Women Impacting Africa Meet Our Founder
Tope Imasekha is a Development Economics Specialist.
As an innovative leader, strong advocate and strategist she dedicates her time to women empowerment and women’s human rights.
Her passion and commitment to serving humanity led her to birth a leading grassroots humanitarian and development organization, Women impacting Nigeria (WIN).
WIN is a female run NGO dedicated to gender equality and empowerment of women in communities across Nigeria through the impact-driven solutions.
Under her leadership as the organization’s CEO, Women Impacting Nigeria has impacted over 800,000 women and children since its inception.
She is an inspiration to young women, an award-winning African leader who takes it as her primary responsibility to ensure that women live a life free from hunger, violence, and discrimination. ABOUT US Women Impacting Nigeria Foundation (WIN) is want women to lead, participate in government a female-led, not-for-profit organization systems, have a decent livelihood, income dedicated to women’s human rights, gender security, economic autonomy and live free from equality and empowerment of women. violence.
Our mission is to foster the empowerment of We offer impact-driven, community centred women by supporting and equipping vulnerable programs and have reached over 800,000 women and children in the areas of education, women and 10,000 SMEs in Nigeria alone. and health; and to advocate for equal represen- tation in politics, for the advancement of the We welcome you to partner with us, together we nation can make a tremendous impact in the lives of women and children across Nigeria. Through A mission that will change Nigeria for the better, your support, women and girls can rewrite their we believe that women empowerment and stories and empower their families and give back gender equality is critical to achieving the to their communities. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We Goal Setting, A Vital Requirement To Financial Freedom Olubunmi Lawal
Nobody wants to worry about money. Sadly, only importance is to be consistent. a few people ever achieve the financial freedom 4. Take actionable steps, give yourself a target, which we all desire. invest little, grow that investment, and expand This enlightening sheds light on valuable your portfolio. Digitization has provided better goal-setting tips for attaining financial freedom. ways to save and probably invest. Mobile apps Goal-setting involves creating an action plan like a piggy bank, AjoMoney, Chaka, Bamboo, and designed to motivate and guide a person or a more make saving and investment fast and easy. group towards a goal. It is an action-based Also, financial planning apps like Mint, Expensify, process that needs to be SMART (specific, Budget, Spendee, all available on Google play, measurable, actionable, realistic, and have made it convenient to monitor, set, and time-bound.) Without a doubt, financial freedom achieve financial goals at the same time. Having stems from goal-setting. a portfolio allows you to diversify your income in As soon as you commit to the necessary amount various investment opportunities that can yield of financial planning, you’re a few steps towards massive returns. attaining financial independence. Setting finan- 5. Preferably, you may join a monthly contribution cial goals puts you in control of your finances. group or cooperative that has passed the test of Simply put, financial freedom is the attainment reliability and trustworthiness. of financial capability by self-equipping to foot With these few tips, you will be surprised how needs at any given time, without financial con- much you make if you are dedicated. straints. In the current state of the economy, many people Embrace the process. Building wealth has little to have fallen into the hands of loan sharks, massive do with your socioeconomic status, but your dis- debt, loss of property, and all sorts of financial cipline and determination. jeopardy. Believe in yourself. “Securing the bag” begins from the little self-re- Start small, learn and practice but above all, straint you take with whatever income you have. start now! You must first live within your means and think long-term if you want financial freedom. The truth is that goal-setting can improve your finances, cushion the effect of losses and prevent you from paying high-interest loans.
Here are a few things you can do 1. Get a journal dedicated to your finances, visualize and write down the financial goal you intend to achieve. 2. Be realistic yet challenging. You can do this by examining your sources of income, your total expenditure, and your investments. 3. Then you can set a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly goal depending on your preference. The Women Impacting Africa This is a first-of-its-kind African unranked compilation of leading women, drawn from different niches yet impacting their communities, countries and the continent at large. Women who are challenging the status quo and creating a trail for others to follow.
