Jemal Ahmed Honored at UK House of Lords for Industrial Leadership

Jemal Ahmed, chief executive of MIDROC Investment Group, has been named co-winner of the Industry Personality of the Year at the 2025 African Business Leadership Awards, held at the UK House of Lords.

The award recognizes Jemal’s sweeping influence across Ethiopia’s industrial and investment landscape, where MIDROC, under his leadership, has grown into one of the country’s largest and most diversified conglomerates, with operations spanning mining, agriculture, construction, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.

Presented during the 15th edition of the African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA), the honor places Jemal among Africa’s most impactful industrial figures. He shared the award with Ally Edha Awadh, founder and CEO of Tanzania’s Lake Oil Group.

Organized by African Leadership Magazine as part of the Africa Summit London, the ceremony brought together policymakers, investors, and thought leaders from across the continent and the UK. This year’s summit, themed “Africa Forward: Powering Leadership, Investment, and Competitiveness,” highlighted innovation and sustainability as key metrics for recognition.

Jemal’s recognition comes at a time when Ethiopia’s private sector is being called upon to shoulder greater responsibility in driving growth, job creation, and economic resilience. MIDROC’s investments in cement production, gold mining, and agro-processing have not only expanded domestic supply chains but also created thousands of jobs across the country.

At the awards dinner, Dr. Ken Giami, CEO of African Leadership Magazine, described winners as “catalysts of change in African enterprise, charting new paths toward inclusive growth.” Jemal’s leadership, he added, “mirrors the potential of African industry when anchored in vision, discipline, and national relevance.”

The ceremony was held at the historic House of Lords, an uncommon venue for African business recognition, symbolizing the growing significance of African-led enterprises on the global stage.

Jemal Ahmed has long maintained a low profile despite MIDROC’s towering presence in the region. This award may mark a shift, positioning him as not only a behind-the-scenes industrialist but also a continental voice on business leadership and investment strategy.

The ABLA awards are determined through a four-stage process involving public nomination, editorial screening, online voting, and verification of institutional impact. Jemal’s win was based on both popular support and documented contributions to industrial development.

MIDROC’s recent projects include expansions in gold refining, medical manufacturing, and logistics, sectors deemed strategic under Ethiopia’s new economic reform agenda.