Staff Writer
MTC has been named Namibia’s Most Admired Brand for the 2nd year running.
The announcement was made virtually during the annual Brand Africa Leadership announcement which took place on the 25th May, 2021 coinciding with Africa Day.
This year, Brand Leadership added a new category titled Most Admired Brand during COVID in Namibia and MTC also scooped the award as the Most Admired African Brand in Namibia during COVID while the World Health Organization took number one spot for the Most Admired Global Brand in Namibia during COVID.
In a surprising move, MTC was named the 2nd Most Admired Local Media Brand in Namibia with NBC taking first place followed by One Africa TV in 3rd place.
“We are truly humbled by the recognition of our brand by the Namibian people. Their perception of our brand is based on experience. We have invested deliberately in our brand, because it’s a brand that is proudly Namibian, relevant to Namibians and a household brand. We are extremely honoured for the accolades, Most Admired Namibian Brand, Most Admired African Brand in Namibia during COVID and 2nd Most Admired local media brand. We promise to do more and we want to assure everybody of our commitment to all Namibians because we are nothing without them,” said MTC’s Tim Ekandjo.
Despite an increase in sample size and countries, the Top 10 Most Admired Brands show little change from previous years, with MTN, consistently the only African brand among the Top 10 brands overall, dropped to #11 for the first time in a decade.
American sports and fitness giant, Nike retains the top spot for the fourth year in a row.
MTN and Dangote retain their status as the most admired African brands recalled spontaneously and when prompted, respectively.
Nigeria’s GTBank retains its position as the most admired financial services brand in Africa.
With Covid limiting entertainment options beyond the house, while many businesses struggled, many digital businesses such as streaming services thrived. And this undoubtedly explains South Africa’s DSTV becoming the most admired media brand In Africa, knocking off BBC from its long held position.
According to Brand Africa, the Top 100 brands in Africa continue to be dominated by European brands which have held their share at 41 percent (-1), North America (+1), Asia (no change), and Africa retaining its 13 percent share of the most admired brands in the world.
Similarly, the leading African countries that dominate the rankings largely retained their positions with Nigeria (-1) and South Africa (-) with 5 brands each, Ethiopia (+1) and Kenya (-) accounting for the13 brands among the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa.
Now in its 11th year, every year on or around Africa Day, 25 May, Brand Africa releases the results of the survey on the most admired brands in Africa.
Established in 2011, the Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands rankings are the most authoritative survey and analysis on brands and underlying businesses in Africa, based on a study by Geopoll across 28 countries spanning all the five economic regions and analysis and ranking by Kantar and Brand Leadership.
The 2021 survey was conducted between March and April 2021 and yielded over 80,000 brand mentions and over 3,500 unique brands.
“There is no doubt the pandemic, that continues to cost lives and livelihoods, and coincided with the launch of the implementation phase of the AfCFTA which aims to accelerate intra-Africa trade from 18% to 50% in 2030, is becoming a catalyst for loconomies with nations having to look internally for sustainability. The internal shifts in the rankings in particular the African brands, Africa can and will need to grow its own brands to meet the needs of its growing consumer market,” said Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa and Brand Leadership.
“African brands will continue to play a dual role of being globally competitive but most importantly of transforming the continent’s promise into a real change.”