They are reshaping history, bridging inequality gaps and pioneering new innovations while lifting others. Aya Chebbi Ayodeji Osowobi
Aya Chebbi, is a Pan-African activist, Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi is a Tunisian diplomat and feminist. Nigerian women's rights activist. She is the founder of the Stand to End She rose to prominence as a voice for Rape Initiative. In 2019 she was the democracy and shot to global fame as second Nigerian women to be named a political blogger during 2010/2011 to Time 100 Next list, and she was the Tunisia’s Revolution. She received the Commonwealth Young Person of the 2019 Gates Foundation Campaign Year for that same year Award and was named in Forbes’ Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women and New African Magazine List of 100 Most Influential Africans.
Rebecca Enochong Elizabeth Nyamayaro
"Rebecca Enonchong is a Cameroo- "Elizabeth Nyamayaro, is an award- nian born technology entrepreneur and winning humanitarian, previous United also the founder and CEO of AppsTech. Nations Senior Advisor on Gender She is best known for her work Equality and founder of @heforshe promoting technology in Africa. movement. Enonchong has been a recipient of Born in Zimbabwe, Elizabeth has various awards from organizations worked at the forefront of global such as the World Economic Forum development for over two decades improving the lives of underserved " populations and has held leadership roles at the World Bank, World Health Organization, UNAIDS, and UN Women."
Saran Kaba Jones Agnes Binagwaho (Prof)
Saran Kaba Jones is a Liberian- "Agnes Binagwaho is a Rwandan American clean water advocate and pediatrician and currently the Vice social entrepreneur. She is the founder Chancellor of the University of Global of FACE Africa, an organization Health Equity. Since 1996, she has working to strengthen water, provided clinical care in the public sanitation and hygiene infrastructure sector as well as held a number of and services in rural communities project management, health system across sub-Saharan Africa with a strengthening, and government focus on women, education, health and positions, including Permanent sustainability. Secretary of the Ministry of Health of Rwanda from October 2008 until May 2011 and Minister of Health from May
Folashade Ambrose Medebem Agnes Kalibata
Fola is a consummate multi-faceted Agnes Matilda Kalibata is a Rwandan and proven business leader with an agricultural scientist and policymaker, extensive background in finance, and president of the Alliance for a Green strategy, and project/change Revolution in Africa (AGRA) management, business development, Kalibata has been instrumental in thought leadership, sustainable advocating for gender equality in development and management Rwanda, emphasizing the economic consulting across a wide industry benefits of encouraging women to play spectrum in the UK, Nigeria, and a more public role in society as Rwanda Europe. She is the Founder Women recovered from the 1994 Rwandan Inspiring Impact Network. genocide that killed 800,000 people in three months and left Rwanda's population 60% female.
Amanda Mukwashi Amina J. Mohammed
Chief Executive Officer, Christrain Aid, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed is the Deputy Amanda Khozi Mukwashi has devoted Secretary-General of the United Nations more than 25 years to working on and Chair of the United Nations poverty alleviation, tackling injustice Sustainable Development Group. and inequalities. She has worked in Ms. Mohammed began her career working on the design of schools and clinics in both intergovernmental and non-gov- Nigeria. She served as an advocate ernmental spaces, bringing in-depth focused on increasing access to education experience from across the develop- and other social services, before moving ment sector. into the public sector, where she rose to the position of adviser to three successive Presidents on poverty, public sector reform, and sustainable development. Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu Juliet Ehivmuan
Ms. Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu is the CEO of Juliet Ehimuan is a Nigerian the Tony Elumelu Foundation, a technology expert and entrepreneur leading African philanthropy commit- who currently serves as Google's ted to empowering African entrepre- Country Manager in Nigeria. neurs. In August 2011, she was listed in Forbes Ugochukwu is focused on strengthen- "20 Youngest Power Women In Africa”. ing relationships between the African She is the founder of ""Beyond Limits and the global entrepreneurship Africa" an initiative, born out of a ecosystem, empowering African desire to help young people become entrepreneurs creating jobs and the best versions of themselves." wealth on the continent.
Angélique Kidjo Stephanie Okereke Linus
Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Nigerian actress, producer, and director. Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo, Convener, Extended Hands Foundation, known as Angélique Kidjo, is a an NGO that seeks to restore the Beninese-American singer-songwriter, dignity of women in Africa by actress, and activist who is noted for facilitating free repair treatments for her diverse musical influences and girls and women with obstetric fistula" creative music videos.
