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.

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 spans 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 is 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 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

Source: Ifeanyi Ahyia Adjei, Avance Media