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