Yvonne Chaka Chaka Graça Machel
Yvonne Chaka Chaka is an International advocate for women's and internationally recognised South African children's rights; former freedom fighter singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and first Education Minister of humanitarian and teacher. Mozambique. Former First Lady of South Chaka Chaka is a champion for the Africa. Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Graça Machel is a member of the Africa Progress Panel (APP), a group of ten malaria, the United Nations MDG Envoy distinguished individuals who advocate at for Africa, and the Goodwill Ambassador the highest levels for equitable and for the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. sustainable development in Africa. As a In 2012, she was the first African woman panel member she facilitates coalition to receive the World Economic Forum's building to leverage and broker knowledge, Crystal Award. and convenes decision-makers to influence policy for lasting change in Africa.
Kamissa Camara Ndileka Mandela
Secretary-General, Mali Presidency. Ndileka Mandela is a social activist, She has spoken about the issues of former ICU nurse, and the head of a regional security and alleged human rights rural upliftment organisation, the violations. As of December 2018, when she Thembekile Mandela Foundation in gave a speech to the United Nations South Africa General Assembly in Marrakech deploring the withdrawal of some countries from the Global Compact for Migration, she was the world's youngest Foreign minister. She is also the founder and co-chair of the Sahel Strategy Forum, which provides a platform for stakeholders to promote peace, security and development across the Sahel.
Tope Imasekha Lupita Nyong’o
A brilliant development Economics Aside from acting, Nyong'o supports specialist. As an innovative leader, strong historic preservation. She is vocal about advocate and strategist she dedicates her preventing sexual harassment, working for time to women empowerment and women’s women's and animal rights. human rights. She is the founder of Women Also in 2019, Nyong'o narrated the Impacting Nigeria, a female-led non for Discovery Channel docu-series Serengeti, profit organization dedicated to gender which earned her a Primetime Emmy equality, empowerment of women and Award nomination for Outstanding committed to seeing all women and girls live Narrator. Nyong'o was cited as one of the a life free from hunger, violence, and Top 100 most influential Africans by New discriminiation. African magazine in 2019. Nyong'o was Offering impact-orientated, community named among Africa's "50 Most Powerful centered solutions, reaching over 800000 Women" by Forbes in 2020. women and 10000 SMES in Nigeria alone. Obiageli Ezekwesili Folorunso Alakija
Oby Ezekwesili, is a Public Analyst/Senior Folorunso Alakija is a Nigerian Economic Advisor, AEDPI, Nigerian chartered billionaire businesswoman. Through accountant from Anambra state. A her Rose of Sharon Foundation, presidential candidate in the Nigerian 2019 presidential Election. Obiageli (Oby) Ezekwesi- Mrs. Alakija empowers widows and li is a daring advocate who’s led pioneering their children as well as orphans. In initiatives that challenge extremism, obedience to the word of God and corruption and gender-based violence. When working according to His will and Boko Haram abducted 300 Chibok girls in purpose, she and her husband founded 2014, Oby was one of the first to speak out. She co-founded the Bring Back Our Girls a house fellowship which has grown to campaign, taking to the streets and become a full-fledged Christian galvanizing global calls for action. Even in the Ministry known as the Rose of Sharon face of threats and intimidation from Glorious Ministry International. extremists, Oby refuses to remain silent.
Arunma Oteh Vera Songwe
Former Treasurer and a Vice President of "Vera Songwe is an economist and the World Bank. She became the Director banking executive from Cameroon who General of the Securities and Exchange has worked for the World Bank since Commission in Nigeria in January 2010. In 1998, and in 2015 became Western and 2011 Oteh was made an Officer of the Order Central Africa's regional director for the of the Niger (OON) in recognition of her International Finance Corporation, She contribution to economic development and to transforming the Nigerian capital is the first woman to head the U.N.s markets. In 2014, Oteh won the CNBC Africa Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) All Africa Business Leaders Awards at the level of Under Secretary-General. (AABLA) Business Woman of the Year Songwe was involved in Africa 2.0, an category for West Africa. In 2020, Forbes initiative to bring young Africans listed her among Africa's 50 Most Powerful together to aid in the continent's Women. economic development.
