Leading African PR & Rating firm, Avance Media has announced the 2021 list of 100 Influential Women in Africa. The list which celebrates African women in leadership who inspire the next generation of women around the world is the third publication from Avance Media since 2019.

Avance Media announces 2021 100 Most Influential African Women list
100 Most Influential African Women list

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 honour 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 UN’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 the 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

100 Most Influential African Women list

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 UN   
  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 HR 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, AU & ECA, UN 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, UN 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, UN 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
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Source: Ifeanyi Ahyia Adjei, Avance Media

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