Banking on Africa’s Future (BOAF)’s 10 000 Points of Light Initiative Set to Promote and Inspire Multi Sectoral Development across the African Continent

Brian Kazungu, 02/05/2021

The 10 000 Points of Light initiative which is spearheaded by the Banking on Africa’s Future Foundation is set to promote and inspire multi sectoral development across Africa through recognising and celebrating exceptional work by outstanding individuals in the continent.

The project which is premised on the identification of people whose lives has a profound impact on Africa regardless of their skin color, race or even religious and political backgrounds and affiliations has been hailed as a game changer in redefining Africa’s image and reality.

While speaking on the sidelines of preparations that are underway towards the BOAF’s Dinner event at The Royal India Restaurant to be held on the 3^rd of May this year, the Foundation’s Chairperson, Mutumwa Mawere said:

“We seek to recognize and celebrate leaders by creating an awareness about their institutions, how they were established, when they were started, why they were started and how they have changed lives in order to motivate current and future generations to do even more.

As a continent we need to increase the number of people whose lives have an infectious positive impact in our continent towards the continued building of a better Africa”

He added that BOAF recognizes individuals whose pioneering spirit, fame, power, personality, accomplishments as well as demonstrated creativeness and is improving the African continent and inspiring other people to be forward thinking and development centered.

The 10 000 Points of Light induction ceremony which is coinciding with the Press Freedom Day Commemorations and the re-launch of Mawere’s book ‘When Minds Meet’ has generated tremendous interest among  critical thinkers and goal getters who also believe that such events provide a great platform for networking among great minds.

A number of people who have been nominated expressed their excitement and said that they felt humbled to be recognized as points of shining lights in their communities.

Some of them said that such initiatives and events ensure that people across the continent can feel encouraged to do good in their communities when they know that they are making a difference in the lives of others.

Mawere also said that as an organization, they believe in the positive impact and ripple effect of celebrating excellence by ensuring that individuals who are doing exploits in their respective fields are given the limelight that they deserve so that other can be inspired to do even more.

He further highlighted that the Points of Light is a membership driven initiative that seeks to build a list of 10 000 names of people who are shining examples in the African continent because of the work that they do towards inspiring socio-economic development as well as hope and confidence among people in their communities.

The recognition and celebration of game changers who act as the Points of Lights in their communities has been acknowledged as an effective way of promoting Africa’s corporate image and heritage especially at such a time where the continent is suddenly awakening from its dark slumber.

With a yearly membership fee of R1000, participants in this Banking On Africa Future project have a number of benefits that they can enjoy, including getting their work showcased across the continent and the rest of the world plus a chance to network with likeminded people.  

Over the years, the organization, in the pursuit of its mandate has been anchored by the provision of a mechanism that helps to:

• Identify and address the leadership challenges that confront contemporary Africa
• Share and refine visions of the kind of Africa that citizens want to live in
• Lead by example in building nation states that are viable, inclusive and founded on share principles underpinned by the rule of law and respect of the rights of citizens and their property