Tara Fela-Durotoye Manal Rostom
Tara Fela-Durotoye is a Nigerian Manal Rostom is an activist and an beauty entrepreneur and lawyer. A athlete. Manal has achieved many pioneer in the bridal makeup profession firsts for Arab and Egyptian women on in Nigeria, she launched the first bridal her remarkable journey; the first directory in 1999, set up international Hijabi woman to model in a Nike standard makeup studios and Running campaign; the first Arab to be established the first makeup school in featured in an audio guided run on the Nigeria. Tara has over 3,000 reps Global Nike Run Club app; the first spread across Nigeria. Tara remains an Egyptian woman to run the Great wall inspirational role-model and mentor to of China Marathon in 2016; the first make-up artists and aspiring beauty Egyptian woman to summit Mont business owners across Africa." Blanc in 2018.
Mamokgethi Phakeng Olajumoke Adenowo
Rosina Mamokgethi Phakeng GCOB Olajumoke Olufunmilola Adenowo is an is a South African professor of architect by profession. She is also an mathematics education who in 2018 entrepreneur and philanthropist, a became a vice-chancellor of the public speaker, radio host and author. University of Cape Town. CNN described her as "Africa's Kgethi founded the non-profit Starchitect" and The Guardian has organization Adopt-A-Learner. It described her as "the face of Architecture in Nigeria. was created for the purpose of providing deserving lower-income learners with financial support."
Winnie Byanyima Thuli Madonsela
Winnie Byanyima, a grass-roots activist, Thulisile Nomkhosi “Thuli" Madonsela is a human rights advocate, senior South African advocate and professor of international public servant, and world law, holding a chair in social justice at recognized expert on women’s rights, is Stellenbosch University since January currently Executive Director of UNAIDS. 2018. A world recognized expert on women's An advocate for Gender equality and the rights, she founded the Forum for advancement of women, Madonsela is a Women in Democracy (FOWODE), a member of South African Women Lawyers leading NGO in Uganda and has served Association (SAWLA) and Business at the African Union Commission and at Women’s Association of South Africa the United Nations Development (BWASA). In 2012, she was honoured with Programme as Director of Gender and South Africa’s most Influential Women Award." Development. Edel Were Millen Magese
Edel Were is a Strategy Consultant at Millen Happiness Magese is a world-re- Dalberg Advisors and co-leads nowned fashion model and humble Dalberg's Education and Employment humanitarian. The former Miss Tanzania platform. At Dalberg, she has advised can often be found giving her time, talents, government and non-government and energy to making a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate organizations on education and youth through her significant contributions to employment initiatives across Africa. charities such as the Tanzania Education Trust, African Rainforest Conservancy, and the MacDella Cooper Foundation. She has also established the Millen Magese foundation to empower women and girls of Tanzania.
Ibukun Awosika Gbemisola Osadua
Ibukunoluwa Abiodun Awosika is a Gbemisola Osadua is an experienced Nigerian business woman, motivation- executive leader and manager of al speaker and an author. She currently projects with proven records of serves as Chairman of First Bank of innovation, effective communication, Nigeria ability to enhance team performance and deliver results.
Chiamaka Uzomba Blessings Timidi
"Chiamaka Uzomba is a social justice Blessings has over 15 years of experience advocate, certified project manager working with girls and women on their and researcher. Sexual Reproductive Health and rights such as Teenage Pregnancy, Menstrua- Chiamaka seeks to increase women’s tion, Rape, Female Genital Mutilation access to family planning, community among others while highlighting the engagement to end child, early, and blurred lines between Culture, Religion forced marriage (CEFM) and female and Gender Based Violence. She is genital mutilation (FGM)." committed to using research, storytell- ing, community mobilization and engagement to work on issues that affect girls and women.
Judicaelle Irakoze Amadi Jennifer
Judicaelle Irakoze is an Afro-Political Gender & ReproHealth Advocate, She feminist activist, passionate about advocates for youth-forward policies articulating the experiences of and their implementation in SRHR with women and overall, the youth. a gender lens.
