100 Most Influential Women In Africa, 2021

Amina J. Mohammed (H.E), Sahle-Work Zewde (H.E), Samia Suluhu Hassan (H.E) etc among Avance Media’s 100 Most Influential African Women list for the year 2021; it was announced in a press release on the 31^st of August 2021, which happens to be the last month in the international women’s month celebrations.

The annual listing in its third year is geared towards promoting women on the African continent who lead in various sectors and serve as an inspirational drive for young girls. This year’s listing comprises exceptional women from about 28 countries of diverse industries and practices from diplomacy, leadership, business, entertainment, technology, media, and academia. The full presser from one of Africa’s leading P.R. and Rating firms is below.

Leading African PR & Rating firm Avance Media has announced the 2021 list of 100 Influential Women in Africa. The list that celebrates African women in leadership who inspire the next generation of women worldwide 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 honor 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 span their leadership & personal accomplishments, commitment to sharing knowledge, and the audacity to break several status quos.

Some notable names on the list are U.N.’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 a list for the second time in 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

1. Agnes Binagwaho (Prof) || Vice-Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity
2. Agnes Matilda Kalibata (Dr) || CEO, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa           
3. Ahunna Eziakonwa || Director, UNDP Africa
4. Aisha Yesufu || Activist         
5. Aja Fatoumata C.M. Jallow-Tambajang (H.E.) || Former Vice-President, Gambia
6. Allen Kagina || Executive Director, Uganda National Roads Authority.
7. Amina J. Mohammed (H.E) || Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
8. Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh || Regional Head, IBM North, East, and West Africa
9. Angèle Makombo || President, League of Congolese Democrats
10. Angélique Kidjo || Musician 
11. Anne Waiguru (H.E.) || Governor, Kirinyaga County
12. Athaliah Molokomme || Permanent Representative of Botswana to the U.N.           
13. Awa Ndiaye-Seck || Resident Representative UN Women, Democratic Republic of the Congo
14. Aya Nakamura || Musician    
15. Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu || CEO, soleRebels         
16. Bience Gawanas || Executive Consultant, Gawanas Consulting
17. Busiswa Gqulu || Musician    
18. Charity Ngilu (H.E.) || Governor, Kitui County
19. Chebet Chikumbu || Africa Director, Global Citizen
20. Chileshe Kapwepwe (H.E.) ||  Secretary General, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
21. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie || Novelist        
22. Damilola Ogunbiyi || CEO, Sustainable Energy for All       
23. Djamila Ferdjani (Dr) || Medical Doctor, MedCom
24. Dorothy Ghettuba || Content Manager for Africa, Netflix
25. Dorothy Kisaka || Executive Director, Kampala Capital City Authority
26. Edith Yah Brou || Blogger     
27. Elizabeth M. Mrema || Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity
28. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (H.E.) || Chair, EJS Centre     
29. Emma Theofelus || Deputy Minister, Namibia
30. Eve Bazaiba || Deputy Prime Minister, DRC
31. Fatima Kyari Mohammed (H.E) ||  Permanent Representative, African Union Mission to the UN
32. Fatoumata Ba || Founder, Janngo Africa
33. Faustina Fynn-Nyame || Executive Director for Africa, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation
34. Filsan Abdullahi || Minister of Gender, Children and Youth, Ethiopia
35. Frehiwot Tamru || CEO, Ethio Telecom       
36. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka (Dr) || CEO, Conservation Through Public Health           
37. Graça Machel || Founder, Graca Machel Trust
38. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim || Coordinator, Association of Peul Women and Autochthonous Peoples of Chad
39. Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu || CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation    
40. Irene Asare || Global H.R. Director, CarvinClay People Development
41. Jacqueline Fatima Bocoum || Journalist        
42. Jacqueline Moudeïna || Lawyer         
43. Jeannette Kagame (H.E) || First Lady, Rwanda
44. Jessica Rose Epel Alupo (H.E) ||  Vice President, Uganda
45. Julienne Lusenge || President, Female Solidarity for Integrated Peace and Development
46. Julitta Onabanjo (Dr) || Regional Director, UNFPA East and Southern Africa
47. Kaba Nialé || Minister of Planning and Development, Ivory Coast  
48. Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo (Dr.) || Journalist  
49. Laureen Kouassi-Olsson || Founder & CEO, Birimian Holding   
50. Letty Chiwara || Representative to Ethiopia, A.U. & ECA, U.N. Women
51. Louise Mushikiwabo || Secretary General, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
52. Mamokgethi Phakeng (Prof.) || Vice Chancellor, University of Cape Town
53. Mariam Chabi Talata (H.E.) || Vice President, Benin
54. Martha Ama A. Pobee (H.E.) || Assist. Secretary-General for Africa, UN   
55. Martha K Koome (Lady Justice) || Chief Justice, Kenya      
56. Mary-Jane Morifi || Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, Tiger Brands
57. Matshidiso Moeti (Dr) || Regional Director for Africa, WHO
58. Mercy Johnson || Actress       
59. Mitwa Kaemba Ng’ambi || CEO, MTN Rwanda       
60. Monde Muyangwa (Dr.) || Director of the Africa Program, Woodrow Wilson Center
61. Monique Nsanzabaganwa (H.E.) || Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission
62. Musonda Xoliswa Mumba (Dr) || Chief of the Terrestrial Ecosystems, UNEP
63. Mwele Malecela || Director of Neglected Tropical Diseases, WHO
64. Nabou Fall || CEO, Vizeo      
65. Nadeen Ashraf || Activist      
66. Nafissatou Jocelyne Diop || Chief of Gender and Human Rights, United Nations Population Fund
67. Nancy Matimu || Managing Director, MultiChoice Kenya
68. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala || Director General, World Trade Organization
69. Nnenna Nwakanma || Chief Web Advocate, WWW Foundation
70. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda || Chairperson, ActionAid International          
71. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde || Actress    
72. Oulimata Sarr || Regional Director West and Central Africa, UN Women
73. Owen Omogiafo || CEO, Transcorp Group   
74. Patricia Obo-Nai || CEO, Vodafone Ghana   
75. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka || Executive Director, U.N. Women
76. Rasha Kelej (Dr) || CEO, Merck Foundation
77. Renée Ngamau || Chairperson, Amnesty International Kenya          
78. Roberta Annan || Founder, Africa Fashion Foundation
79. Rose Mwebaza || Director, U.N. Climate Technology Centre and Network
80. Rosebell Kagumire || Editor, African Feminism
81. Roselyn Akombe (Dr) || Governance and Peacebuilding Regional Coordinator, UNDP Africa
82. Sahle-Work Zewde (H.E) || President, Ethiopia
83. Samia Suluhu Hassan (H.E) || President, Tanzania
84. Sheila Ochugboju (Dr) || Head, Strategic Communications, Africa CDC
85. Sola David-Borha || Group CEO, Standard Bank Africa
86. Stella Nyanzi (Dr.) || Convenor, Women’s Protest Uganda
87. Stigmata Tenga (Dr.) || Executive Director, Africa Philanthropy Network
88. Tiguidanke Camara || CEO, Tigui Mining Group     
89. Titi Akinsanmi || Policy and Government Relations Lead, Google
90. Tsitsi Dangarembga || Author
91. Ubah Ali || Activist    
92. Uche Ofodile || CEO, MTN Benin    
93. Victoire Tomegah Dogbé || Prime Minister, Togo
94. Wanjira Mathai || Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute
95. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg (Dr) || Director, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)
96. Waris Dirie || CEO, Desert Flower Foundation        
97. Winnie Byanyima || Executive Director, UNAIDS
98. Yemisi Akinbobola (Dr) || Co-Founder, African Women in Media
99. Yolanda Cuba || Chief Digital and Fintech Officer, MTN Group
100. Zainab Hawa Bangura || Director General, United Nations Office at Nairobi

Source: Ifeanyi Ahyia Adjei, Avance Media