Leading women in top corporate positions have been urged to actively mentor and support younger women in their career journeys to reach leadership roles, just as 100 Top African Women were honoured at the event, isqil najim reports.
This was a central theme at the Gala Event celebrating the unveiling of the Top 100 African Women in Leadership across the continent. The prestigious event, held at Alliance Française in Lagos on Sunday, March 30th, 2025, concluded the 2025 Women’s History Month. The list was compiled by Thinkers360, a globally recognized platform that assesses top executives, industry experts, and influencers based on their insights, influence, and contributions.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Glory Edozien, founder of ASCENT Club and a global expert in visibility and thought leadership, said the awards were established to celebrate the achievements of exceptional women and inspire future generations of female leaders..
Oyeyimika Adeboye, Cluster Director of Mondelez International West Africa and Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Cadbury Ghana Limited delivered a keynote address at the event. She outlined the business advantage of gender diversity, asserting that companies with significant female leadership consistently achieve strong performance. She encouraged women to prioritize excellence.
Adeboye urged women to leverage every available support system. She highlighted the strength of female collaboration, while imploring women to actively support each other’s professional growth and cultivate a culture of mutual encouragement.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluwakemi Oyekan Olumuyiwa, Executive Director of Relationship and Stakeholders Management at the NNPC, said there is need for more women in boardroom. She advised women to proactively develop their skills to be ready for opportunities.
Dr. Olumuyiwa urged career women to remain persistent in the face of challenges. Her key recommendations included setting clear goals, developing strategic plans, cultivating a competitive mindset, and actively seeking out influential sponsors who can advocate for their advancement. She clarified the distinct yet crucial roles of mentors and sponsors, emphasizing the significant impact of having a sponsor who actively champions one’s career progression.
Furthermore, Dr. Olumuyiwa stressed the importance of strategic networking with influential individuals and the continuous acquisition of knowledge from all sources, including the workplace.
This year’s list showcases the breadth of female leadership across the continent, with honorees representing diverse expertise and various regions.
2025 Ascent Top 100 Career Women in Africa Honorees (Grouped by Country):
Botswana:
- Bogolo Joy Kenewendo – Cabinet Minister of Minerals and Energy, Government of Botswana
Burundi:
- Hawa Cissé Wagué – Country Manager, Senior Agricultural Advisor, World Bank
Cameroon:
- Charlotte Ndaw Sako – Country Manager, International Finance Corporation
- Fatima Haram – Vice President, Central African Economic and Monetary Commission
Côte d’Ivoire:
- FCPA, Dr. Millicent Omukaga – Policy Officer, African Development Bank Group
- Fatim Cisse – Director General, IHS Towers
- Koumba Diallo – IP Education to Employment Program Director, Investisseurs & Partenaires
- Olivia Yacé
Egypt:
- Adekunbi Elizabeth Johnson – Head, Travel, Africa Export-Import (Afrexim) Bank
- Dr. Amira Shoukry A. – Team Leader for Enabling Business Environment, DAI
- Ebtissam Farid – Professor of Practice in Architecture and Design, The Knowledge Hub Universities
- Heidi El Nahas – Head of Corporate Communications, Sustainability, and Sustainable Finance Group, Banque du Caire
- Rania El-Rafie – Vice President, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, APO Group
- Sara Mortada – General Manager, Engineering Department, Suez Methanol Derivatives
- Vivian Thabet – Deputy Country Director, CARE
Ethiopia:
- Amsale Gualu – First Female Captain, Ethiopian Airlines
- Dr. Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa – Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission
- Dr. Towela Nyirenda-Jere – Head of Secretariat, Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP)
Ghana:
- Adaku Ufere – Independent Governor and Trustee, University of Aberdeen
- Dr. Sheila Addo, Ph.D. – Deputy Chief Executive (Technical), National Petroleum Authority (NPA)
- Ivy Mawuko – Head of Learning, Africa Regions, Standard Bank Group
- Patricia Obo-Nai – CEO, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited
Kenya:
- Annette Kimitei – Managing Director, Senaca East Africa
- Astou Dia – Portfolio Enterprise Lead & Deputy Team Leader, Boost Africa Technical Assistance Facility
- Christine Ambetsa – Country Director, Technology, Oracle
- Corine Mbiaketcha Nana – Member, PAPSS Management Board, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
- Dr. Agnes Kalibata – President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
- Dr. Michèle Mbo’o-Tchouawou – Deputy Director, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)
- Gakii Mwongera – Director, Mobile Financial Services, Ericsson
- Gladys J Some – Corporate Communications Manager, Kenya Reinsurance Corporation
- Lade Araba – Vice President, Financial Services, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP)
