The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and popular actor and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, are among 15 remarkable Nigerian women driving transformative change whom Ventures Africa has recognized in its list of ’20 Women of Impact’ for the year 2023.
A Nigerian-American economist and two-time Minister of Finance who formerly chaired the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Okonjo-Iweala tops the list in the second edition of Ventures Africa’s 20 Women of Impact 2023 which profiles “women who initiated community and economic growth and inspired change in government, industries, and people”.
Among these outstanding individuals are prominent Nigerian figures who have achieved significant feats in their respective fields, stealing the spotlight and leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of global impact. These women have not only achieved great success in their career paths but have also become trailblazers in their industries, collectively representing the diverse facets of progress and empowerment within Nigeria and beyond.
Also making the list are Olapeju Ibekwe, the CEO of the Sterling One Foundation, the social change arm of Nigeria’s Sterling Bank, dedicated to addressing the root causes of poverty in the country; Dr Enobong Louisa Akaiso, an accelerator coach and globally recognized Civility Trainer and Leadership expert, who specializes in Image, International Protocol, and Leadership presence; and Dr Ola Brown, a startup founder and venture capitalist known for her role as the founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria.
Ventures Africa also listed Maya Horgan-Famodu, Partner and Founder of Ingressive Capital and co-founder of Ingressive For Good; Blessing Abeng, the Co-founder and Director of Communications at Ingressive for Good; Adesuwa Okunbo-Rhodes, the Founder of Aruwa Capital Management, a Lagos-based early-stage growth equity and gender lens fund led by women; Aderonke Ajose-Adeyemi, the Founder and CEO of Losode, an innovative e-commerce platform initially launched as a fashion hub in the UK; Dr Funmi Adewara, a British-Nigerian physician and Cambridge-trained Bioscience multi-award-winning entrepreneur and a globally recognised telehealth expert; and Hilda Effiong Bassey (Hilda Baci), a multi-talented Nigerian chef, restaurateur, and actress who held the Guinness World Record (GWR) for a marathon cooking session.
Others are Toyosi Etim-Effiong, a versatile media entrepreneur dedicated to bringing authentic African stories to a global audience; Rita Idehai, the founder and CEO of Ecobarter, a Nigerian sustainable waste management company employing technology to directly collect waste from households and consumer groups, enabling them to utilize their waste as a digital currency; Adejoke Lasisi, an African fabric designer and environmentalist and founder, Planet 3R and Jokelinks Weaving School; and Oluwaseyi Oluyole, a social entrepreneur and advocate for universal quality education and the founder of Dream Catchers Academy.
In a post on its website titled “VENTURES AFRICA’S 20 WOMEN OF IMPACT 2023”, Ventures Africa said African women have emerged as dynamic forces driving transformative change across various sectors, showcasing remarkable resilience, leadership, and innovation on the continent and beyond.
“In fostering community, these women serve as pillars, nurturing a sense of belonging, unity, and support. Through grassroots initiatives and community-building efforts, they create spaces where individuals can thrive, fostering social cohesion and empowerment,” Ventures Africa said.
It said African women have also shown their strength economically through initiating and sustaining entrepreneurial endeavours that contribute significantly to local and national economies. In government and governance, they have played key roles in inspiring change despite marginalisation, and at the industry level, they have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and expertise.
“On a broader scale, women inspire change in the hearts and minds of people in Africa. Through their stories, achievements, and advocacy, they challenge societal norms, reshape perceptions, and encourage others to pursue their dreams despite barriers. As African women continue to embody resilience and determination, they become catalysts for broader social change, influencing attitudes and fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. In essence, African women stand at the forefront of multifaceted progress, embodying the principles of community building, economic empowerment, government leadership, industrial innovation, and societal change,” Ventures Africa said.
“We acknowledge that their impact echoes far beyond individual achievements, contributing to the collective advancement and transformation of the African continent,” it said.
There are five non-Nigerians on the list, including Edna Frimpong, a Ghanaian shoemaker, who serves as the co-founder and Head of Public Relations at Ahofade, a Ghanaian e-commerce fashion marketplace dedicated to showcasing the talent and creativity of Ghanaian fashion designers; Mawuse Christina Gyisun, who serves as the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Sommalife Ltd in Ghana; Nthabiseng Mosia, a South African innovator and advocate for Climate Justice and Energy Access, who is the COO and co-founder of Easy Solar; Bola Bardet, the CEO and co-founder of Susu, a startup that tailors unique healthcare packages for Africans in the diaspora; and Tunisia’s Aya Chebbi, a multi-award-winning Pan-African feminist who rose to prominence as a voice for democracy and shot to global fame as a political blogger during the 2010/2011 Tunisia Revolution.
