Leading African PR & Rating firm, Avance Media has announced the 2021 list of 100 Influential Women in Africa. The list which celebrates African women in leadership who inspire the next generation of women around the world is the third publication from Avance Media since 2019.
The 2021 list has women from 28 African countries from various backgrounds in business leadership, academia, diplomacy, philanthropy, entertainment and media.
Put together with inspiration from the 2021 International Women’s Day theme: “Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, Prince Akpah, Managing Director of Avance Media noted that, the honourees on the qualified for this deserving honour because of their works and accomplishments which continue to inspire a lot of young people across the African continent and beyond. He also noted that, the 100 influential African women were selected based on criteria that spans their leadership & personal accomplishments, commitment to sharing knowledge and the audacity to break several status quos.
Some notable names on the list are UN’s Amina J. Mohammed (H.E), Sahle-Work Zewde (H.E), Samia Suluhu Hassan (H.E) presidents of Ethiopia and Tanzania respectively, Victoire Tomegah Dogbé, Prime Minister of Togo, Jessica Rose Epel Alupo (H.E), Mariam Chabi Talata (H.E.) Vice Presidents of Uganda and Benin respectively, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Trade Organization Director General and Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh first African Woman to head IBM’s operation in Africa as Regional Head and Executive Director.
The youngest honouree to make the list for the second time is Namibia’s Deputy ICT Minister, Hon. Emma Theofelus.
Profiles of the 2021 100 Most Influential African Women are published on 100women.avancemedia.org
Below is the list of Avance Media’s 2021 100 Most Influential African Women arranged in alphabetical order
Agnes Binagwaho (Prof) || Vice Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity
Agnes Matilda Kalibata (Dr) || CEO, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
Ahunna Eziakonwa || Director, UNDP Africa
Aisha Yesufu || Activist
Aja Fatoumata C.M. Jallow-Tambajang (H.E.) || Former Vice-President, Gambia
Allen Kagina || Executive Director, Uganda National Roads Authority.
Amina J. Mohammed (H.E) || Deputy Secretary General, United Nations
Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh || Regional Head, IBM North, East and West Africa
Angèle Makombo || President, League of Congolese Democrats
Angélique Kidjo || Musician
Anne Waiguru (H.E.) || Governor, Kirinyaga County
Athaliah Molokomme || Permanent Representative of Botswana to the UN
Awa Ndiaye-Seck || Resident Representative UN Women, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Aya Nakamura || Musician
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu || CEO, soleRebels
Bience Gawanas || Executive Consultant, Gawanas Consulting
Busiswa Gqulu || Musician
Charity Ngilu (H.E.) || Governor, Kitui County
Chebet Chikumbu || Africa Director, Global Citizen
Chileshe Kapwepwe (H.E.) || Secretary General, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie || Novelist
Damilola Ogunbiyi || CEO, Sustainable Energy for All
Djamila Ferdjani (Dr) || Medical Doctor, MedCom
Dorothy Ghettuba || Content Manager for Africa, Netflix
Dorothy Kisaka || Executive Director, Kampala Capital City Authority
Edith Yah Brou || Blogger
Elizabeth M. Mrema || Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (H.E.) || Chair, EJS Centre
Emma Theofelus || Deputy Minister, Namibia
Eve Bazaiba || Deputy Prime Minister, DRC
Fatima Kyari Mohammed (H.E) || Permanent Representative, African Union Mission to the UN
Fatoumata Ba || Founder, Janngo Africa
Faustina Fynn-Nyame || Executive Director for Africa, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation
Filsan Abdullahi || Minister of Gender, Children and Youth, Ethiopia
Frehiwot Tamru || CEO, Ethio Telecom
Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka (Dr) || CEO, Conservation Through Public Health