Feyikemi Abudu Odunayo Eweniyi
Feyikemi Abudu isn't just a full-time "Nigerian entrepreneur, founder of influencer on Twitter but she amplified PiggyBank.ng. the voice of young Nigerians during the #EndSARS movement She sits on the advisory board of TrainFuture, an Education Technology company based in Switzerland, as well as the Gender Lens Acceleration Best Practices Initiative, a collaborative effort of Village Capital, US and the International Finance Corporation (IFC)’s Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (WeFi)." Damilola Odufuwa Mosunmola Abudu
Feminist Coalition co-founder Damilo- "a Nigerian media mogul, philanthropist. la Odufuwa, a srong advocate for the empowerment of women, equality, and She has been described by Forbes as education ""Africa's Most Successful Woman"", and rated as one of the ""25 Most Powerful Women in Global Television"" by 'The Hollywood Reporter'."
Ola Brown Maya Haya Famodu
"a British-Nigerian medical doctor, Nigerian-American entrepreneur, healthcare entrepreneur and founder founder and partner at Ingressive, a of the Flying Doctors Healthcare firm that provides market entry, Investment Group and Director technology research and market Greentree Investment Company, she operations services for firms and seeks to bridge good healthcare and businesses expanding into Africa economic growth/employment in Africa . "
Elsie Kanza Adaku Ufere Awoonor
Elsie is a Tanzanian Econnomist, She Nigerian Energy Professional and an serves as the Senior Director, Head of international oil and gas, gender and Africa at the World Economic Forum. At development lawyer. Adaku also renders legal the Forum the Africa Team is responsible services to fight against sexual and for the Forum’s Africa Strategy and gender-based violence, providing prevention mechanisms and supporting survivors with champions multi-stakeholder regional psychosocial services. She holds the position of initiatives, such as Grow Africa the Head of Legal at STER Initiative, a partnership initiative, Africa Strategic Not-for-Profit organization. In 2019, STER Infrastructure Initiative, Water Resources collaborated with Nigeria’s National Agency Group Partnership initiative, and for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Responsible Mineral Development along with 15 non-governmental Initiative in collaboration with regional organisations, supported by the British organisations. Council, to set up Nigeria first ever Sex Offenders Registry.
Hauwa Ojeifo Admiral Itunu Hotonu
"Hauwa Ojeifo is a Nigerian sexual Rear Admiral Itunu Hotonu is a Violence and mental health activist. She Nigerian naval officer and architect. is known to be the first Nigerian female One of the first women officers and to have received a Queen's Young amongst the first architects in the Leader Award for her work. She is the Nigerian Navy, she has served as a Executive Director at She Writes staff college instructor and abroad in Woman (SWW); an award-winning Liberia. movement that gives mental health a voice in Nigeria. She is the creator of Safe Place Nigeria - a virtual community for mental health-conscious Nigerians to access digital mental healthcare, self-care tools and wellness resources.
Ngozi Okonjo Iweala Betty Irabor
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a Betty Irabor is a Nigerian columnist, Nigerian-American economist and philanthropist, writer, publisher and international development expert. She founder of Genevieve magazine. She sits on the boards of Standard previously had a column in Black & Chartered Bank, Twitter, Global Beauty magazine in the United Alliance for Vaccines and Immuniza- Kingdom. She also has a foundation tion, and the African Risk Capacity that promotes breast cancer awareness, early detection and treatment. Kofo Akinkugbe Esther Agbarakwe
Kofo Akinkugbe is a Nigerian technolo- Founder of the Nigerian Youth Climate gy entrepreneur. She is founder and Coalition and an international climate CEO of SecureID, Africa's leading change campaigner with experience manufacturer of smart cards and working on environmental sustainability, other identity documents. Her group of social and environmental policy analysis, biodiversity conservation, justice and companies owns Nigeria's first SIM reproductive health and rights. card production plant, in operation since December 2016. Certified by Visa, Verve and Master- card, the company exports SIM cards to 21 other African countries."
Hadiza Bala-Usman Joke Silva
Hadiza is a prinicipal initiator of the "Joke Silva, MFR is a Nigerian actress, Bring Back Our Girls campaign – a director, and businesswoman. Founder global online and offline campaign of Hear Word Initiative. In accordance aimed at freeing 219 school girls with the UN policy of enlisting abducted by the vicious Boko Haram at prominent figures in art, music, film, Chibok sport and literature to assist with their campaigns, Silva's role was focused on her participation in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria, she also worked fighting human trafficking and was part of the "I Am Priceless" campaign, which had also received support from the Nigerian authorities.
