Africa’s premier gathering of visionaries, policymakers, and industry leaders is set to return with great momentum as the 2025 Global African Honours (GAH) Awards and Business Summit prepares to once again make history. This year’s edition comes with a major milestone as the organisers officially unveiled the GAH Elite Club Black Card, an exclusive high-influence access card powered by Mastercard in partnership with Wema Bank.
Unveiled during a press conference, the Mastercard-backed Black Card signals the beginning of what organisers describe as a new era of connectivity, economic empowerment, and executive access across Africa. The card is designed as more than a premium financial tool, serving as a gateway into a high-impact network of CEOs, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and innovators across Africa and global business spaces. Holders are expected to enjoy top-tier financial and hospitality privileges, alongside complimentary access to all flagship GAH events.
The 13th edition of the GAH Awards and Business Summit, themed Africa Reimagined: Innovation, Inclusion and Sustainable Growth, will take place on Thursday, December 12, 2025, at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos. The event is expected to bring together eminent figures including Dikko Umar Radda, Governor of Katsina State, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation, Dr. Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), Nigerian Lawyer and Activist Femi Falana, and Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, among other highly regarded personalities across the continent.
Dr. Princess Kelechi Oghene, Convener of GAH and Group Managing Director of GMYT Group, described the Black Card as “a new course for Africa” that unites influential leaders and entrepreneurs behind a mission for transformation. She explained that the partnership with Mastercard and Wema Bank represents “a strategic leap toward building a powerful continental ecosystem where innovators, policymakers, and industry titans converge to shape Africa’s economic future.”
According to her, the Black Card offers unmatched global privileges, elite hospitality access, and entry to all GAH flagship events, transforming it from a luxury asset into a tool for strategic growth and influence. She noted that the card aligns with GAH’s broader mission to empower industries, strengthen communities, and amplify African voices on the global stage.
Some of the key benefits of the GAH Elite Black Card include global financial and hospitality privileges, complimentary access to all flagship GAH events, and membership in a high-influence continental network of CEOs, policymakers, and innovators.
Dr. Oghene described the upcoming summit as “a continental movement” focused on renewing Africa’s commitment to innovation, inclusion, and sustainable growth. She highlighted her contributions as a leading entrepreneurial and philanthropic voice, noting that GMYT Group has empowered more than 5,000 women through training, scholarships, and mentorship.
The 2025 GAH Awards and Business Summit promises to be a transformative platform for dialogue, collaboration, and visionary leadership. Dr. Oghene stated that the Black Card embodies GAH’s mission to foster industry growth, empower communities, and amplify African voices, adding, “This isn’t just an elite membership; it’s a gateway to influence, visibility, and opportunities that will accelerate Africa’s journey toward sustainable development.”
