Following a grand celebratory event, Ascent Club proudly announces the release of its prestigious Top 100 Career Women in Africa list. This year’s honorees, unveiled at a gala event on Sunday, March 30th, 2025, at Alliance Française in Lagos, represent a powerful moment to close out the 2025 Women’s History Month, showcasing the remarkable achievements of women across the continent.
The 5th edition of this highly anticipated list recognises exceptional female professionals shaping Africa’s future across diverse sectors. Ascent Club, a leading platform for women’s advancement, celebrates these trailblazers for their significant impact in the corporate world.

This year’s Ascent Club Top 100 Career Women in Africa features a diverse group of leaders, including:
- Aminata Kane: CEO, Orange Money Group (Morocco)
- Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa: Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission (Ethiopia)
- Patricia Obo-Nai: CEO, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Ghana)
- Olayinka David-West: Dean, Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University (Nigeria)
- Yvonne Manzi Makolo: CEO, RwandAir (Rwanda)
These women, along with other remarkable honorees, have been carefully selected by a distinguished panel of judges. The selection process was based on rigorous criteria, ensuring that the list truly reflects the most impactful and inspiring women leaders in Africa. The judges, icons of leadership and excellence, brought their expertise, passion, and influence to the selection process. This distinguished panel included Dr. Naike Moshi, Founder, Women in Management Africa (WIMA) and Gender Specialist from Tanzania; Funke Amobi, Regional Head, People & Culture, Stanbic IBTC Holdings in Nigeria; Osayi Alile, CEO, Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation (ACT Foundation) in Nigeria; Dr. Tewa Onasanya, Founder, Exquisite Magazine & ELOY Awards in Nigeria; Dr. Saad Uakkas, Executive Chair, African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) in Morocco; and Hassna Benseddik, Head of Events, IC Publications Group in Morocco.

The 2025 Top 100 Career Women in Africa list includes honorees from across the continent, with representation from:
- Northern Africa: Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia
- Western Africa: Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone
- Eastern Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi
- Southern Africa: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa
“As we mark the 5th edition of the Top 100 Career Women in Africa, I am honored to introduce the latest cohort of trailblazing leaders,” says Dr. Glory Edozien, Founder of Ascent Club and Global Visibility and Thought Leadership Expert. “This platform is more than a list—it is a movement dedicated to ensuring that the incredible women driving corporate and industry success across Africa receive the recognition and visibility they deserve.”
The full list of the 2025 Top 100 Career Women in Africa, arranged alphabetically, is as follows:
Abimbola Agbejule – Head, Corporate Sustainability, Wema Bank PLC – Nigeria
Adaku Ufere – Independent Governor and Trustee, University of Aberdeen – Ghana
Adebimpe Olambiwonnu – Chief Financial Officer, Sterling Financial Holdings Company – Nigeria
Adekunbi Johnson – Head, Travel, Africa Export-Import (Afrexim) Bank – Egypt
Adetola Fasuyi – Head, Wealth Management, United Capital Group – Nigeria
Aïssata Lam – Director General, Investment Promotion Agency of Mauritania – Mauritania
Alison Badenhorst – Chief Marketing Officer, Rand Merchant Bank – South Africa
Amina Onifade – Chief Operating Officer, Genesis Energy Group – Nigeria
Aminata Kane – CEO, Orange Money Group – Morocco
Amsale Gualu – First Female Captain, Ethiopian Airlines – Ethiopia
Annette Kimitei – Managing Director, Senaca East Africa – Kenya
Areje Adegoke – Asset Manager, Deep Water Non-Operated Ventures – Nigeria
Astou Dia – Portfolio Enterprise Lead & Deputy Team Leader, Boost Africa Technical Assistance Facility – Kenya
Aurélie Pujo – Senior Advisor, Amethis – Morocco

