Arsenal’s partnership with Visit Rwanda has won an award for a ‘unique and transformational partnership by an African brand’ at the Best of Africa Awards.

Arsenal and Visit Rwanda struck a deal in 2018 that saw the tourism outfit sponsor Arsenal’s sleeves of all their teams.

Held in Rwanda, the awards ceremony is in its ninth year.

Emmanuel Ruhumuliza, the Partnerships Manager at the Rwanda High Commission in the UK, said at the ceremony that Rwanda was “very proud to receive this award.”

On the evening, the awards handed out included:

• Eniola Aluka, professional footballer, for her work on leadership projects and improving access to water in Rwanda.
• Fuse ODG, musician, for his philanthropic work building schools in Ghana.
• Anita Asante, professional footballer, for her work giving back to the community and inspiring young people.
• Wilfried Zaha, professional footballer, for his philanthropic work in Côte d’Ivoire and his support of women’s football at Crystal Palace Football Club.
• Diamond Platnumz, musician, for his work to make music more accessible to young people in East Africa.
• Nuno Espírito Santo, Coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, for his outstanding year as their manager.
• Radhi Jhaidi, Coach at Southampton FC, for his outstanding achievements in coaching and mentorship.
• Afro Nation, the biggest urban beach festival in Europe (Portugal) and Africa (Ghana) celebrating African music, for its outstanding events.
• Stormzy, rapper and musician, for his outstanding contribution as a musical artist.
• Luol Deng, NBA player, for his excellence in sport.
• Fatma Samoura, FIFA Secretary General and General Delegate for Africa, for her role as a history maker – the first-ever African Muslim woman to hold the role of Secretary-General at FIFA.

Arsenal’s deal with Rwanda came in for heavy criticism at the time, something I looked at in more detail here.