Nike Davies-Okundaye Chimuanya Dike
Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, also known Shes the team lead of the millennia of as Nike Okundaye, Nike Twins Seven Nigeria for REES Africa embarking on Seven and Nike Olaniyi, is a Nigerian batik various environmental projects from and Adire textile designer. Chief Nike is clean ups to providing of alternative the founder and director of four art power sources for less privileged centres, which offers free training to communities earning global recogni- young artists in visual, musical and the tion as well performing arts. She is the owner of the largest art gallery in West Africa, compromising over 7,000 artworks. The centres also serve as a rich source of knowledge for traditional arts and culture to scholars and institutions.
Adebola Deji-Kurunmi Chinemenma Umeseaka
Adebola Deji-kurunmi is a transformation- She is the present special Adviser to al catalyst equipping a new breed Abia State governor on Teenage of,visionaries, thought leaders and social Matters. She is a seasoned teen's saviors for Africa’s Emmergence. She owns coach in Africa, she is the producer and a coaching company called immerse coaching company and also a director in host of Teen's time with Chichi on ideation hub. Immerse coaching company AFRICA INDEPENDENCE is a coaching company that has been in TELEVISION (AIT) TELEVISION, operation for over five years and they have Inspiration FM Radio Lagos and FLO been so intentional with the mind transfor- FM in Abia State. mation of women and shift them into a higher version of themselves. Ideation hub also work with NGO who are interested in changing the Africa sector.
Afua Osei Yasmin Bello Osagie
Afua Osei is an entrepreneur, investor "Co-founder she leads africa, creating and public speaker who co-founded the best digital content and offline She Leads Africa, a media company for events to help young African women millennial African women. build amazing careers and businesses, She Leads Africa provides women serve as community leaders and across more than 35 countries with influencers, and eventually take over business and career advice and has the world. been featured in several international In 2015, Belo-Osagie took five female publications including The Financial entrepreneurs to China to meet with Times, CNN, CNBC Africa, Huffington successful women entrepreneurs and Post, and Black Enterprise. China-based investors interested in Africa. Anita Kemi DaSilva Bola Tinubu
Anita Kemi DaSilva is a specialist Bola is a Partner in the law firm of Olajide Obstetrician and Gynecologist with a Oyewole LLP (a member of DLA Piper medical background that extends to Africa) and leads it’s Corporate Practice. Public Health. She is also the founder She has over 25 years’ experience in of Women at Risk Foundation, one of advising businesses as an expert on company law. Bola is also the founder of the nation’s foremost anti sexual The Cece Yara Foundation, an award violence organizations that raises winning non-profit organization, which awareness and addresses the established Nigeria’s first free Child prevalence of rape and gender based Helpline and first Child Advocacy Centre, violence in Nigeria through the providing free legal, medical and development and implementation of a psycho-social services for children who series of initiatives have been sexually abused.
Chidi Koldsweat Jennifer Riria
Chidi Koldsweat is an international Jennifer Riria, is a Kenyan business- development professional and the woman, corporate executive, banker, founder of Donors for Africa. She is a and academic who serves as the group recipient of numerous awards chief executive officer of Kenya Women including CEO Global's Africa most Holding Group, a microfinance, banking influential woman in management, and insurance group serving nearly one business & public service (civil society million mostly rural Kenyan women. category)
Louise Mushikiwabo Waris Dirie
Louise Mushikiwabo is the fourth and Waris Dirie is a Somali model, author, current Secretary General of actress and human rights activist in Organisation internationale de la the fight against Female Genital Francophonie. She previously served as Mutilation. She is also the Founder the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Desert Flower Foundation Cooperation of Rwanda from 2009 to 2018. She also served as Government Spokesperson. She had previously been Minister of Information
Glenda Gray Precious Motsepe
Glenda is a South African physician, Precious Moloi-Motsepe is a South scientist and activist specializing in the African fashion entrepreneur and a care of children and in HIV medicine philanthropist of Tswana descent. Her company ran the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Johannesburg and Cape Town
Hajer Sharief Ilwad Elman
Hajer Sharief, 25 year old human rights is a Somali-Canadian social activist. advocate from Libya, she is also thee She works at the Elman Peace and co-founder of “Together we build it” Human Rights Center in Mogadishu alongside her mother Fartuun Adan, the NGO's founder. Beyond her duties at Elman Peace; Ilwad is an advocate for the Kofi Annan foundation’s latest initiative called Extremely Together, where she and 9 other youth leaders under the mentorship of Mr. Kofi Annan are Preventing Violent Extrem- ism by inspiring, engaging and empow- Fartuun Adan Judy Dlamini
Adan is the Executive Director of the Judy Dlamini is a South African Elman Peace and Human Rights entrepreneur, medical doctor, Centre, a Mogadishu-based NGO philanthropist, and author. She is the established in honour of her late Founder and Executive Chairman of husband.[4] She serves as the Mbekani Group. Also, she is the first organization's Executive Director, black female Chancellor of the while their daughter Ilwad works University of the Witwatersand. alongside her. Aside the Mbekani Group, Judy and her Through the center, she also co-found- husband, Sizwe are also co-founded ed Sister Somalia, the country's first Mkhiwa Trust; a family Public Benefit program for assistance of victims of Organisation (PBO) with a focus on sexual violence. rural development and education.
