Celebrated Ghanaian Playwright and Project Management Strategist, Latif Batalima Abubakar, PMP, has been adjudged the Best Project Management Professional at the maiden Sky Africa Awards, in a glittering ceremony held at the iconic Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
His innovative “Single Simple Practical (SSP) Approach to Managing Projects”—an approach that shortens delivery cycles while elevating risk governance—was cited as a key factor in his win.
The SSP Approach, which has been adopted by multinationals such as AirtelTigo and ActionAid, has sharpened the skills of over 4,500 professionals in project, risk, and procurement management.
Aimed at celebrating and promoting African creativity in the fields of interior architecture, handicrafts, art, and design, the event was chaired by the former President of Ecuador, Madam Rosalía Arteaga, and brought together government officials, ministers, global financiers, and creative-industry titans.
Mr. Abubakar, who is also the Founder of The African Festival—Africa’s largest cultural night anchoring pan-African tourism calendars—was recognized for executing projects and engineering ecosystems that outlive single deliverables. This is evident in The African Festival’s year-on-year growth and the commercial spin-offs it spawns.
Impact Beyond Projects
Through his company, Globe Productions, he creates over 1,000 temporary jobs annually across acting, logistics, media, and SME supply chains—an employment footprint unmatched by any other nominee.
His flagship campaign, Ghana Must Go—a theatre-driven investment and tourism tour spanning ten countries—has become a model for converting cultural content into foreign direct investment.
Award Presentation
Presenting the award, former Ecuadorian President Rosalía Arteaga lauded Mr. Abubakar’s ability to turn culture into currency, citing the economic benefits of his work.
A citation presented to him read:
“Latif’s work proves that rigorous project science and powerful storytelling can coexist, and when they do, entire economies benefit.”
The jury also praised his transparent monitoring and evaluation framework, which tracks socio-economic return on investment—jobs created, SMEs empowered, tourism receipts generated—as well as his ability to negotiate with governments and ministries and coordinate three world faith leaders on one stage for consensus-building.
In a speech read on his behalf, Cameroonian President Paul Biya hailed the celebrated playwright as “a Pan-African ambassador whose projects build bridges across borders.”
Sustainable Development
Receiving the award, Mr. Abubakar paid tribute to his teams at Globe Productions and the Globe Management Institute. He stated:
“Tonight affirms that Africa’s creative spirit, when guided by professional project management, can power sustainable development across continents.”
With the Sky Africa Award in hand, he pledged to leverage his SSP Approach to fast-track infrastructure, renewable energy, and social enterprise projects, while expanding capacity-building programs.
Revealing plans to embark on a Global Tour of Ghana Must Go from August 2025 to August 2026, Mr. Abubakar called on governments, DFIs, and brands to sponsor packages that blend impact storytelling with high-value networking.
“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.
About Latif Abubakar
Latif Abubakar is a visionary project leader with over 15 years of excellence in project design, strategic execution, and stakeholder engagement across Africa, Europe, and North America.
As Founder and CEO of Globe Productions Limited and the Globe Management Institute, he has pioneered the fusion of creative arts with development. He has led landmark initiatives in partnership with the World Bank, BBC, UN, WHO, the Swiss Embassy, and the Embassy of Spain, while also founding Africa’s biggest cultural night, The African Festival.
He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), holds an Executive MBA from the Swiss Business School, and is the author of Facts to Remember: PMP Exams Prep. He is also the pioneer of the SSP Approach to Managing Projects.
Credited with over 20 landmark stage plays that address national and social challenges—from HIV/AIDS to illegal mining—his works have reached over 1 million theatregoers and 3.5 million virtual viewers during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Mr. Abubakar currently serves as a Project Management Facilitator on the Joy Business Masterclass on-air series and is a member of the Advisory Boards of the American Academy of Project Managers and the Spain Ghana Chamber of Commerce.