- Nelisa Ngqulana – Associate Partner, Dalberg Media
- Susan Maingi – Country Lead Regulatory Policy and Stakeholder Engagement, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa
- Tolulope Babajide – Gender Network Manager, FSD Africa
- Wambui Mbesa – East Africa CEO, Relational FS
Lesotho:
- Mpono Mosaase – Commissioner, Operations Support, Revenue Services Lesotho
Mauritania:
- Aïssata Lam – Director General, Investment Promotion Agency of Mauritania
Morocco:
- Aminata Kane – CEO, Orange Money Group
- Aurélie Pujo – Senior Advisor, Amethis
- Fadoua Moutaouakil – Director of Strategy, M&A, Risk Management, TAQA Morocco
Nigeria:
- Abimbola Agbejule – Head, Corporate Sustainability, Wema Bank PLC
- Adebimpe Olambiwonnu – Chief Financial Officer, Sterling Financial Holdings Company
- Adetola Fasuyi – Head, Wealth Management, United Capital Group
- Amina Onifade – Chief Operating Officer, Genesis Energy Group
- Areta Adegoke – Asset Manager, Deep Water Non-Operated Ventures
- Caroline Eboumbou – CEO, All On
- Chinny Okoye – Special Adviser, Strategic Partnerships, Minister of Women Affairs
- Chinwe Uzoho – Regional Managing Director, West & Central Africa, Network International
- Chioma Etiaba-Nwankwo FICA – Regional Bank Head, Lagos Central, Fidelity Bank
- Chioma Nwokedi Momah – Head, Policy and Public Affairs, Guinness Nigeria PLC
- Chizo Ezem MD, MPH, MBA – Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Dayo Aderugbo – Divisional Head and General Manager, Bank of Industry
- Dr. Julie Idongesit Utang – Manager, Stakeholder Relations/Ag. Head, Business Services, NUIMS, NNPC Limited
- Ejiro Gray (GCB.D) – Director, Governance & Sustainability, Sahara Group
- Enitan Oyenuga – HR Director, Jumia Nigeria
- Esther Adeola – Balogun (MNIM, MCIB) – MD/CEO, UCEE Microfinance Bank Limited
- Felicia Agubata – Deputy General Manager, Terrestrial Services, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency
- Iyabode Ayobami-Ojo – Director, NNPC Academy
- Judith Obi – General Manager Commercial, PPC Limited
- Kaine Diete-Spiff – Physician General Practice, Shell
- Linda Quaynor – Partner/West Africa Strategy and Operations Leader, Deloitte Nigeria
- Mojisola Iyamabo – Associate Vice President, Gas Business, Heirs Energies
- Ngozi Akinyele FNIMN, MNIPR – Group Executive, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Coronation Group
- Oghogho Makinde – Partner, Aluko & Oyebode
- Olayinka David-West (she/her/hers) – Dean, Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University
- Olu Arowolo Verheijen – Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Energy
- Omolola Oloworaran – Director General, Pension Commission
- Omowunmi Akingbohungbe – Executive Director, WIMBIZ
- Ota Akhigbe – Director, Partnerships and Programs, eHealth Africa
- Olanike Nafisat Balogun – First Female Pilot, Nigeria Customs Service
- Sherifat Adegbenro – Chief Audit and Compliance Officer, EKO Electricity Distribution PLC
- Simi Nwogugu – CEO, Junior Achievement Africa
- Stella Din – Jacob – Director of News & Editor-in-Chief, TVC Communications
- Wola Joseph-Condotti – Group MD/CEO, West Power and Gas Limited
- Wunmi Ehis-Uzenabor – Chief Financial Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria
- Yinka Edu – Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie
Rwanda:
- Soraya Munyana Hakuziyaremye – First Female Governor, National Bank of Rwanda
- Yvonne Manzi Makolo – CEO, RwandAir
Sierra Leone:
- Dr. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE – Mayor of Freetown, Freetown City Council
South Africa:
- Alison Hastings Badenhorst – Chief Marketing Officer, Rand Merchant Bank
- Carina Wessels – Executive, Governance, Legal, Compliance, and Sustainability, Alexforbes
- Dharshni Padayachee CA(SA) MPhil – Head, Diversity, Equity Inclusion & Wellbeing, Rand Merchant Bank
- Dr. Ntombi Mhangwani – Executive Head, Marketing, Vodacom Business
- Elizabeth Marabwa– Chief Director, Programme and Projects Management Office, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy
- Itumeleng Monale – Chief Operating Officer, Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)
- Jo-Ann Pöhl – Associate Director, Kearney
- Judge Portia Nkutha-Nkontwana – Judge, Labour Court, Johannesburg
- Judy Gounden – Chief Marketing Officer, Quantum PKI
- Lindiwe Zulu – Minister of Small Business Development, Department of Small Business Development
- Natalie Paida Jabangwe – Board Member, Wesgro
- Palesa Natasha Mmankwe Mothapo, PhD – Director, Research Support and Management, Nelson Mandela University
- Phemelo Mitchell – Senior Business Developer, Pele Energy Group
- Rentia Van Tonder – Head, Power, Corporate and Investment Banking, Standard Bank
- Ria Pinto – Country General Manager and Technology Leader, IBM South Africa
- Sayuri Moodliar – ESG Director, Open Access Data Centres, WIOCC
- Sy Gourrah – Senior General Manager, Smart Technologies, ACTOM (Pty) Ltd
- Zama Khanyile – Commissioner, Presidential Climate Commission
Tanzania:
- Joyce Mndambi – Project Management Specialist – Private Sector Engagement & Youth, USAID
- Kindo Marealle – Country Head, Human Capital, Access Bank Tanzania
Tunisia:
- Manel Harrathi – Senior Director, Strategic Innovation, Fraud Risk & Compliance Engineering, FIS
Uganda:
- Joyce Nakatumba-Nabende – Senior Lecturer, Computer Science, Makerere University