100 Most Influential African Women in 2020 announced

The 2nd publication of Africa’s most prominent women “100 Most Influential African Women” has been announced.

The initiative, a brainchild of Africa’s leading Public Relations (PR) and Rating firm, Avance Media, is among other things to honour accomplished women in the areas of excellence in leadership, personal accomplishments, commitment to sharing knowledge, and breaking the status quo.

The 2020 list saw a representation of exceptional women from 34 African countries chosen from diverse career backgrounds including diplomacy, politics, activism, entrepreneurship, business leadership, and entertainment.

Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana recording the highest of  20, 11 & 9 representatives respectively.

New Entrant

Additionally, this year’s list saw 75 new entrants including the Group Executive Director, Commercial, Dangote Industries Limited, Halima Aliko Dangote , Chief  Executive Officer, Merck Foundation, Dr. Rasha Kelej, Ugandan Gender Rights Activists, Stella Nyanzi, FIFA International Olympic Committee Member, Lydia Nsekera as well as Nigeria and Angolo’s female finance Ministers, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed and Vera Daves De Sousa respectively.

2020 Most Influential African Women

The Youngest Most Influential Woman

24-year old Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Emma Theofelus was the youngest African woman on this year’s list.

Speaking about the initiative, the Managing Director of Avance Media, Prince Akpah said their aim was to present the resourceful women thriving in their various fields of endeavors across the continent as role models for the younger generation.

According to him, they were selected based on their incredible achievements as women adding that they deserve high recommendations among other female trailblazers in Africa.

Profiles of the 2020 100 Most Influential African Women are published on 100women.avancemedia.org

Below is the list of Avance Media’s 2020 100 Most Influential African Women arranged in alphabetical order

