Every March 8th, the world pauses to acknowledge the undeniable force of women, their work, sacrifice, brilliance, and quiet, determined reshaping of societies. But in Africa, this moment lands differently. Here, womanhood has never been passive. It has always been an architecture of building, rebuilding, creating, healing, negotiating, transforming, and, above all, enduring. African women have held up communities long before their stories were ever recorded, let alone celebrated.
And yet, recognition has often lagged behind contribution. The work has always been visible on the ground , in boardrooms, classrooms, laboratories, courtrooms, farms, start-ups, ministries, and homes but rarely assembled into one shared moment of acknowledgement. That is what makes this year distinct.
In honour of International Women’s Month, ARISE News pays tribute to 100 Women of Impact in Africa. Visionaries whose contributions reflect the pulse of a continent in transition. Selected through audience nominations, editorial deliberations and focus-group insights drawn from across Africa and the diaspora, these honourees represent leadership that is not theoretical but lived, measurable and deeply felt. Their influence spans governance, business, entrepreneurship, technology, law, media, science, medicine, academia, philanthropy, and social innovation. They are the women shaping the African renaissance in a rapidly shifting world not by fitting into old definitions of power, but by redefining what power can look like.
At a time when global narratives often flatten Africa into a single story, these women complicate that story in the best way. They expand it. They challenge it. They enrich it. Their achievements remind us that African excellence is not emerging it has been present, consistent and world-shaping. What is emerging is the recognition.
Today at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, these women will stand before leaders, innovators and cultural architects from across the continent, honoured on a global stage and broadcast live to millions. But beyond the cameras and ceremony, this recognition is a mirror to every woman who has pushed against the expectations of her time, carved out possibilities where none existed, and insisted that Africa’s future must include the full brilliance of its daughters.
This feature is a celebration, not only of individual achievement, but of what becomes possible when African women lead without apology. Here are the women defining the moment, and building Africa.
1. Aboyade Funke (SAN)
Lawyer, Principal Partner, Aboyade & Co
NIGERIA
Funke Aboyade, SAN, is one of Nigeria’s most respected legal minds. She was called to the Bar in 1983 after graduating in the top 1% at every stage of her legal education. A Cambridge LL.M graduate and Fellow of the CIArb, she built a formidable career in project finance and arbitration before founding ABOYADE & Co. A pioneering columnist and creator of THISDAY LAWYER, she served on key constitutional bodies, including the Lagos Prerogative of Mercy Council. She sits on the Board of NMRC as an Independent Non-Executive Director.
2. Abuzeid Iman (Dr.)
Physician/ CEO, Incredible Health
SUDAN
Dr Iman Abuzeid, Sudanese-American physician and Wharton MBA, is the co-founder and CEO of Incredible Health, the nurse-hiring platform now valued at over $1 billion. A former clinician turned health-tech operator, she previously worked in healthcare product management and consulting. One of the few Black female founders to build a unicorn, she has been recognised on Forbes’ “America’s Richest Self-Made Women” and Inc.’s “Female Founders 200.” Her mission remains simple: enabling nurses to find—and thrive in—meaningful work.
3. Adamolekun Yemi
Activist, Immediate Past Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE)
NIGERIA
Yemi Adamolekun, former Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE), has spent nearly two decades shaping Nigeria’s civic culture through advocacy, accountability campaigns, and voter-education movements such as #RSVP and #OpenNASS. With a background spanning US consulting, church administration, strategy, and brand development, she helped found EiE after earning an MBA from Oxford. A tireless volunteer for organisations supporting women, older people, and peacebuilding, Yemi remains one of Nigeria’s most influential voices for active citizenship and democratic responsibility.
4. Adekoya Funke (SAN)
Lawyer, Arbitrator/ Independent Consultant
NIGERIA
Funke Adekoya, SAN, is a trailblazing Nigerian arbitrator and co-founder of ǼLEX. Called to the Bar in 1975, with an LL.M from Harvard, she built an exceptional 45-year career in commercial litigation and international arbitration, appearing before ICC, LCIA and ICSID tribunals. A Chartered Arbitrator and former Head of Dispute Resolution at ǼLEX, she now practices independently, specialising in complex, high-value cross-border disputes. One of Nigeria’s most decorated female lawyers, her influence spans law reform, practice development and arbitration capacity-building.
