Ascent Club Unveils the 2025 Top 100 Career Women in Africa!

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 recognizes exceptional female professionals shaping Africa’s future across diverse sectors. Ascent Club, one of the leading platforms for women’s advancement, celebrates these trailblazers for their significant impact in the corporate world.

Featured Honorees

• 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)

Selection Process

These women, along with other remarkable honorees, were carefully selected by a distinguished panel of judges based on rigorous criteria to reflect the most impactful and inspiring women leaders in Africa. The judges included:

• Dr Naike Moshi: Founder, Women in Management Africa (WIMA) and Gender Specialist (Tanzania)
• Funke Amobi: Regional Head, People & Culture, Stanbic IBTC Holdings (Nigeria)
• Osayi Alile: CEO, Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation (ACT Foundation) (Nigeria)
• Dr Tewa Onasanya: Founder, Exquisite Magazine & ELOY Awards (Nigeria)
• Dr Saad Uakkas: Executive Chairman, African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) (Morocco)
• Hassna Benseddik: Head of Events, IC Publications Group (Morocco)

Geographic Representation

The 2025 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

Message from the Founder

“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.”

Full List of Honorees (Alphabetical)

• Abimbola Agbejule – Head, Corporate Sustainability, Wema Bank – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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