Bogolo Joy Kenewendo – Cabinet Minister of Minerals and Energy, Government of Botswana – Botswana
Carina Wessels – Executive, Governance, Legal, Compliance, and Sustainability, Alexforbes – South Africa
Caroline Eboumbou – CEO, All On – Nigeria
Charlotte Ndaw Sako – Country Manager, International Finance Corporation – Cameroon
Chinny Ononuju-Mcernest – Special Adviser, Strategic Partnerships, Minister of Women Affairs – Nigeria
Chinwe Uzoho – Regional Managing Director, West & Central Africa, Network International – Nigeria
Chioma Etiaba-Nwankwo – Regional Bank Head, Lagos Central, Fidelity Bank – Nigeria
Chioma Nwokedi Momah – Head, Policy and Public Affairs, Guinness Nigeria PLC – Nigeria
Chizo Ezem – Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – Nigeria
Christine Ambetsa – Country Director, Technology, Oracle – Kenya
Corine Mbiaketcha Nana – Member, PAPSS Management Board, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) – Kenya
Dayo Aderugbo – Divisional Head and General Manager, Bank of Industry – Nigeria
Dharshni Padayachee – Head, Diversity, Equity Inclusion & Wellbeing, Rand Merchant Bank – South Africa
Dr. Agnes Kalibata – President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa – Kenya
Dr. Amira Shoukry – Team Leader for Enabling Business Environment, DAI – Egypt
Dr. Julie Idongesit Utang – Manager, Stakeholder Relations/Ag. Head, Business Services, NUIMS, NNPC Limited – Nigeria
Dr. Michèle Mbo’o-Tchouawou – Deputy Director, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) – Kenya
Dr. Millicent Omukaga – Policy Officer, African Development Bank Group – Côte d’Ivoire

Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa – Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission – Ethiopia
Dr. Ntombi Mhangwani – Executive Head, Marketing, Vodacom Business – South Africa
Dr. Sheila Addo – Deputy Chief Executive (Technical), National Petroleum Authority (NPA) – Ghana
Dr. Towela Nyirenda-Jere – Head of Secretariat, Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) – Ethiopia
Dr. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr – Mayor of Freetown, Freetown City Council – Sierra Leone
Ebtissam Farid – Professor of Practice in Architecture and Design, The Knowledge Hub Universities – Egypt
Ejiro Gray – Director, Governance & Sustainability, Sahara Group – Nigeria
Elizabeth Marabwa – Chief Director, Programme and Projects Management Office, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy – South Africa
Enitan Oyenuga – HR Director, Jumia Nigeria – Nigeria
Esther Adeola-Balogun – MD/CEO, UCEE Microfinance Bank Limited – Nigeria
Fatima Haram Acyl – Vice President, Central African Economic and Monetary Commission – Cameroon
Fatim Cissé – Director General, IHS Towers – Côte d’Ivoire
Felicia Agubata – Deputy General Manager, Terrestrial Services, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency – Nigeria
Fadoua Moutaouakil – Director of Strategy, M&A, Risk Management, TAQA Morocco – Morocco
Gakii Mwongera – Director, Mobile Financial Services, Ericsson – Kenya
Gladys J Some – Corporate Communications Manager, Kenya Reinsurance Corporation – Kenya
Heidi El Nahas – Head of Corporate Communications, Sustainability, and Sustainable Finance Group, Banque du Caire – Egypt
Hawa Cissé Wagué – Country Manager, Senior Agricultural Advisor, World Bank – Burundi
Ivy Mawuko – Head of Learning, Africa Regions, Standard Bank Group – Ghana
Itumeleng Monale – Chief Operating Officer, Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) – South Africa
Iyabode Ayobami-Ojo – Director, NNPC Academy – Nigeria
Jo-Ann Pöhl – Associate Director, Kearney – South Africa

