Avance Media, Africa’s leading PR and rating firm, has announced the 6th edition of its highly anticipated 2024 list of the 100 Most Influential African Women.
This annual publication celebrates the extraordinary achievements of women who are breaking barriers in their respective fields and inspiring transformational change in their communities and across the continent.
Representing 32 African countries, the 2024 list highlights the diversity and impact of African women leaders, with Nigeria leading with 22 honorees, followed by Kenya with 12, South Africa with 7, and Rwanda with 5. The honorees span an array of sectors, including business, diplomacy, governance, entertainment, media, sports, philanthropy, and more.
The list also features two female presidents, six female vice presidents, one Prime Minister, one Deputy United Nations Secretary-General, and one Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission. These achievements mark a historic milestone for women in leadership across the continent and in global governance, showcasing Africa as a rising force for gender equity and empowerment.
Among the top honorees are Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of Tanzania, Angélique Kidjo, the Grammy-winning artist and activist, Fariba Nabourema Togolese activist and Bitcoin advocate, and Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, the CEO of Merck Foundation.
Prince Akpah, the Founder of Avance Media, emphasised that the publication aims to promote gender equality and recognise women’s contributions to Africa’s progress. By amplifying the stories of these influential women, we seek to inspire policy shifts, organizational reforms, and grassroots efforts to empower women and girls.
Selection for the 2024 list was based on criteria such as excellence in leadership and performance, personal accomplishments, a commitment to sharing knowledge, breaking the status quo, and exemplifying the qualities of an accomplished African woman.
The comprehensive profiles of the 2024 100 Most Influential African Women can be accessed at 100women.avancemedia.org.
Below is the list of Avance Media’s 2024 100 Most Influential African Women arranged in alphabetical order
- Adefunke Adeyemi || Secretary General, African Civil Aviation Commission
- Agatha Elumelu-Obiekwugo (Dr.) || CEO, Adassa Energy
- Aguil Deng || Head of Corporate Philanthropy Africa, Bloomberg
- Ahunna Eziakonwa (H.E.) || Regional Director for Africa, UNDP
- Amani Abou-Zeid (H.E) || Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union
- Amina J. Mohammed (H.E) || Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
- Angélique Kidjo || Musician
- Anita Alaire Afoke Asuoha || Actress
- Anita Erskine || Executive Director, Erskine Global Communications
- Barbra Banda || Footballer
- Bimbo Ademoye || Actress
- Bineta Diop (H.E) || Special Envoy on Women Peace and Security, African Union
- Bintou Keita (H.E) || Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the DRC, UN
- Bogolo Kenewendo || Minister of Minerals and Energy, Botswana
- Boitumelo Mosako || CEO, Development Bank of Southern Africa
- Carol Abade || Group CEO, EXP
- Caroline Wanga || CEO, Essence
- Chidimma Adetshina || Miss Universe Africa and Oceania
- Chido Cleopatra Mpemba (H.E.) || Youth Envoy, African Union
- Clare Akamanzi || CEO, NBA Africa
- Coumba Dieng Sow (H.E) || Resident Coordinator in Togo, United Nations
- Cristina Isabel Lopes da Silva M. Duarte || Special Adviser on Africa, United Nations
- Damilola Ogunbiyi || Co-Chair, UN-Energy
- Degan Ali || Executive Director, Adeso
- Delphine Traoré Maidou || CEO, Allianz Africa
- Denise Epote || Director, TV5 Monde
- Diane Karusisi (Dr.) || CEO, Bank of Kigali
- Edith Kimani || Journalist, DW TV
- Elizabeth Maruma Mrema (H.E) || Deputy Executive Director, UNEP
- Elizabeth Tchoungui || Executive Vice President of Group CSR, Orange
- Elizabeth Wathuti || Founder, Green Generation Initiative
- Enase Okonedo (Prof) || Vice-Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University
- Esperança da Costa (H.E.) || Vice President, Angola
- Faith Odhiambo || President, Law Society of Kenya
- Farida Nabourema || Executive Director, Africa Bitcoin Community
- Françoise Moudouthe || CEO, African Women’s Development Fund
- Funke Akindele || Actress
- Graça Machel || Founder, Graça Machel Trust
- Hodan Addou || Regional Director, UN Women East & Southern Africa
- Jackie Chimhanzi (Dr.) || Regional Director, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
- Jane Kimemia || CEO, Optiva Capital Partners
- Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang (H.E.) || Vice President, Republic of Ghana
- Jennifer Zabasajja || Correspondent, Bloomberg Africa
- Jessica Rose Epel Alupo (H.E.) || Vice President, Republic of Uganda
- Judith Tuluka Suminwa || Prime Minister, DRC
- Julia Sebutinde || Vice President, International Court of Justice
- Julie Gichuru (Dr.) || Founder, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute (ALADI)
- Kanayo Awani || Executive Vice President, Afreximbank
- Kehinde Bankole || Actress
- Lydia Zigomo || Regional Director, UNFPA East and Southern Africa.
