First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, former Foreign Affairs Minister Hanna Tetteh and 98 other women have been listed amongst Avance Media’s 2019 100 Most Influential African Women.
The list as released by the leading African rating and PR firm features distinguished women whose works and accomplishments continue to inspire the next generation of women in Africa.
Speaking about the list, MD of Avance Media Prince Akpah noted that the list has a representation of 100 women from 35 African countries that are changing the feminine narrative and challenging the status quo of women on the continent.
He also said some of the honourees have expressed interest in offering mentorship opportunities to young women from across the continent through the ‘Be a Girl’ mentorship programme, which is being launched to upsurge the impact of the publication.
Avance Media has over the years been engaged in changing the narrative about Africa through rating and ranking publications and the launch of this initiative is expected not only to celebrate Africans but showcase the individual and collective works of women who are earnestly inspiring the next generation of leaders in Africa.
The list features women who occupy eminent leadership positions such as President, Prime Minister, Secretary General, First Lady, Governor, Minister, CEO and Commissioners.
Notable among them are Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde, Liberia’s Vice President Jewel Taylor and Ghana’s First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo.
The rest are Namibia’s Prime Minister Dr Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed and former presidents, Ellen Sirleaf Johnson and Catherine Samba-Panza.
The list also features young women activists such as AU Youth Envoy Aya Chebbi, Farida Bemba Nabourema and Ilwad Elman.
Below is the list of Avance Media’s 2019 100 Most Influential African Women arranged in alphabetical order.
- AbiolaBawuah || United Bank for Africa (UBA)
- AïdaDiarra || Visa, SSA
- Amani Abou-Zeid(H.EDr.) || African Union Commission
- Amina C. Mohammed (Amb. Dr) || Kenyan Cabinet Minister
- Amina J. Mohammed (H.E) || United Nations
- Amira Elfadil Mohammed Elfadil(H.E) || African Union Commission
- Angela Kyeremanten-Jimoh || IBM
- AngéliqueKidjo || Musician
- ArunmaOteh || University of Oxford
- AyaChebbi || African Union Commission
- Bethlehem TilahunAlemu || soleRebels
- BinetaDiop(H.E) || African Union Commission
- BintaToureNdoye || The Orabank Group
- Bogolo Joy Kenewendo || Batswana Cabinet Minister
- BonangMatheba || Media Personality
- Carole Wainaina || Africa 50
- Caroline Abel || Central Bank of Seychelles
- Caster Semenya || Athlete
- Catherine Samba-Panza(H.E) || Former President, Central African Republic
- CessoumaMinataSamate(H.E) || African Union Commission
- ChimamandaNgoziAdichie || Author
- Clare Akamanzi || Rwanda Development Board
- CoumbaToure || Africans Rising Movement
- Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon || International Labour Organisation
- DelphineMaidou || Allianz Africa
- Diane Karusisi(Dr) || Bank of Kigali
- Elisabeth MedouBadang || Orange Africa
- Elizabeth ElangoBintliff || Junior Achievement Africa
- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (H.E) || The Elders
- Farida Bemba Nabourema|| Togolese Civil League
- Fatima K. Mohammed (H.E) || United Nations
- Fatma Samba DioufSamoura || FIFA
- FatouBomBensouda || International Criminal Court
- FatouJagne Senghor || Article 19 West Africa
- FolorunshoAlakija || Famfa Oil
- Genevieve Nnaji || Actress
- Gladys Kokorwe || National Assembly of Botswana
- GraçaMachel || GracaMachel Trust
- Hanna Tetteh(H.E) || United Nations
- KamissaCamara (Hon) || Malian Cabinet Minister
- IbukunAwosika || First Bank of Nigeria
- Ilwad Elman || Elman Peace and Human Rights Center
- Irene Ovonji-Odida || The Uganda Association of Women Lawyers
- Jackie Chimhanzi(Dr) || African Leadership Institute
- Janine KacouDiagou || Nsia Groupe
- Jeannine MabundaLioko || DRC National Assembly
- Jewel Taylor (H.E) || Liberian Vice President
- Josefa Leonel CorreiaSacko(H.E) || African Union Commission
- Joyce Aryee(Dr) || Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd
- Joyce Msuya || United Nations Environment Programme
- Joyce-Ann Wainaina || Citi East Africa
- Judy Dlamini(Dr) || University of the Witwatersrand
- Juliana Kantengwa(Dr) || Pan African Parliament
- Julie Gichuru || Acumen Communication Ltd
- Justice Irene Mambilima || Supreme Court of Zambia
- Justina Mutale || Justina Mutale Foundation
- Khadja Nin || Musician
- LeymahGbowee || Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa
- Linda Ikeji || Blogger
- Louise Mushikiwabo || Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie
- LupitaNyong’o || Actress
- Mandisa Maya || Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa
- Mariam Jack-Denton || National Assembly of the Gambia
- Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti(Dr) || WHO
- Maya Hanoomanjee || National Assembly of Mauritius
- MeazaAshenafi || Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia
- Michelle Ndiaye || Africa Peace and Security Programme
- Mo Abudu || Ebony Life TV
- Monica Geingos(H.E) || Namibian First Lady
- Mosun Belo-Olusoga || Access Bank PLC Nigeria
- Nadia Fettah || Saham Finances
- NgoziOkonjoIweala || Gavi Alliance
- Nicky Newton-King || Johannesburg Stock Exchange
- NkosazanaDlamini-Zuma (H.E) || South African Cabinet Minister
- NunuNtshingila || Facebook Africa
- ObiageliEzekwesili || Transparency International
- OmotolaJaladeEkeinde || Actress
- OsaretinDemuren || GT Bank PLC Nigeria
- OumouSangaré || Musician
- PhumzileMlambo-Ngcuka(Dr) || UN Women
- Precious Moloi-Motsepe(Dr) || African Fashion International
- Priscilla Schwartz (Dr) || Sierra Leone Cabinet Minister
- PriscillahMabelane || BP Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd
- Rebecca Akufo-Addo(H.E) || Ghanaian First Lady
- Rebecca Enonchong || Apps Tech
- Rebecca Kadaga(Rt. Hon. ) || Parliament of Uganda
- RetselisitsoeMatlanyane(Dr) || Central Bank of Lesotho
- SaaraKuugongelwa-Amadhila (Rt. Hon. Dr) || Namibian Prime Minister
- Sahle-Work Zewde(H.E) || Ethiopian President
- Sarah MbiEnow Anyang Agbor(Prof H.E) || African Union Commission
- Sheila Tlou(Professor ) || Global HIV Prevention Coalition
- Sola David-Borha || Standard Bank Africa
- Sophie Ikenye || BBC Focus on Africa
- Tiwa Savage || Musician
- TsitsiMasiyiwa || Higherlife Foundation
- Vera Songwe (Dr) || United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
- VerónicaMacamo || Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique
- Wendy Lucas Bull || Absa Group Limited
- Winnie Byanyima || Oxfam International
- Yvonne Chaka Chaka || Musician
Source: 3news.com|Ghana