1. Agnes Binagwaho (Prof) || Vice-Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity
2. Agnes Kalibata || CEO, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
3. Amanda Mukwashi || CEO, Christian Aid
4. Amani Abou-Zeid (H.E Dr.) || Commissioner for Infrastructure & Energy, African Union
5. AmelKarboul (Dr.) || CEO, Education Outcomes Fund
6. Amina C. Mohamed (Dr.) || Cabinet Secretary, Sports, Culture & Heritage (Kenya)
7. Amina J. Mohammed (H.E) || Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
8. Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh || Regional Head, IBM Africa
9. AngéliqueKidjo || Musician
10. Anita Erskine || Founder, Anita Erskine Media
11. Anna Nimiriano || Editor-in-Chief, Juba Monitor
12. Anne-Marie Dias Borges || Presenter, BBC
13. Antoinette Sayeh || Deputy MD, IMF
14. ArikanaChihomboriQuao || Activist
15. Aurélie A.SouléZoumarou || Minister, Digital Economy and Communications (Benin)
16. AyishaOsori || CEO, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
17. Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala || Vice President & CFO, AFDB
18. Bella Disu || Vice Chairman, Globacom
19. Bethlehem TilahunAlemu || CEO, soleRebels
20. BisiAdeleye-Fayemi || First Lady, Ekiti State
21. ChilesheKapwepwe (H.E.) || Secretary-General, (COMESA)
22. Dorothy Tembo || Ag. Executive Director, International Trade Centre
23. Edith Yah Brou || Blogger
24. EghosaOriaikhiMabhena || CEO, Puma Energy Africa
25. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf || Founder, EJS Center
26. Elsie S. Kanza || Head of Africa, World Economic Forum
27. Emma Lohoues || Actress
28. Emma Theofelus || Deputy Minister, Namibia
29. Esther Cobbah || CEO, Stratcomm Ghana
30. FadumoDayib || Politician
31. Faith Osier (Prof) || President, International Union of Immunological Societies
32. FatouBomBensouda || Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court
33. FatoumataBâ || Founder, Janngo
34. Françoise Remarck || Chairman, Canal+ Cote D’Ivoire
35. GraçaMachel || Founder, GracaMachel Trust
36. Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor || Minister, International Relations and Cooperation
37. HajerSharief || Co-Founder, Together We Build it
38. HalaZayed (Dr.) || Minister, Health and Population (Egypt)
39. Halima Dangote || Executive Director, Dangote Group
40. IfeyinwaUgochukwu || CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation
41. Ilwad Elman || Director, Elman Peace and Human Rights Center
42. Irene Charnley || Founder, Smile Communications
43. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang (Prof) || Chancellor, Women’s University in Africa
44. Jewel Howard Taylor (H.E) || Vice President, Liberia
45. Juliet Ehimuan || Director, Google West Africa
46. KamissaCamara || Secretary-General, Mali Presidency
47. LallaMoulayeEzzedine || Chairman, Bank of Africa Côte d’Ivoire
48. LaureenKouassi-Olsson || Regional Head, Amethis
49. Leila Bouamatou || Managing Director, BANK OF MAURITANIA GENERAL
50. Linda Ikeji || CEO, Linda Ikeji Media
51. Louise Mushikiwabo || Secretary General, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
52. Lucy Quist || Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Morgan Stanley
53. Lydia Nsekera || Member, International Olympic Committee
54. Magda Wierzycka || CEO, Sygnia
55. Maggie Kigozi || Chairperson, Africa Scout Foundation
56. MamokgethiPhakeng (Prof) || Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Town
57. Mansa Nettey || CEO, StanChart Ghana
58. Martine Coffi-Studer || Chairperson, Bolloré Transport & Logistics
59. MassogbèTouré || CEO, SITA S.A
60. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti (Dr) || Regional Director for Africa, WHO
61. MeleneRossouw || Founder, Women Lead Movement
62. Mimi Kalinda || CEO, Africa Communications Media Group
63. Monica Geingos (H.E) || First Lady, Republic of Namibia
64. Nana AsantewaAfadzinu || Executive Director, WASCI
65. Nathalie Akon Gabala || Regional Head, Mastercard Foundation
66. NdidiOkonkwoNwuneli || Founder, LEAP Africa
67. NgoziOkonjoIweala || Board Chair, Gavi Alliance
68. NompumeleloThembekileMadisa || CEO, Bidvest Group
69. OlajumokeAdenowo || Founder, AD Consulting
70. OumouSangaré || Musician
71. Owen Omogiafo || CEO, Transcorp Group
72. Patricia Obo-Nai || CEO, Vodafone Ghana
73. PhumzileMlambo-Ngcuka (Dr) || Executive Director, UN Women
74. Racheal Njoroge || Managing Director, Cummins
75. Rachel Sibande (Dr) || Founder, mHub
76. RashaKelej (Dr) || CEO, Merck Foundation
77. Rawya Mansour || Founder, RAMSCO
78. RaychelleOmamo || Minister, Foreign Affairs (Kenya)
79. Rita Bissoonauth || Head, AU International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education
80. Sahle-Work Zewde (H.E) || President, Ethiopia
81. Shirley AyorkorBotchwey || Minister, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (Ghana)
82. Sinach || Musician
83. SisiNtombela || Premier, Free State (South Africa)
84. Snowy Khoza (Dr) || CEO, Bigen Africa
85. Soham El Wardini || Mayor, Dakar
86. Sola David-Borha || Group CEO, Standard Bank Africa
87. Stella Nyanzi (Dr.) || Convenor, Women’s Protest Uganda
88. Sylvia Mulinge || Chief Customer Officer, Safaricom
89. TemieGiwa-Tubosun || Founder, LifeBank
90. ToyinSanni || CEO, Emerging Africa Capital
91. ToyinSaraki || Founder, Wellbeing Foundation Africa
92. Uche Pedro || Founder, BELLANAIJA
93. Vera Daves De Sousa || Minister, Finance (Angola)
94. Vera Songwe (Dr) || Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
95. Wala’aEssam Al-Boushi || Minister, Youth and Sport (Sudan)
96. Wanjira Mathai || Vice President & Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute
97. Winnie Byanyima || Executive Director, UNAIDS
98. YemiAlade || Musician
99. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr || Mayor, Freetown
100. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed || Minister, Finance (Nigeria)

Source: GhanaPlus.com