- Mariam Chabi Talata (H.E.) || Vice President, Republic of Benin
- Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre (H.E.) || CEO, African Peer Review Mechanism
- Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade || Senior Vice President , AfDB
- Maryam Bukar Hassan || Poet
- Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi || President, African Center for Economic Transformation
- Monique Nsanzabaganwa (H.E. Dr.) || Deputy Chairperson, African Union
- Mosun Layode || Executive Director, African Philanthropy Forum
- Mutale Nalumango (H.E.) || Vice President, Republic of Zambia
- Nadia Fettah Alaoui || Minister of Economy and Finance, Morocco
- Nardos Bekele-Thomas || CEO, AUDA- NEPAD
- Nathalie Kouassi Akon || Director of Gender and Economic Inclusion, IFC
- Ndemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (H.E. Dr) || President-elect , Namibia
- Nezha Hayat || CEO, Moroccan Capital Market Authority
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Dr.) || Director General, World Trade Organisation
- Nima Elbagir || Chief International Investigative Correspondent, CNN
- Nkiru Balonwu (Dr.) || CEO, Africa Soft Power
- Nomalanga Shozi || OAP
- Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda || Deputy Executive Director, UN Women
- Olori Atuwatse III || Queen Consort, Warri Kingdom
- Oulie Keita (Dr.) || Executive Director, Greenpeace Africa
- Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa || CEO, Naspers South Africa.
- Rachel Wanyoike || Managing Director, Solidaridad East and Central Africa
- Rasha Kelej (Senator Dr.) || CEO, Merck Foundation
- Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior (H.E.) || Vice President, South Sudan
- Rita Babihuga-Nsanze || Chief Economist , Africa Finance Corporation
- Rosemary Nduhiu || Executive Director, Country Programs, Mastercard Foundation
- Ruth Kadiri || Actress
- Sahar Albazar || Member of Parliament, Egypt
- Samia Suluhu Hassan (H.E.) || President, United Republic of Tanzania
- Samira Daoud || Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Amnesty International
- Sanda Ojiambo || Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact
- Soraia Ramos || Musician
- Stephanie Busari || Senior Editor, Africa, CNN
- Taaka Awori || CEO, Busara Africa
- Tems || Musician
- Tobi Ayeni || Content Creator
- Tsedale Lemma || Journalist/Founder, Addis Standard
- Tsega Gebreyes || Founding Director, Satya Capital Limited
- Tshepidi Moremong || Chief Operating Officer, Africa50
- Tshepiso Malatjie || Chief People Officer, MultiChoice Group
- Tyla || Musician
- Valentine Rugwabiza (H.E.) || Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of Mission, United Nations
- Vanessa Moungar || Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, LVMH
- Vera Songwe (Dr.) || Founder and Chair, Liquidity and Sustainability Facility
- Veronica Mueni Nduva (H.E.) || Secretary General, East African Community (EAC)
- Vivienne Yeda Apopo || Director General, East African Development Bank (EADB)
- Winnie Byanyima || Executive Director, UNAIDS
- Wiyaala || Musician
- Yvonne Makolo || CEO, RwandAir
- Zainab Hawa Bangura (H.E.) || Director General, United Nations Office at Nairobi