Tsitsi Masiyiwa Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Tsitsi Masiyiwa is an African Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a Liberian philanthropist and social entrepreneur politician who served as the 24th who has devoted her life to empower- President of Liberia from 2006 to ing the lives of young people through 2018. Sirleaf was the first elected education. female head of state in Africa.
Mayowa Adegbile Itoro Eze-Anaba
"Mayowa Adegbile is a Nigerian Founder Mirabel Centre the first Philanthropist known for excelling as Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) one of the three Nigerians that made it in Nigeria, and the second in West to the top 10 finalists in the year 2014 Africa. Established and managed by Google Africa Connected competition. the Partner for Justice; a programme Mayowa currently serves as the CEO by the British Council to provide of Ashake Foundation, a Non-Govern- holistic and high quality medical and mental Organization that focuses on psychosocial services to survivors of the plight of widows and their children sexual assault and rape. with various relief services in their businesses, children’s Educational supplies and Educational financing.
Ayisha Oshori Arc Lola Ibrahim
Ayisha is a lawyer, consultant and communi- An innovative professional whose cation strategist with 18 years experience in outstanding expertise cuts across the public and private sectors. In the last four agriculture and social entrepreneur- years she has consulted for the World Bank, United Nations Development Fund, United ship, environmental services, construc- Nations Children’s Fund, the Department for tion, gender advocacy and she counsels International Development, the Royal on sexual and gender based violence in Institute of International Affairs and the schools & marginalized communities. National Centre for Women’s Development She is the founder of WAVE Founda- on gender equality, women’s empowerment, research on women’s economic opportunities tion and Stop the Cut Initiative, a in the North East post –conflict and gender program that seeks to end FGM in mainstreaming of development, peace and Africa. recovery plans in the North East.
Liya Kebede Oreoluwa Somolu-Lesi
Liya Kebede is an Ethiopian-born She is the founder and executive model, maternal health advocate, director of Women's Technology clothing designer, and actress. She has Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), a appeared on the cover of Vogue three non-profit organisation that empow- times. Kebede has served as the ers women and girls socially and WHO's Ambassador for Maternal, economically through education in Newborn and Child Health since 2005. Information technology. Hafsat Abiola-Costello Evon Benson Idahosa
Founder of Kudirat Initiative for R. Evon Benson-Idahosa, the founder Democracy (KIND), a not-for-profit and Executive Director of PJI, is a organization based in Lagos, Nigeria, Nigerian native, a leading expert and aims to empower democracy and thought leader on the subject of development in Africa by strengthen- modern day slavery in sub-Saharan ing organizations and creating Africa and a trained English Barrister initiatives dedicated to the advance- and American lawyer ment of women
Uloma Ogba Dr Hauwa Balami
Uloma is Gender and Financial Dr Hauwa is a medical doctor with a Inclusion Specialist at MarketShare keen interest in public health and Associates, she is also the Co-founder health policy. A cofounder of GIVE of Give Girls a Chance an organization GIRLS A CHANCE FOUNDATION, She established to increase access to is passionate about gender equality, quality education for girls across girl child education, creating opportu- Nigeria. nities for girls and women in all areas of their life (health, education and leadership) and making a difference in her niche.