5. Adetiba Kemi
Filmmaker/ Tv Director, Kemi Adetiba Visuals
NIGERIA
Kemi Adetiba is one of Nollywood’s most dynamic writer-directors, celebrated for redefining contemporary Nigerian cinema. A trained lawyer turned filmmaker, she honed her craft at the New York Film Academy before directing hit features like The Wedding Party and the cult political thriller King of Boys. Beginning her career in childhood modelling and broadcast media, Adetiba has evolved into a formidable creative force whose visual language, genre ambition and cultural instinct continue to elevate Nigerian storytelling globally.
6. Afolabi Bosede (Professor)
Obstetrician, Gynaecologist, Academic, UNILAG
NIGERIA
Professor Bosede Bukola Afolabi is a leading Nigerian obstetrician-gynaecologist whose clinical practice, academic research and policy influence have strengthened maternal health outcomes nationwide. Educated in Nigeria and the UK, with advanced training from Nottingham and Harvard, she returned to Lagos to join LUTH, where she has served as a Consultant since 2002. Known for managing high-risk pregnancies and pioneering evidence-based reproductive care, she has published extensively on maternal mortality, prenatal health and postpartum wellbeing, advancing women’s health through science and compassionate clinical leadership.
7. Agbor Funke (SAN)
Lawyer, Dentons ACAS-Law
NIGERIA
Olufunke Agbor, SAN, is a distinguished maritime lawyer and Senior Partner at Dentons ACAS-Law. A University of Lagos and UCL alumna, she became Nigeria’s first female maritime lawyer elevated to SAN in 2016. Her career spans major arbitration matters, regulatory leadership and dispute resolution across the shipping and transport sectors. Consistently ranked by Chambers Global and Legal 500, she also serves as President of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association. Her expertise continues to shape industry standards and legal professionalism in maritime practice.
8. Ajayi Toyin (Dr.)
Physician/CEO, Cityblock Health
NIGERIA
Dr Toyin Ajayi, Nigerian-American physician and co-founder/CEO of Cityblock Health, is redefining care for underserved communities in the US. Trained at Stanford, King’s College London and Cambridge, she previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Commonwealth Care Alliance. Cityblock emerged from her conviction that Medicare-Medicaid patients need integrated, dignified care—not fragmented systems. Today, she leads a tech-enabled, value-based platform that delivers coordinated medical, behavioural, and social care, championing equity for low-income and medically complex populations.
9. Akinluyi Tosin
Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
UK
Tosin Akinluyi is Managing Director and Head of EMEA Macro Research at Morgan Stanley, shaping economic insight and strategy across global markets. With more than 25 years of international finance experience, she serves on key operating committees and champions diversity as Executive Sponsor for the Race at Work Charter. Educated at LSE, Sussex and Columbia Business School, her career spans commodities, consulting, energy strategy and macro research. She also advises academic institutions, reflecting her commitment to inclusive economic leadership.
10. Anohu Chinelo
Founder/ CEO, Mutandis Africa Group
NIGERIA
Chinelo Anohu is a lawyer and public administrator, and former Director-General of Nigeria’s National Pension Commission, where she oversaw the country’s transition to the contributory pension scheme and later led the Commission from 2014 to 2017. A graduate of UNN and the LSE, she has served on global advisory boards, including the London Stock Exchange Africa Advisory Group and the University of Edinburgh Business School IAB. Her career spans telecommunications reform, investment advisory and arbitration, reflecting deep expertise in regulatory governance.
11. Art Alade Deola
Entrepreneur, Entertainment Executive, Livespot 360
NIGERIA
Deola Art Alade, co-founder and CEO of Livespot360, is one of Nigeria’s most inventive creative executives. A Harvard-trained strategist, she has built a multidisciplinary career spanning entertainment production, brand storytelling, design and experiential innovation. With ventures such as Soul Muzik, Rent-A-Rig and Livespot360, she has delivered some of Nigeria’s most culturally resonant events and global-standard productions. Her work continues to redefine the possibilities of Africa’s creative economy through bold vision, technical mastery and relentless creative evolution.
