Okonjo-iweala, Angelique Kidjo, Peace Hyde and others make Weforgood’s ‘100 women creating a better Africa’ list

Weforgood International ,a Lagos based sustainable development consulting firm, recently announced the final results of its ‘100 Women Creating A Better Africa’ campaign, an initiative which kicked- off with a call for nomination to the general public on March 6, 2020. The campaign, which is part of the organisation’s commemoration of the International Women’s Day, is aimed at putting the spotlight on women making a difference on the continent. The International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on the 8th of March annually. According to the United Nations, it is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

The Chief Executive Officer of Weforgood International, Temitayo Ade- Peters, while expressing her excitement over the final results, said the campaign is Weforgood’s way to celebrate and honour women making impact across various communities in Africa. “We are particularly pleased with the makeup of the final list”, she said. “It provides an amazing picture of women from different walks of life and at different stages of influence but with a common thread: the passion and commitment to make Africa better for us and for the next generation. Each of the faces on this picture collage represents thousands of women who, leveraging on their capabilities, rise up daily to push for Africa’s sustainable development, in spite of the obvious and seemingly insurmountable challenges they encounter.” she stated.

Also speaking about the nominations she said, “I love the fact that these are people’s choices from their various communities; we called for nominations and here are the results. Nominees came from over 25 nationalities, which is quite impressive for this maiden edition. It is also important to note that quite a number of men participated in this campaign. In fact, 46% of the nominations came from men, which is great and shows their commitment to supporting the women folk, a key message of the IWD theme for 2020 tagged ‘Each For Equal’.”

As the name implies, the ‘100 Women Creating A Better Africa’ is a list of 100 women making a difference on the continent.

As part of the criteria for selection, each woman on the list is contributing her quota to the achievement of one or more of the 17 UN SDGS (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) in Africa. With this initiative, Weforgood hopes to accelerate the attainment of the SDGS, while inspiring more women to push beyond the boundaries and make their mark on the continent.

Some of the names on the list include:

• Angelique Kidjo, Benin,

Entertainment – Music; (GOAL 4: Quality Education)

• Sahle-work Zewde (HE),

Ethiopia, Politician; (GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions)

• Achenyo Obaro, Nigeria;

(GOAL 1: No Poverty)

• Aminatta Forna, Sierra Leone, Author, Academic, Commentator; ( GOAL 4: Quality Education)

• Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu,

Ethiopia, Entrepreneur; (GOAL 1: No Poverty)

• Bolanle Osotule, Nigeria,

Banking; (GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities)

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigeria, Writer/novelist; (GOAL 5: Gender Equality)

• Aya Chebbi, Tunisia, Media

– Blogging; (GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)

• Bekeme Masade-olowola,

Nigeria, Social Sector; (GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions)

• Belinda Akoto, Ghana, Edu

and Training; (GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)

• Bridgette Radebe, South

Africa, Business; (GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

• Charlize Theron, South

Africa, Entertainment; (GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)

• Chioma Ukpabi, Nigeria,

Creative Industry; ( GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)

• Fatma Samoura, Senegal,

Sport – Football; ( GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions)

• Folorunsho Alakija, Nigeria,

Business; (GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

• Adejoke Orelope, Nigeria,

Government; (GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goals)

• Dambisa Moyo, Zambia

Economy Advocate; (GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities)

• Danielle Kayembe, American, Technology; ( GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goals)

• Elizabeth Talatu Williams, Nigeria, Public Health; (GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being)

• Francesca Rosset, Italy,

Fashion; (GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)

• Graça Machel, Mozambique, Culture and Education; (GOAL 4: Quality Education)

• Ibukun Awosika, Nigeria,

Business/ Economic; ( GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic

Growth)

• Isis Nyongo, Kenya, Corporate Executive (TECH); (GOAL

9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

• Ndidi Nwuneli, Nigeria,

Social Entrepreneur; (GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

• Omobolanle Victor-laniyan,

Nigeria, Banking; (GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goals)

• Manal Rostom,

Athlete and Influencer; (GOAL 5: Gender Equality)

• Kelechi Okoro, Nigeria, Health; (GOAL 3: Good Health

and Well-being)

• Peace Hyde, Nigeria, (GOAL

16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions)

• Salwa Akhannouch, Morocco, Entrepreneur, (GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

• Cima Sholotan, ria, Telecommunications; ( GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goals)

• Juliet Ehimuan, Nigeria,

Corporate Executive ( Tech); ( GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goals)

• Kgomotso Phatsima, Botswana, Aviation; ( GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)

• Pearl Uzokwe, Nigeria, Oil &

Gas: (GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goals)

• Zoe Lenkiewicz, British,

NGO; (GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation)

• Saran Kaba Jones, Liberia,

Entrepreneur ; ( GOAL 3:

Good Health and Well-being)

• Osayi Alile, Nigeria, Social

Development ; ( GOAL 5: Gender Equality)

• Mina Ogbanga, Nigeria, Education and Renewable

Energy; (GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy)

• Olamide Ayeni-babajide,

Nigeria, Waste management ; (GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities)

• Ndidi Nnoli-edozien, Nigeria, Manufacturing; (GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

• Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda, Politics (Activist); (GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions)

• Lisa Kropman, South Africa, Entrepreneur; (GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

• Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Nigeria, (GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions)

• Abimbola Emmanuella

Fashola, Nigeria, (GOAL 4: Quality Education)

• Professor Sheila Tlou, Botswana, (GOAL 4: Quality Education)

• Kemi Ajumobi, Nigeria,

Journalism/ Broadcasting; (GOAL 5: Gender Equality)

• You can find the full list

and read more about the ‘100 Women Creating A Better Africa’ campaign on www.weforgood. org.