Breaking Boundaries: Mauritius Secures First-Ever Pan-African Gold at the 2026 COMFWB Women Entrepreneur Awards

TUNIS, TUNISIA - In a historic milestone for the island nation, Dr. Deepika Yashasvinee Panchoo Harwani has become the first person from Mauritius to be crowned the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (Gold Category - Africa) at the 7th COMESA Federation of Women in Business Trade Fair (CTF7) in Tunisia.

The prestigious pan-African award, presented under the auspices of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), cementsDr. Deepika's position as a transformative force in the continent's rapidly evolving EdTech and business sectors.
Evaluated against top-tier founders from across the 21 member states of the COMESA economic corridor, Dr. Deepika was recognized for her profound impact on educational accessibility and digital innovation. As the visionary Founder and Director of the Confederation of International Talents (CIT) in Mauritius, she has aggressively dismantled financial barriers in higher education.

Under her leadership, CIT successfully engineered a disruptive 100% tuition scholarship model. This bold initiative has democratized access to UK-accredited, globally recognized qualifications for students regardless of their financial background, equipping a new generation of Mauritian and regional talent with future-ready skills.

The award was officially presented in Tunis by Madam Leila Belkhiria Jaber (Vice-President of COMFWB and President of COMFWB Tunisia) alongside Mr. Chikakula Miti (CEO of COMFWB). The trophy was graciously received on Dr. Harwani's behalf by Madam Reeham Koylash, Chairperson of COMFWB Mauritius.

"This recognition reflects not only my journey but also the collective efforts of the dedicated team at CIT, our students, partners, and everyone who believes that education has the power to transform lives," Dr. Deepika stated upon receiving the honor. "I remain committed to creating opportunities, embracing innovation, and empowering future generations through quality education and digital transformation."

Dr. Deepika's influence, however, extends far beyond the boardroom of CIT. She has become a vital architect of capacity building within the region. As an active, high-profile member of the National Women Entrepreneur Council (NWEC) in Mauritius, she dedicates her time to mentoring female founders, specifically bridging the digital divide by training women in Artificial Intelligence, digital literacy, and advanced enterprise strategy.

Her dual focus-driving an innovative, highly successful educational institution while simultaneously leading national-level social impact initiatives-was a decisive factor for the COMESA awarding committee. Dr. Deepika is proving that scalable business success and deep environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact are not mutually exclusive; they are the future of African enterprise.

This unprecedented win at CTF7 not only elevates the profile of Mauritian entrepreneurship on the global stage but also signals a powerful shift in the African economic landscape: the future of intra-African growth is female, digital, and radically inclusive.

Confederation of International Talents (CIT)
📍 Royal Road, Pamplemousses, Mauritius
📞 +230 5721 5128
📧 info@citinstitute.org
🌐 www.citinstitute.org

About Confederation of International Talents (CIT):
The Confederation of International Talents (CIT) is a premier educational institution headquartered in Mauritius. Dedicated to academic excellence and industry-focused training, CIT partners with global accreditation bodies to empower learners with the critical skills required to thrive in the modern global workforce.

This release was published on openPR.