Here’s to the women who dared and delivered.
2025 was the year Her Network featured extraordinary women across Africa and the diaspora who looked at glass ceilings and decided to build entirely new architecture.
This was the year Juliana Kagwa became the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Tourism Board, ready to reshape how the world sees East Africa. The year Cristina Dias Lourenço took the helm as CEO of Angola’s Stock Exchange marked a financial milestone in Luanda.
The year Hortense Mudenge became CEO of the Kigali International Financial Centre, positioning Rwanda as Africa’s next financial powerhouse. We watched Mobolaji Ajayi rewrite healthcare access through Purelife Pharmacy’s minute clinic carehubs by not just dispensing medicine but dispensing hope to hundreds of thousands of Nigerians. We celebrated Stella Ndekile launching the AI Skin Decoder at Nuban Cares, fusing technology and beauty to put personalized skincare at African women’s fingertips.
This year brought us Zuriel Oduwole, Nigeria’s youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize nominee at just 22, who addressed 51,000 young people across 19 countries about the intersection of climate change and education. We met Maryam Bukar Hassan (Alhanislam), designated as the first-ever UN Global Advocate for Peace, using spoken word poetry to champion women’s rights and peacebuilding in communities devastated by violence.
Her Network featured Justice Emem Madu, appointed to the Alberta Court of Justice in Canada, bringing Nigerian legal excellence to the international bench. We celebrated Honorable Nelly Mukazayire, Rwanda’s Minister of Sports, whose work at the Rwanda Development Board created thousands of jobs through tourism and investment promotion.
We spotlighted the entrepreneurs building empires: Ink Eze, who launched Creative Business Bestie after growing BellaNaija Weddings into an online phenomenon. Fatima Babakura, whose luxury brands Timabee and Yerwa Secrets earned her McMaster University’s prestigious Arch Award for innovation and global influence.
This was the year we featured Akua Aboabea Aboah, who leads Sambus Geospatial Limited as Managing Director, delivering advanced mapping and analytics solutions across West Africa. The year Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani launched EnergyInc Advisors to bridge Africa’s project pipeline with investable capital. The year Chinwe Ajene-Sagna became Chairperson of Stanbic IBTC’s Real Estate Development Fund Investment Committee.
We celebrated Adesope Okoh, who became one of Africa’s youngest equity partners in international tax at EY Africa—her journey from Covenant University to the C-suite is a masterclass in excellence. Gillian Darko, who rose from Chief of Staff to Vice President of Strategy at Yellow Card, the cryptocurrency platform connecting Africa to global finance.
Her Network amplified the voices of change-makers, including Glory Nneka Ukwenga, whose Nigeria House of Commons became the country’s first political reality show, allowing young Nigerians to simulate parliamentary processes and reimagine governance. Winifred Okpapi, whose Women Maker Series secured a landmark collaboration with Lagos State’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture.
This year introduced us to Princess Bright, who made history as mayor of Barking and Dagenham at 22, the UK borough’s youngest-ever Labour councillor, and Maame Ama Pratt, who was appointed press secretary in Ghana’s Office of the Vice President, shaping national narrative and transparency.
We featured the artists redefining culture: Ejiro Fenegal, the Nigerian sculptor whose figurative work resonates across continents, showcased at international fairs in America and Africa. Oyin Olugbile, whose novel “Sanya” won the 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature—Africa’s most prestigious literary honor with a $100,000 prize, and Simisola Gbadamosi, who at 13 became Nigeria’s youngest Emmy nominee for her performance in Disney+’s “Iwájú.”
Her Network also showcased Dr. Promise Kenneth-Odum, who became the first African woman to earn the CFD by AFD—the global stamp of excellence in floral artistry, and Sandra Amachree, Head of Communications-Marketing at Nigerian Breweries (HEINEKEN), whose presence at Cannes Lions 2025 elevated Nigerian marketing on the world’s most influential creative stage.
We celebrated the women transforming media and entertainment: Flavia Tumusiime, appointed Head of Broadcast at Nation Media Group Uganda, overseeing NTV Uganda, Spark TV, Dembe FM, and KFM.
This was the year Solabomi Oreagba became COO of Casava, Nigeria’s trailblazing digital insurance company. The year Bodam Taiwo joined Diageo as Customer Marketing Director for the West and Central regions, bringing 18 years of FMCG expertise. The year Cynthia Ufele was appointed Brand Influencer Manager and Culture Manager for Diageo’s South, West, and Central Africa region.
We featured Tobi Otokiti, one of Africa’s most versatile product management leaders, who became VP of Product at Raenest, helping African talents receive, send, and invest money globally. Tolu Adeniran, who, after a decade in sales and investment advisory, became Director of International Banking at Standard Chartered Singapore.
Her Network also introduced Kadiri Eseose Silva, the 23-year-old serial entrepreneur revolutionizing fashion, marketing, and modeling in Benin City. Rekia Edu, who, after eight years shaping beauty across Sub-Saharan Africa, stepped into a new role at L’Oréal Global Headquarters in Paris.
We celebrated the leaders in education and development: Dr. Emelyne Gasana Umunoza, appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic and Research Affairs at Kepler College. Sidoné Grange, who became president of the University of Toronto Black Alumni Association’s Class of 2025. Olivia Ndubuisi was awarded the 2025 Joan Konner Program Fellowship from Columbia Journalism School.
This year brought us Lily Adimefe, who marked her first 90 days as Executive Director of the Business Day Foundation with a renewed commitment to impact-driven storytelling. Queen Martins, who was appointed Growth Manager at TapTap Send, bringing a decade of diaspora engagement expertise, and Uju Anwuka, who became Senior Special Assistant to the President for Public Health in Nigeria’s Office of the Vice President.
We featured the women breaking barriers in sectors where they’d never been seen: Lala Touray was named Deputy Executive Director of Gambia’s National Youth Service Scheme. Clara B. Arthur was appointed CEO of Ghana’s Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited, and Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo, who joined GCB Bank as Chief Marketing, Communications, and Customer Experience Officer.
Rana Hussain, the D&I trailblazer who joined Basketball Australia’s Board of Directors. Zephia Ovia-Ikem, who was announced as a UNICEF NextGen Champion, joining a global network advancing opportunities for children and young people.
And we celebrated Alma Asinobi, who dared to attempt breaking world records by visiting all seven continents in 60 hours. Though unsuccessful, her audacity brought crucial awareness to the realities facing Nigerian passport holders dreaming beyond borders. Because sometimes the trail you blaze is simply proving you had the courage to try.
From Lagos to Kigali, from Accra to London, from Edmonton to Paris—the trailblazers of 2025 proved that African women aren‘t waiting for seats at tables. We‘re building our own institutions, launching our own platforms, and rewriting the rules entirely.
To every trailblazer we featured in 2025: your courage rippled further than you know. Here’s to the path-makers, the rule-breakers, and the history-writers. Here’s to the women who dared—and delivered.