12. Awosika Ibukun (Dr.)
CEO, The Chair Centre Group
NIGERIA
Dr Ibukun Awosika is a celebrated Nigerian entrepreneur and leadership advocate, and the first female Chairperson of First Bank of Nigeria. Trained in accounting, with executive education from Lagos Business School and IESE, she built The Chair Centre into a leading furniture manufacturing enterprise. A co-founder of WIMBIZ and founder of the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, she has served on major national and international boards. Her influence spans business, governance, media and social impact, earning her numerous global awards.
13. Badejo Okusanya Oyinkan (SAN)
Lawyer, Africa Law Practice NG & Co
NIGERIA
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, Partner at Africa Law Practice (ALP NG & Co), is a dispute-resolution expert whose career spans litigation, international arbitration and regulatory reform. A former General Counsel in the Lagos State Governor’s Office, she contributed to PPP frameworks and justice-sector legislation. Renowned for her command of complex commercial disputes, she represents private and state clients across trial and appellate courts. A Fellow of CIArb, she chaired the NBA’s AGM—the world’s largest gathering of lawyers—demonstrating her sector-wide credibility.
14. Bartley Sylvia (Dr.)
Neuroscientist, Morehouse School of Medicine
USA
Dr Sylvia Bartley is a neuroscientist, global healthcare executive and social-impact leader whose work sits at the intersection of science, philanthropy and community upliftment. As Senior Director at the Medtronic Foundation, she steers volunteerism, disaster relief and patient-empowerment strategy for 90,000 employees worldwide. Her leadership extends to major non-profit boards that address disparities in health, education, and economic mobility. A Bush Fellow, prolific author and internationally recognised advocate, she champions mindfulness, equity and purpose-driven leadership across continents.
15. Belo-Osagie Myma (Dr.)
Lawyer, Co -Founder Udo Udoma & Belo Osagie
NIGERIA
Dr Myma Belo-Osagie, Partner Emerita at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, is one of Africa’s most influential commercial lawyers. With degrees from Harvard, Legon and the Nigerian and Ghanaian Law Schools, she has advised on landmark transactions in telecoms, energy, restructuring and cross-border investment. Recognised by Chambers Global, IFLR1000 and global bar associations, she has drafted major regulatory frameworks, including Nigeria’s Telecommunications Act. Her board service spans leading businesses and educational institutions, while her philanthropy supports scholarships, children’s health and arts development.
16. Braithwaite Onikepo
Lawyer, Editor THISDAY Lawyer
NIGERIA
Onikepo Braithwaite is a Nigerian lawyer, economist and respected THISDAY law editor known for her incisive column, The Advocate. Educated in Nigeria, the UK and the US, she built a long-standing legal career at the renowned Priscilla O. Kuye & Co. Her advisory roles span commercial law, arbitration and regulatory oversight, including positions within national manufacturing and LPG stakeholder bodies. As a public intellectual, she shapes national discourse on law, policy and governance with clarity, depth and informed critique.
17. Brown Ola (Dr.)
Doctor/ Investor Healthcare Investment Group
NIGERIA
Dr. Ola Brown is a medical doctor, trainee pilot and founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria, West Africa’s largest air ambulance and emergency medical service. Since 2009, she has built a network of fixed-wing and helicopter ambulances used to evacuate trauma and critical-care patients across remote and urban regions. A published author and international speaker, she is a TED Fellow, Aspen Fellow and WEF Young Global Leader. Her work continues to redefine medical logistics, emergency care and health-system preparedness in Africa.
18. Buhari Aisha
Former First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria
NIGERIA
Aisha Buhari, Nigeria’s First Lady from 2015–2023, leveraged her national platform to champion maternal health, girls’ education and women’s economic empowerment. Through the Aisha Buhari Foundation and the Future Assured programme, she delivered medical outreach, advocacy, and capacity-building initiatives across multiple states. A Public Administration and Strategic Studies graduate, she is also a trained beauty therapist and author. Her work has earned international honours, including the World Leadership Prize from Ajou University for contributions to public health and social development.
19. Byanyima Winnie
Executive Director, UNAIDS
UGANDA
Winnie Byanyima, a Ugandan aeronautical engineer and global health diplomat, is the Executive Director of UNAIDS and UN Under-Secretary-General. A former Executive Director of Oxfam International, she co-led the People’s Vaccine Alliance during COVID-19 and is internationally recognised for championing equity in global health and economic justice. Earlier, she served three terms in Uganda’s Parliament and helped entrench gender equality in the 1995 Constitution. Her leadership reflects decades of influential work in governance, human rights and international development.