Joyce Mndambi – Project Management Specialist – Private Sector Engagement & Youth, USAID – Tanzania
Joyce Nakatumba-Nabende – Senior Lecturer, Computer Science, Makerere University – Uganda
Judge Portia Nkutha-Nkontwana – Judge, Labour Court, Johannesburg – South Africa
Judith Obi – General Manager Commercial, PPC Limited- Nigeria
Judy Gounden – Chief Marketing Officer, Quantum PKI – South Africa
Kaine Diete-Spiff – Physician General Practice, Shell – Nigeria
Kindo Marealle – Country Head, Human Capital, Access Bank Tanzania – Tanzania
Koumba Diallo – IP Education to Employment Program Director, Investisseurs & Partenaires – Côte d’Ivoire
Lade Araba – Vice President, Financial Services, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) – Kenya
Lindiwe Zulu – Minister of Small Business Development, Department of Small Business Development – South Africa
Linda Quaynor – Partner/West Africa Strategy and Operations Leader, Deloitte Nigeria – Nigeria
Manel Harrathi – Senior Director, Strategic Innovation, Fraud Risk & Compliance Engineering, FIS – Tunisia
Mojisola Iyamabo – Associate Vice President, Gas Business, Heirs Energies – Nigeria
Mpono Mosaase – Commissioner, Operations Support, Revenue Services Lesotho – Lesotho
Natalie Paida Jabangwe – Board Member, Wesgro – South Africa
Nelisa Ngqulana – Associate Partner, Dalberg Media – Kenya

Ngozi Akinyele – Group Executive, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Coronation Group – Nigeria
Omolola Oloworaran – Director General, Pension Commission – Nigeria
Omowunmi Akingbohungbe – Executive Director, WIMBIZ – Nigeria
Olayinka David-West – Dean, Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University – Nigeria
Olanike Nafisat Balogun – First Female Pilot, Nigeria Customs Service – Nigeria
Olu Arowolo Verheijen – Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Energy – Nigeria
Oghogho Makinde – Partner, Aluko & Oyebode – Nigeria
Ota Akhigbe – Director, Partnerships and Programs, eHealth Africa, Nigeria
Palesa Natasha Mothapo – Director, Research Support and Management, Nelson Mandela University – South Africa
Patricia Obo-Nai – CEO, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited – Ghana
Phemelo Mitchell – Senior Business Developer, Pele Energy Group – South Africa
Rania El-Rafie – Vice President, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, APO Group – Egypt
Rentia Van Tonder – Head, Power, Corporate and Investment Banking, Standard Bank – South Africa
Ria Pinto – Country General Manager and Technology Leader, IBM South Africa – South Africa
Sara Mortada – General Manager, Engineering Department, Suez Methanol Derivatives – Egypt

Sayuri Moodliar – ESG Director, Open Access Data Centres, WIOCC – South Africa
Sherifat Adegbenro – Chief Audit and Compliance Officer, EKO Electricity Distribution PLC – Nigeria
Simi Nwogugu – CEO, Junior Achievement Africa – Nigeria
Soraya Munyana Hakuziyaremye – First Female Governor, National Bank of Rwanda – Rwanda
Stella Din-Jacob – Director of News & Editor-in-Chief, TVC Communications – Nigeria
Susan Maingi – Country Lead Regulatory Policy and Stakeholder Engagement, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa – Kenya
Sy Gourrah – Senior General Manager, Smart Technologies, ACTOM (Pty) Ltd – South Africa
Tolulope Babajide – Gender Network Manager, FSD Africa – Kenya
Vivian Thabet – Deputy Country Director, CARE – Egypt
Wambui Mbesa – East Africa CEO, Relational FS – Kenya
Wola Joseph Condotti – Group MD/CEO, West Power and Gas Limited – Nigeria
Wunmi Ehis-Uzenabor – Chief Financial Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria – Nigeria
Yinka Edu – Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie – Nigeria
Yvonne Manzi Makolo – CEO, RwandAir – Rwanda
Zama Khanyile – Commissioner, Presidential Climate Commission – South Africa