Latif Abubakar crowned best Project Manager in Africa
Ghanaian playwright and project strategist Latif Batalima Abubakar, has been named Best Project Management Professional at the inaugural Sky Africa Awards, held at the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The award recognizes Mr. Abubakar’s pioneering Single Simple Practical (SSP) Approach to Managing Projects, a methodology that has revolutionized project delivery by shortening timelines and enhancing risk governance.
The SSP approach has been adopted by major organizations, including AirtelTigo and ActionAid, and has trained over 4,500 professionals in project, risk, and procurement management.
Mr. Abubakar, who is also the founder of Globe Management Institute, Globe Productions Limited, and The African Festival, Africa’s largest cultural night, was praised for his ability to integrate rigorous project design with creative execution. His work has led to sustainable project ecosystems, with The African Festival emerging as a cultural and economic mainstay across the continent.
According to the award jury, Mr. Abubakar’s transparent monitoring framework, tracking job creation, SME engagement, and tourism revenues, set him apart. His cross-sector achievements include managing engagements with governments, ministries, and global religious leaders to promote unity and consensus-building.
Former Ecuadorian President Rosalía Arteaga, who chaired the event and presented the award, commended Mr. Abubakar for “turning culture into currency” and cited his Ghana Must Go theater-tour campaign as a transformative model for converting creative content into foreign investment.
“Latif’s work proves that rigorous project science and powerful storytelling can coexist, and when they do, entire economies benefit,” part of his award citation read.
Cameroonian President Paul Biya, in a speech delivered on his behalf, hailed Mr. Abubakar as “a Pan-African ambassador whose projects build bridges across borders.”
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Abubakar credited his teams at Globe Productions and the Globe Management Institute, stating: “Tonight affirms that Africa’s creative spirit, when guided by professional project management, can power sustainable development across continents.”
He announced plans to leverage the SSP Approach to accelerate projects in infrastructure, renewable energy, and social enterprise, while expanding training programs across Africa. He also revealed an upcoming global tour of Ghana Must Go, set to run from August 2025 to August 2026. “We invite investors, development agencies, and forward-thinking CEOs to partner with us. Together, we can script Africa’s next growth chapter, scene by scene, project by project,” he said.