20. Charway Sheniece
Music Industry Executive, Head of Black Music and Culture EMEA, YouTube
UK
Sheniece Charway, YouTube’s Head of Black Music & Culture, EMEA, is a British music executive shaping the visibility and evolution of Black music across Europe. She leads YouTube Music’s Legacy Series and major cultural showcases, including landmark celebrations at the Royal Opera House. Recognised by Music Week and Powerlist Magazine, she has served as a cultural commentator on The Rap Game UK and was appointed Martell’s Cultural Ambassador for Afrobeats. Her work amplifies artists and strengthens global cultural storytelling.
21. Coker-Odusote Abisoye
Engr., CEO,NIMC
NIGERIA
Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission, leads Nigeria’s foundational identity infrastructure—overseeing NIN enrolment, database integrity and nationwide verification systems. Since 2023, she has driven large-scale reforms to modernise backend systems and expand enrolment capacity. Her earlier roles include CEO of Lagos’ Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency and senior IT leadership in telecommunications and oil and gas. Recognised with national public-service awards, she is a Fellow of major technology and administrative institutes with deep experience in digital governance.
22. Coker, Tolu
Fashion Designer, Creative Director, Tolu Coker
UK
Tolu Coker is an award-winning British-Nigerian fashion designer and multidisciplinary artist whose brand intersects craftsmanship, activism and cultural storytelling. A Central Saint Martins alumna with experience at JW Anderson, Celine and Maison Margiela, she launched her label in 2021. Her work champions sustainability, identity politics, and social justice, and she collaborates with global organisations such as Amnesty International, Choose Love, and the City of Joy. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and Vogue Sustainability Trailblazer, she represents a new era of reformative luxury.
23. Dabiri-Erewa Abike
Politician, Chairman NIDCOM
NIGERIA
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, OON, is Chair/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, leading federal engagement with Nigerians worldwide. A three-term legislator, she chaired the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs and championed landmark bills including the Freedom of Information Act. Before politics, she spent 15 years at NTA anchoring Newsline, shaping national storytelling. Known for diaspora protection, policy coordination and citizen advocacy, she has embedded diaspora affairs firmly within Nigeria’s governance structure.
24. Dahiru Ahmed Aishatu (Aisha Binani)
Politician, CEO Binani Air
NIGERIA
Aisha Binani, engineer and politician, served as Senator for Adamawa Central and chaired the Senate Committee on SDGs. Previously a two-term member of the House of Representatives, she advanced healthcare, education and infrastructure across her constituency. In 2023, she became the first woman to secure a major-party governorship ticket in Northern Nigeria. Founder of Binani Air, she is among the few women leading aviation enterprises in the country. She holds the traditional title Gimbiyar Adamawa.
25. Dangote Halima
Executive Director, Dangote Group
NIGERIA
Halima Aliko Dangote, Group Executive Director, Commercial Operations at Dangote Industries, drives strategy, revenue and market expansion across Africa’s largest industrial conglomerate. Previously Executive Director at NASCON and Dangote Flour Mills, she led key restructuring and governance efforts. She chairs The Africa Centre in New York and sits on the boards of Endeavour Nigeria and the Aliko Dangote Foundation. With degrees from AIU London and Webster University, she brings business discipline, philanthropic insight, and cross-market leadership to the continental industry.
26. Diop Bineta (Dr.)
Senior Envoy, African Union Commissioner
SENEGAL
Dr Bineta Diop, Senegalese diplomat and Founder of Femmes Africa Solidarité, served as AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security for over a decade, embedding gender inclusion in Africa’s peace architecture. She has strengthened women’s roles in mediation, democratic transitions and post-conflict reconstruction across the continent. A TIME 100 honouree and recipient of the Légion d’Honneur, her pioneering institution-building has shaped continental frameworks aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and advanced women’s leadership in governance and peace processes.
27. Dlamini Judy
Business Leader, Author
University of the Witwatersrand
SOUTH AFRICA
Dr Judy Dlamini, Founder and Executive Chairperson of Mbekani Group, is one of South Africa’s foremost business leaders. Former Chair of Aspen Pharmacare and current Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand, she has served on boards including Anglo American, Discovery and Woolworths. A medical doctor turned entrepreneur, she champions Black women’s advancement through initiatives such as the Female Academic Leaders Fellowship. Her leadership reflects a rare blend of corporate governance, healthcare insight and economic transformation.