Toyin Saraki Ndidi Nwuneli
Toyin Ojora-Saraki is a global health Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli is a social advocate, healthcare philanthropist entrepreneur, author and speaker. She is and the Founder-President of the co-founder of Sahel Consulting, a Wellbeing Foundation Africa private equity and investment advisory firm. She has effected changes and shaped agriculture policies and strategies in West Africa through Sahel. She is also the founder of Leap Africa, a nonprofit that inspires, empowers and equips a new cadre of African leaders by providing the skills and tools for personal, organizational and community transformation.
Mary Olushoga Lola Omolola
Mary Olushoga is founder of Lola Omolola is a Nigerian former awpnetwork.com, a platform powering small journalist who founded the Female IN business success for African entrepreneurs group on Facebook. Lola is the first Nigerian woman who created a place where other women can share their untold stories regarding their sexual abuses, and other challenges they are facing
Olufunke Baruwa Unoma Okorafor
Olufunke Baruwa is a Nigerian gender Unoma Ndili Okorafor is a Nigerian and development practitioner, feminist computer scientist and entrepreneur. and public speaker with a focus on Okorafor founded Working to Advance gender, public policy and governance. African Women, a program which She is the CEO, Nigerian Women Trust supports African women in technology, Fund, a technical & financial resource in 2007 for women in governance & decision making in Nigeria. Provided strategic guidance & mobilised resources. She is the Program Officer, Petroleum Special Trust Fund and National Poverty Eradication Programme. Martha Alade Nkemdilim Begho
Martha Alade is the founder of Women "CEO, Future Software Resources Ltd. in Technology in Nigeria(WITIN), a (Futuresoft). non-profit that empowers women and Nkemdilim is an active board member girls socio-economically through of the World Summit Youth Award, a technology. global online e-content contest focused on the implementation of the MDGs. She is also the co-founder of The Bake for Change Development Foundation, an NGO focused on empowering street children that are being rehabilitated in 7 Lagos State run homes."
Aminetou Mint El-Moctar Isatou Touray
Aminetou Mint El-Moctar is a Isatou Touray is a Gambian politician, Mauritainian politician and women's activist, and social reformer. A noted rights activist. She was shortlisted for campaigner against female genital the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015 and is mutilation, she became the first the first Mauritanian woman to be female Gambian presidential considered for the award. candidate in 2016, before dropping out to endorse Adama Barrow and Coalition 2016.
Leymah Roberta Gbowee Osayi Alile
Leymah Roberta Gbowee is a Liberian Osayi is the CEO of ACT Foundation, a peace activist responsible for leading a grant making organization established women's nonviolent peace movement, in 2016 to support local, national and Women of Liberia Mass Action for regional non - profit organizations Peace that helped bring an end to the working to address challenges and Second Liberian Civil War in 2003. associated vulnerabilities across the African Continent.
Bisi Adeleye Fayemi Hilda Tadria
First Lady of Ekiti State, Nigeria as wife of Hilda M. Tadria is an Ugandan the Ekiti State Governor 2019–2023. women's rights activist, a gender and A British-Nigerian feminist activist, writer social development specialist, and the and policy advocate, in 2001 she co-founded the African Women's Development Fund executive director of the Mentoring (AWDF), the first Pan-African grant-making and Empowerment Programme for organisation. She serves as a UN Women Young Women in Uganda Nigeria Senior Advisor, and was appointed as (MEMPROW). She has advised NGOs a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King's worldwide on gender, institutional College, University of London in 2017. She is CEO of Above Whispers Limited, and runs an management and social development, online community called Abovewhispers.com. and has been an associate professor at Makerere University.
Ene Obi Kate Henshaw
Ene Obi is an activist and the Country Kate Henshaw Nuttal is an award-win- Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Ene has ning Nollywood star actress, producer, worked with local women leaders to politician, and fitness expert. challenge power relations, increase the She is also a social advocate who is number of women participating in interested in the welfare of her decision-making processes and spaces, community. She is the Patron of the and to end violence against women Little Saints Orphanage – one of the and girls. oldest orphanage homes in Lagos State and an ambassador for Action Aid of Nigeria.