Renowned Ghanaian playwright and certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Mr. Latif Batalima Abubakar, was named Best Project Management Professional at the inaugural Sky Africa Awards held at the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Mr. Abubakar’s recognition was principally attributed to his development of the Single Simple Practical (SSP) Approach to Managing Projects—an innovative methodology credited with reducing project delivery timelines while enhancing risk governance frameworks.
The SSP Approach has been successfully adopted by leading multinational organizations, including AirtelTigo and ActionAid, and has contributed to the capacity-building of more than 4,500 professionals in the fields of project management, risk management, and procurement.
The Sky Africa Awards, chaired by former President of Ecuador, Her Excellency Madam Rosalía Arteaga, was established to honor and elevate African excellence across the disciplines of interior architecture, handicrafts, art, and design. The event convened a distinguished audience of government representatives, cabinet ministers, international financiers, and influential leaders in the creative industries.
Mr. Latif Batalima Abubakar—also the Founder of Globe Management Institute, Globe Productions Limited, and The African Festival (the continent’s largest cultural night and a key fixture on pan-African tourism calendars)—was further recognized for his exceptional capacity to execute high-impact projects and to design sustainable ecosystems that endure beyond individual deliverables. This is exemplified by the consistent year-on-year growth of The African Festival and the commercial opportunities it continues to generate.
Impact Beyond Projects
Through Globe Productions, Mr. Abubakar facilitates the creation of over 1,000 temporary employment opportunities annually across a diverse range of sectors including performing arts, logistics, media, and SME supply chains—a scale of impact unmatched by any of the other nominees.
His signature initiative, “Ghana Must Go”, a theatre-based investment and tourism roadshow spanning ten countries, has emerged as a pioneering model for transforming cultural content into a viable channel for attracting foreign direct investment.
Award Presentation
During the presentation of the award, former President of Ecuador, Her Excellency Rosalía Arteaga, commended Mr. Abubakar’s visionary work, specifically highlighting his success in “turning culture into currency” and the significant economic benefits such efforts bring to local and international communities.
Latif Abubakar Honoured with Best Project Management Professional Award at Sky Africa Awards
Celebrated Ghanaian playwright and Project Management Professional (PMP), Mr. Latif Batalima Abubakar, was awarded the Best Project Management Professional prize at the inaugural Sky Africa Awards, held at the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The honour recognized his exceptional contributions to project execution, innovation, and sustainable development across the continent.
Mr. Abubakar, Founder of Globe Management Institute, Globe Productions Limited, and The African Festival—Africa’s largest cultural night anchoring pan-African tourism calendars—was lauded for delivering projects that not only achieve deliverables but also establish enduring ecosystems. His pioneering Single Simple Practical (SSP) Approach to Managing Projects was a decisive factor in his win. This methodology, which improves delivery timelines while strengthening risk governance, has been adopted by multinational institutions including AirtelTigo and ActionAid and has trained over 4,500 professionals across project, risk, and procurement management.
Citation Highlights & Jury Commendation
In its formal citation, the award jury stated:
“Latif’s work proves that rigorous project science and powerful storytelling can coexist, and when they do, entire economies benefit.”
The jury further applauded Mr. Abubakar’s transparency in monitoring and evaluation. His frameworks measure socio-economic return on investment—including jobs created, SMEs empowered, and tourism receipts generated—and showcase his capacity to navigate negotiations with governments and ministries. Notably, he has successfully coordinated three global faith leaders on a single stage for high-level consensus-building.
Pan-African Recognition
In a speech delivered on his behalf, President Paul Biya of Cameroon described Mr. Abubakar as:
“a Pan-African ambassador whose projects build bridges across borders.”
Acceptance Speech and Future Outlook
Upon receiving the award, Mr. Abubakar credited his dedicated teams at Globe Management Institute and Globe Productions Ltd. He remarked:
“Tonight affirms that Africa’s creative spirit, when guided by professional project management, can power sustainable development across continents.”
He announced that he will leverage his SSP Approach to accelerate progress in infrastructure, renewable energy, and social enterprise sectors, while also expanding capacity-building initiatives.
Looking ahead, Mr. Abubakar unveiled plans for a Global Tour of “Ghana Must Go”—his flagship theatre-based investment and tourism campaign—from August 2025 to August 2026. He extended a call to action:
“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.”
About Latif Batalima Abubakar
Mr. Latif Abubakar is a visionary project leader with over 15 years of experience in project design, strategic execution, and stakeholder engagement across Africa, Europe, and North America. As the Founder and CEO of Globe Productions Limited and Globe Management Institute, he has led transformative collaborations with global organizations such as the World Bank, BBC, United Nations, World Health Organization, Swiss Embassy, and Embassy of Spain.
He is the creator of The African Festival, Africa’s premier cultural night; a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP); and the author of Facts to Remember: PMP Exams Prep. His SSP Approach to Managing Projects has set a new benchmark in practical project delivery.
Mr. Abubakar has written and produced over 20 landmark stage plays addressing societal and policy challenges, from HIV/AIDS awareness to illegal mining, collectively reaching over 1 million in-person viewers and 3.5 million virtual audiences during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Currently, he serves as Project Management Facilitator on the Joy Business Masterclass radio series and sits on the Advisory Boards of the American Academy of Project Managers and the Spain-Ghana Chamber of Commerce.#newsafro_