28. Dosunmu, Erelu Abiola (HRH)
Queen Mother
Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos
NIGERIA
HRH Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos, is a custodian of one of Lagos’ oldest royal institutions and a cultural figure whose influence spans fashion, enterprise and philanthropy. Installed in 1974, she has revitalised Aso Oke traditions, built businesses across Nigeria and the UK, and promoted Nigerian culture globally, including through a luxury boutique on London’s Bond Street. Her foundation supports education, skills development and cultural preservation. She remains a central figure in Lagos’ civic and traditional landscape.
29. Drummond Camille
Accountant
British Petroleum
UK
Camille Drummond, Senior Vice President of Global Business Services at BP, oversees worldwide finance, procurement, HR services and customer operations. A seasoned transformation executive, she previously served as CFO for BP’s Gas Trading Europe and leads financial modernisation across the organisation. Appointed to BlackLine’s board, she brings expertise in governance, audit, and digital process architecture. Consistently recognised on the UK Powerlist, she is also a champion of inclusion and professional development within global corporate spaces.
30. Durotoye Tara Fela
Beauty Entrepreneur, CEO House of Tara
NIGERIA
Tara Fela-Durotoye, founder of House of Tara International, pioneered Nigeria’s modern beauty industry. Since 1998, she has built a national retail, training and cosmetics enterprise that professionalised makeup artistry and produced thousands of trained artists. A World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, she has shaped entrepreneurship development across Africa through advisory roles and educational initiatives. Her work institutionalised beauty education, empowered women economically and catalysed a thriving local cosmetics ecosystem.
31. Edo- 0sagie, Anita
Oil & Gas Executive First E&P
NIGERIA
Anita Edo Osagie is a senior executive in Nigeria’s energy sector with over two decades of leadership across oil and gas and banking. At FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company, she oversees corporate strategy, stakeholder engagement, regulatory alignment, and risk management for major upstream and gas projects. She has led complex financing and venture negotiations critical to domestic energy growth. Her work strengthens institutional governance and supports Nigeria’s long-term energy security.
32. Edun Amy Adwoa
Philanthropist
The Cripps-Appiah -Edun Family
NIGERIA
Amy Adwoa Edun has a background in public health planning, with a growing focus on the intersections of health, environmental stability, and sustainable food systems. Her work increasingly centres on biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, water security, and food resilience — issues that sit at the core of Nigeria’s long-term stability. In response to deepening climate pressure and water insecurity, she co-founded Lokoja Dialogues, a regional platform designed to bridge community experience with national policy and investment strategy. As Executive Trustee, she helps guide a collaborative network working alongside institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency to strengthen how water risk is understood and financed. Rooted in community intelligence yet internationally oriented, Lokoja Dialogues advocates equitable and economically viable access to water across Nigeria. Beyond her policy work, Edun is also a philanthropist committed to advancing locally anchored, sustainable solutions that build long-term resilience.
33. Eke-Aluko Ehimwema (Dr.)
Consultant Paediatrician, Entrepreneur
The Premier Specialists Medical Centre
NIGERIA
Dr Ehimwema Eke-Aluko, paediatrician and co-founder of Premier Specialists’ Medical Centre, is an influential figure in Nigeria’s private child-health sector. A University of Lagos graduate with advanced US paediatric training, she is a Fellow of both the American Academy of Paediatrics and the West African College of Physicians. She has built specialist service lines in neonatology, developmental care and special-needs medicine. Her leadership extends to healthcare governance through board service at Wellness HMO.
34. Eyesan Meyiwa
CEO, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission
NIGERIA
Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, is the first woman to lead Nigeria’s upstream regulator—an institution central to the Petroleum Industry Act reforms. An economics graduate from the University of Benin, she spent 33 years at NNPC, rising to Executive Vice President, Upstream. Decorated with multiple sector awards including WIME’s Lifetime Achievement Award, she has shaped licensing, compliance and investment governance, strengthening confidence and institutional rigour in Nigeria’s petroleum landscape.
