Minister of Science and Technology and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry to speak at Oliver Empowerment Awards

It is clear that Skill Development is at the top of the agenda being the most entered category featuring more than 20% of our overall nominees over the last three years. This should give South Africans a great sense of comfort that the calls for change have been heard and organisations are enabling a skilled workforce.

Minister Pandor and Deputy Minister Masina will both focus on the importance of transformation in driving economic growth. Several other senior representatives of government and business will attend the awards.

The event will be held at Emperors Palace on 14 April with the theme “Out of Africa” and a special celebration of the Legends of Empowerment and Transformation, focusing on Oliver Awards winners over the past 15 years. The Awards have been recognising the efforts of businesses, civil society, public sector and truly outstanding individuals. This year the Oliver Empowerment Awards will take a walk down memory lane, honoring companies who have won not once or twice but numerous times over the years showing a sustainable commitment to the upliftment of this country.

As President Jacob Zuma pointed in the State of the Nation Address, the implementation to the NDP’s 9 -Point Plan will be one of the government’s key drivers in growing our economy. In light of this, the Oliver Empowerment Awards is announcing a new category, The Vision 2030 Award sponsored by MMI Holding, which celebrates private companies that have initiatives contributing to the NDP’s 2030 goal.

“We expect to see a lot of organisations entering this category as we have seen a massive commitment from the private sector to the NDP, however a lack of opportunities for this to be showcased, which we feel will address this,” Ryland Fisher, Editorial Director, Topco Media.

“We ought to be walking this common road hand-in-hand conscious of our past and confident of our future, no longer at the mercy of systems that divided us into black and white and men and women and saw no measure of equality between us,” Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa said.

For more information, contact Rose Setshoge: az.oc.ocpot@egohstes.esor | 086 000 9590