List of 100 Most Influential African Women for 2020

Leading African PR & Rating firm, Avance Media has announced its second annual publication on Africa’s most prominent women dubbed the 2020 100 Most Influential African Women.

The list which has a representation of the most powerful African women from 34 countries were chosen from various career backgrounds including diplomacy, politics, activism, entrepreneurship, business leadership and entertainment.

Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana recorded the highest number of women with 20, 11 & 9 representatives respectively.

The 2020 list features a record of 75 new entrants with some of the leading names such as Halima Dangote, Ugandan Activist Stella Nyanzi, Olympic Committee Member, Lydia Nsekera and the only 2 female finance ministers in Africa, Vera Daves De Sousa (Angola) & Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed (Nigeria).

The youngest African to make the 2020 list is 24-year-old Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Emma Theofelus.

According to Prince Akpah, Managing Director of Avance Media, the list is focused on women who are leading various initiatives across the continent and seeks to present them as role models for the younger generation.

He further noted that they were selected because of their incredible achievements as women and they deserve high recommendations among other female trailblazers in Africa.

Criteria for selection included: Excellence in Leadership & Performance, Personal accomplishments, Commitment to sharing knowledge, Breaking the Status Quo and being an accomplished African Woman.

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. Amel Karboul (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. Angélique Kidjo || 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. Arikana Chihombori Quao || Activist
15. Aurélie A. Soulé Zoumarou || Minister, Digital Economy and Communications (Benin)
16. Ayisha Osori || CEO, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
17. Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala || Vice President & CFO, AFDB
18. Bella Disu || Vice Chairman, Globacom
19. Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu || CEO, soleRebels
20. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi || First Lady, Ekiti State
21. Chileshe Kapwepwe (H.E.) || Secretary-General, (COMESA)
22. Dorothy Tembo || Ag. Executive Director, International Trade Centre
23. Edith Yah Brou || Blogger
24. Eghosa Oriaikhi Mabhena || 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. Fadumo Dayib || Politician
31. Faith Osier (Prof) || President, International Union of Immunological Societies
32. Fatou Bom Bensouda || Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court
33. Fatoumata Bâ || Founder, Janngo
34. Françoise Remarck || Chairman, Canal+ Cote D’Ivoire
35. Graça Machel || Founder, Graca Machel Trust
36. Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor || Minister, International Relations and Cooperation
37. Hajer Sharief || Co-Founder, Together We Build it
38. Hala Zayed (Dr.) || Minister, Health and Population (Egypt)
39. Halima Dangote || Executive Director, Dangote Group
40. Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu || 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. Kamissa Camara || Secretary-General, Mali Presidency
47. Lalla Moulaye Ezzedine || Chairman, Bank of Africa Côte d’Ivoire
48. Laureen Kouassi-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. Mamokgethi Phakeng (Prof) || Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Town
57. Mansa Nettey || CEO, StanChart Ghana
58. Martine Coffi-Studer || Chairperson, Bolloré Transport & Logistics
59. Massogbè Touré || CEO, SITA S.A
60. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti (Dr) || Regional Director for Africa, WHO
61. Melene Rossouw || Founder, Women Lead Movement
62. Mimi Kalinda || CEO, Africa Communications Media Group
63. Monica Geingos (H.E) || First Lady, Republic of Namibia
64. Nana Asantewa Afadzinu || Executive Director, WASCI
65. Nathalie Akon Gabala || Regional Head, Mastercard Foundation
66. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli || Founder, LEAP Africa
67. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala || Board Chair, Gavi Alliance
68. Nompumelelo Thembekile Madisa || CEO, Bidvest Group
69. Olajumoke Adenowo || Founder, AD Consulting
70. Oumou Sangaré || Musician
71. Owen Omogiafo || CEO, Transcorp Group
72. Patricia Obo-Nai || CEO, Vodafone Ghana
73. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (Dr) || Executive Director, UN Women
74. Racheal Njoroge || Managing Director, Cummins
75. Rachel Sibande (Dr) || Founder, mHub
76. Rasha Kelej (Dr) || CEO, Merck Foundation
77. Rawya Mansour || Founder, RAMSCO
78. Raychelle Omamo || 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 Ayorkor Botchwey || Minister, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (Ghana)
82. Sinach || Musician
83. Sisi Ntombela || 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. Temie Giwa-Tubosun || Founder, LifeBank
90. Toyin Sanni || CEO, Emerging Africa Capital
91. Toyin Saraki || 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’a Essam 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. Yemi Alade || Musician
99. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr || Mayor, Freetown
100. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed || Minister, Finance (Nigeria)

AfCFTA secretariat building in Ghana commissioned