35. Adeleye-Fayemi Bisi
Former First Lady, Author,
Gender Advocate, Ekiti State Government
NIGERIA
Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, feminist advocate, author and policy leader, co-founded the African Women’s Development Fund, Africa’s first continent-wide women’s rights grant-making body. As First Lady of Ekiti State, she advanced gender-responsive laws, including the GBV Prohibition Act and Equal Opportunities Bill. A creator of the African Women’s Leadership Institute and Senior Advisor to UN Women Nigeria, she has trained thousands of emerging leaders. Honoured across Africa, her career bridges philanthropy, governance, movement-building and feminist intellectual tradition.
36. Gurib-Fakim Ameenah (Dr.)
Biodiversity Scientist, Politician, ImpactHER/ World Agriculture Forum
MAURITIUS
Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, biodiversity scientist and former President of Mauritius, is the first woman to lead her nation and one of Africa’s most distinguished scientific voices. A PhD in organic chemistry, she has authored influential works on medicinal plants, led major research institutions and served on global advisory boards. Decorated with the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award, France’s Legion of Honour and Mauritius’s highest national distinction, her career bridges science, public service and sustainability diplomacy.
37. Gwarube Siviwe
Politician
Minister of Basic Education, South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA
Siviwe Gwarube, South Africa’s Minister of Basic Education, is one of the youngest ministers in the country’s democratic history. A Rhodes University alumna, she rose rapidly through Parliament as National Spokesperson, Shadow Minister of Health and Chief Whip of the Official Opposition. Appointed minister in 2024, she leads the national curriculum, infrastructure and learner-performance strategy. A World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, she embodies a generational shift in public leadership and education reform.
38. Harriman Josephine
Managing Director, Morgan Stanley Europe
UK
Josephine Harriman, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, is Co-Head of Cyber & Privacy Legal and Head of EMEA Technology & Data Legal. Responsible for global data governance, cyber regulation and AI oversight across one of the world’s largest financial institutions, she manages complex cross-border compliance structures. Dual-qualified in Nigeria and the UK, she has spent over two decades shaping technology-driven legal frameworks in the financial sector. Her work underpins the digital resilience of modern global capital markets.
39. Ibru Da- Silva, Kemi (Dr.)
Specialist, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Founder, WARIF
NIGERIA
Dr Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, founder of WARIF, established Nigeria’s first integrated, survivor-centred response to sexual and gender-based violence. A University of Lagos-trained physician with postgraduate training at Howard and Johns Hopkins, she has advanced clinical, forensic and psychosocial interventions for survivors. She sits on the UN ACT Steering Committee for West and Central Africa and delivered a defining TED Talk on the “shadow pandemic” of violence during COVID-19. Recognised globally, she continues to reshape gender-justice frameworks across Africa.
40. Idigbe Elizabeth
Lawyer/ Managing Partner,
Punuka Chambers
NIGERIA
Elizabeth Oyenike Idigbe, Managing Partner of PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors, is one of Africa’s leading commercial lawyers, steering high-value transactions across energy, real estate, restructuring and capital markets. A Fellow of CIArb and former ExCo member of its Nigeria Branch, she is recognised by Lexology and Law Digest Africa for excellence in construction, insolvency and corporate practice. Her work reflects decades of leadership at the intersection of economic development, dispute resolution and commercial governance.
41. Ita-Giwa Florence
(Senator) Politician
The Governing Council
NIGERIA
Florence Ita-Giwa, former Senator for Cross River South, is a political matriarch known nationally as “Mama Bakassi” for her decades-long advocacy on behalf of the Bakassi people. A former nurse and pharmaceutical representative, she entered politics in the 1990s, serving in the House of Representatives and later as Special Adviser to President Obasanjo. Decorated with national honours, including the OON, she has championed women’s rights, anti-trafficking efforts, and Niger Delta issues with characteristic tenacity.
42. Johnson Omobola (Dr.)
Former Minister of Communications
Chairperson Global Alliance
NIGERIA
Dr Omobola Johnson, Nigeria’s former Minister of Communication Technology, is a technocrat whose leadership produced the country’s first National Broadband Plan and secured Nigeria’s entry into the Alliance for Affordable Internet. A former Country Managing Director of Accenture, she has over 30 years’ experience in ICT strategy, transformation and financial services. After ministerial service, she chaired A4AI globally, guiding international policy on digital affordability. Her work anchors Nigeria’s early digital-economy reforms.
