders strengthening local production capacity, building indigenous manufacturing enterprises, and reducing Africa’s reliance on imported goods. It recognises the industrialists driving value addition and job creation on the factory floor.
III. Finance, Investment & Economic Development — This category celebrates business leaders and financiers whose enterprises attract capital, expand access to finance, and drive broader economic growth — from banking and investment to fintech-enabled financial inclusion.
IV. Agriculture, Food Systems & Natural Resources — This category recognises leaders transforming farming, food processing, and natural resource enterprises into modern, scalable businesses that strengthen food security and rural livelihoods across the continent.
V. Energy, Infrastructure & the Built Environment — This category honours leaders delivering power, infrastructure, and construction solutions that are closing Africa’s development gaps and building the physical foundations for future growth.
VI. Health, Education & Human Capital — This category recognises leaders building healthcare, education, and skills-development enterprises that are strengthening Africa’s human capital and improving quality of life across communities.
VII. Consumer, Creative & Service Industries — This category celebrates entrepreneurs in retail, hospitality, fashion, media, entertainment, and other consumer-facing industries whose brands and services are shaping culture and everyday life across Africa.
VIII. Logistics, Trade & International Business — This category honours leaders building supply chain, logistics, and trade enterprises that connect African businesses to regional and global markets.
IX. Impact, Inclusion & Responsible Business — This category recognises leaders whose enterprises prioritise social responsibility, sustainability, and inclusive growth — businesses built to create value for communities as much as for shareholders.
X. Special Distinction & Leadership — This category is reserved for individuals whose overall body of work, resilience, and long-term contribution to enterprise and society merit distinct recognition beyond a single industry classification.
According to The Papyrus Global, this sector-based structure is designed to ensure that recognition reflects the full breadth of enterprise driving Africa’s growth — from the entrepreneurs building digital solutions and manufacturing capacity, to the leaders shaping finance, agriculture, energy, healthcare, trade, and social impact across the continent.
Beyond the Ceremony: The Distinguished CEOs Compendium
An important component of the GLODICEA initiative is the documentation of the stories behind exceptional business leadership. Through The Papyrus Global’s publishing and media platforms, selected award recipients will have the opportunity for their achievements, leadership journeys, and enterprises to be documented and presented to a wider audience via the Global Distinguished CEOs Compendium — a dedicated publication offering what The Papyrus Global describes as a lasting digital record of distinguished business leadership emerging from Africa and the wider international business community.
Our Vision
The Papyrus Global states that its vision for GLODICEA is to become a respected international platform for identifying and celebrating business leaders who are helping to shape the future of Africa and the global business community.
“We believe Africa’s business story should not be told only through its challenges, but also through the achievements of the entrepreneurs, CEOs, manufacturers, innovators, and corporate leaders who are creating businesses, employing people, developing products, solving problems, and opening new opportunities for the transformation of the continent,” the organisation said.
The Global Distinguished CEOs Awards 2026 carries the tagline: Recognising Leadership. Celebrating Enterprise. Documenting Impact.