Avance Media Reveals List of 100 Most Influential African Women in 2024

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, and 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 the 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.

100 Most Influential African Women 2024

Below is the list of Avance Media’s 2024 100 Most Influential African Women arranged in
alphabetical order:

^{Source: Avance Media (c) 2025}