43. Kaba Nialé
Economist, Politician
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Côte d’Ivoire
IVORY COAST
Kaba Nialé, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, is a seasoned economist and statistical engineer shaping national and regional development strategy. A graduate of Sorbonne’s CESD and the IMF Institute, she has served as chief of staff, director-general, minister and government negotiator across multiple administrations. She is the Governor for both the African Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank. Architect of major investment platforms, she positioned Abidjan as a continental hub for Africa’s emergence discourse.
44. Kingori Patricia (Professor)
Sociologist, Ethicist
University of Oxford
UK
Professor Patricia Kingori, the youngest Black woman to attain a full professorship in Oxford’s 925-year history, is a global health-ethics scholar whose research interrogates frontline healthcare, responsibility and moral complexity in LMICs. As a Wellcome Senior Investigator awarded an unprecedented £8.8 million grant, she advises institutions including WHO, MSF and UK SAGE. She founded Oxford’s Somerville-Ethox Fellowship to support Black British academics. Her work bridges ethics, policy and social justice with rare intellectual authority.
45. Kingori Vanessa (MBE)
Business Executive
Media Leader, Google UK & Ireland
UK
Vanessa Kingori MBE, award-winning business executive, transformed British Vogue as its first female Publishing Director, championing inclusivity and modern brand strategy before joining Google as Managing Director, Technology, Media & Telecoms. From her early days at Evening Standard and Esquire to leading Condé Nast’s commercial operations, she has driven digital reinvention across media. Founder of #ShareTheMicUK and a judge for major business awards, she is a defining voice for diversity, brand evolution and leadership excellence.
46. Kuku Banke
Textile Designer & Fashion Entrepreneur
Creative Director, Banke Kuku
NIGERIA
Banke Kuku, British-Nigerian designer and textiles artist, is renowned for her vibrant, culturally layered prints and luxury loungewear. A graduate of Central Saint Martins and Chelsea College of Art, she has worked with global fashion houses and major interior brands before launching her label and Lagos boutique. Stocked internationally, her collections draw from Lagos-London duality, heritage motifs and modern femininity. Her expanding womenswear, accessories and childrenswear lines reflect a growing global footprint in contemporary African luxury.
47. Kyei Afua
Financial Executive
Bank of England
UK
Afua Kyei, Chief Financial Officer of the Bank of England, is one of the most powerful figures in global finance. She oversees financial governance of a balance sheet that peaked above £1 trillion, co-sponsors DEI strategy and steers climate-disclosure frameworks. A former Barclays and UBS investment banker with Oxford and Princeton credentials, she was named the UK’s most influential Black person in the Powerlist 2026. Her leadership underpins critical national infrastructure, including the RTGS system upgrade.
48. Luhabe Wendy
Entrepreneur, Founder, Women Investment Portfolio Holdings
SOUTH AFRICA
Wendy Luhabe, South African entrepreneur and advocate for women’s economic inclusion, has shaped corporate transformation for over three decades. As the founder of Bridging the Gap, WIPHOLD, and South Africa’s Women’s Private Equity Fund, she has expanded access to capital and corporate leadership for Black women. A former Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, she has served on boards of global companies and received honours from the WEF and the British monarchy. Her work remains foundational to gendered economic justice.
49. Madonsela Thuli
Lawyer
Law Trust Chair, Social Justice, Stellenbosch University
SOUTH AFRICA
Advocate Thuli Madonsela, former Public Protector of South Africa, is a constitutional scholar and global symbol of integrity whose investigations—most notably the Nkandla and State Capture reports—reshaped accountability in South Africa. A co-drafter of the 1996 Constitution, she has contributed to landmark legislation on equality, labour and anti-discrimination. Decorated with international awards including TIME 100, Transparency International’s Integrity Award and multiple honorary doctorates, she now serves as Law Trust Chair in Social Justice at Stellenbosch University.
50. Maduewesi Oke
Beauty Entrepreneur ,Zaron Group
NIGERIA
Oke Maduewesi, founder and CEO of Zaron Group, is one of Africa’s most successful beauty entrepreneurs, building a cosmetics brand with over 25 franchise outlets and 800+ distributors. A former Zenith Bank manager with an MBA from the University of Leeds, she launched Zaron in 2009 to deliver accessible, quality beauty products while driving job creation and youth empowerment. Her leadership blends commercial strategy with strong CSR values, shaping a modern African beauty ecosystem anchored in integrity and purpose.
