On April 15, 2025, during the Sustainable Economy Forum, promoted by Community of San Patrignano and Confindustria and for seven years a reference point for discussions on sustainability and responsibility, E4Impact Foundation awarded the Gian Marco Moratti Award 2025.
Established in memory of the Italian entrepreneur Gian Marco Moratti, the award is dedicated to the African Alumni of the Foundation and aims to celebrate the commitment that Dr. Moratti has always shown in supporting young people, firmly backing those who wished to start entrepreneurial activities to improve the future of their families and communities.
Now in its sixth edition, the Gian Marco Moratti Award fully reflects E4Impact’s mission: to foster the launch and development of new businesses in Africa. The award is also an opportunity to highlight the role of the Foundation’s African entrepreneurs in promoting sustainable development on the continent.
This year, the award aimed to celebrate African businesses that, through innovative models and concrete solutions, are measurably contributing to achieving one or more of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The journey toward this final saw 53 high-level applications selected by a jury of experts, which first chose the 4 finalists and then the two winners, evaluating the impact, economic sustainability, and distinctive value of the proposals submitted.
During the forum, Prof. Mario Molteni, CEO of E4Impact Foundation, announced the two winners, who will receive a cash prize to support the development of their businesses: Lawrence Hoba from Zimbabwe and Leonard Bakahika from Uganda.
Lawrence Hoba is the Founder and CEO of EnraPower, a company that provides renewable, accessible, and reliable energy to communities and businesses in Southern Africa, contributing to a zero-emissions future.
His company focuses on renewable energy, with particular attention to photovoltaic solar, wind power, waste-to-energy, and other emerging technologies. EnraPower operates in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa, where it provides solutions tailored to meet the specific needs of the communities in which it works.
Lawrence decided to start his business in 2016 to address one of the main problems faced by low-income communities in his country: access to energy. This, combined with extremely high prices causes severe socio-economic issues, forcing the population to face many difficulties in improving their quality of life.
In a past interview, Lawrence shared: “EnraPower was born to solve the energy access problem for low-income communities. The idea came to me after personally experiencing the challenges these people, without access to a reliable energy source, face every day. These are people I came into contact with while working on development projects, who mostly live in rural areas. If one of the Sustainable Development Goals concerns energy access, we were definitely far from reaching it in those areas.”
Now, the company provides almost 100 kW of solar energy, reducing the need for kerosene and firewood, and combating climate change.
The other winner is Leonard Bakahika, Founder and Doctor at Ebenezer Clinic, a medical facility in Uganda that provides accessible and quality healthcare, with a particular focus on non-communicable diseases, saving lives in the western region of the country.
Founded in 2015 by Leonard and his brother Eugene, the clinic was created with the goal of offering healthcare services to the population of Ibanda and the surrounding areas. The idea emerged after observing that, at the time, the region was facing severe healthcare shortages due to the limited number of facilities and healthcare workers.
Ebenezer Clinic assists an average of 600 patients per month, offering quality care and personalized attention. The facility provides 6 main services: pharmacy, laboratory, neonatal clinic, outpatient clinic with inpatient services, maternity ward, and the distribution of Kelvin medication for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The Gian Marco Moratti Award represents a unique opportunity to highlight the commitment of African entrepreneurs in promoting virtuous, impactful, and sustainable development. In addition to international visibility and privileged access to potential partnerships with Italian companies, Lawrence and Leonard each received a prize of €3,000.
We asked them how they felt upon learning of their victory, and here is their response:
At the Sustainable Economy Forum 2025, E4Impact’s General Director, Frank Cinque, also participated in the closing panel titled “Africa and Italy’s Contribution,” sharing E4Impact’s experience from 2010 to the present.
We are truly proud to accompany the journey of these extraordinary entrepreneurs, whose vision and determination represent a fundamental driving force for sustainable change in Africa. Stories like those of Lawrence and Leonard demonstrate how entrepreneurship can be a powerful lever not only for economic development but also for the well-being of communities. Their dedication is a concrete example of how a more equitable, resilient, and inclusive future can be built.
We will continue to enthusiastically support every entrepreneur of the Foundation, confident that their daily commitment will continue to generate a positive and lasting impact across the entire continent.