Graça Machel || Founder, Graca Machel Trust
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim || Coordinator, Association of Peul Women and Autochthonous Peoples of Chad
Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu || CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation
Irene Asare || Global HR Director, CarvinClay People Development
Jacqueline Fatima Bocoum || Journalist
Jacqueline Moudeïna || Lawyer
Jeannette Kagame (H.E) || First Lady, Rwanda
Jessica Rose Epel Alupo (H.E) || Vice President, Uganda
Julienne Lusenge || President, Female Solidarity for Integrated Peace and Development
Julitta Onabanjo (Dr) || Regional Director, UNFPA East and Southern Africa
Kaba Nialé || Minister of Planning and Development, Ivory Coast
Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo (Dr.) || Journalist
Laureen Kouassi-Olsson || Founder & CEO, Birimian Holding
Letty Chiwara || Representative to Ethiopia, AU & ECA, UN Women
Louise Mushikiwabo || Secretary General, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
Mamokgethi Phakeng (Prof.) || Vice Chancellor, University of Cape Town
Mariam Chabi Talata (H.E.) || Vice President, Benin
Martha Ama A. Pobee (H.E.) || Assist. Secretary-General for Africa, UN
Martha K Koome (Lady Justice) || Chief Justice, Kenya
Mary-Jane Morifi || Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, Tiger Brands
Matshidiso Moeti (Dr) || Regional Director for Africa, WHO
Mercy Johnson || Actress
Mitwa Kaemba Ng’ambi || CEO, MTN Rwanda
Monde Muyangwa (Dr.) || Director of the Africa Program, Woodrow Wilson Center
Monique Nsanzabaganwa (H.E.) || Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission
Musonda Xoliswa Mumba (Dr) || Chief of the Terrestrial Ecosystems, UNEP
Mwele Malecela || Director of Neglected Tropical Diseases, WHO
Nabou Fall || CEO, Vizeo
Nadeen Ashraf || Activist
Nafissatou Jocelyne Diop || Chief of Gender and Human Rights, United Nations Population Fund
Nancy Matimu || Managing Director, MultiChoice Kenya
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala || Director General, World Trade Organization
Nnenna Nwakanma || Chief Web Advocate, WWW Foundation
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda || Chairperson, ActionAid International
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde || Actress
Oulimata Sarr || Regional Director West and Central Africa, UN Women
Owen Omogiafo || CEO, Transcorp Group
Patricia Obo-Nai || CEO, Vodafone Ghana
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka || Executive Director, UN Women
Rasha Kelej (Dr) || CEO, Merck Foundation
Renée Ngamau || Chairperson, Amnesty International Kenya
Roberta Annan || Founder, Africa Fashion Foundation
Rose Mwebaza || Director, UN Climate Technology Centre and Network
Rosebell Kagumire || Editor, African Feminism
Roselyn Akombe (Dr) || Governance and Peacebuilding Regional Coordinator, UNDP Africa
Sahle-Work Zewde (H.E) || President, Ethiopia
Samia Suluhu Hassan (H.E) || President, Tanzania
Sheila Ochugboju (Dr) || Head, Strategic Communications, Africa CDC
Sola David-Borha || Group CEO, Standard Bank Africa
Stella Nyanzi (Dr.) || Convenor, Women’s Protest Uganda
Stigmata Tenga (Dr.) || Executive Director, Africa Philanthropy Network
Tiguidanke Camara || CEO, Tigui Mining Group
Titi Akinsanmi || Policy and Government Relations Lead, Google
Tsitsi Dangarembga || Author
Ubah Ali || Activist
Uche Ofodile || CEO, MTN Benin
Victoire Tomegah Dogbé || Prime Minister, Togo
Wanjira Mathai || Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute
Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg (Dr) || Director, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)
Waris Dirie || CEO, Desert Flower Foundation
Winnie Byanyima || Executive Director, UNAIDS
Yemisi Akinbobola (Dr) || Co-Founder, African Women in Media
Yolanda Cuba || Chief Digital and Fintech Officer, MTN Group
Zainab Hawa Bangura || Director General, United Nations Office at Nairobi
Source: Ifeanyi Ahyia Adjei, Avance Media
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