ICS Africa, in partnership with Oasis Magazine and The Fearless & Fabulous Network, has unveiled the Africa’s Phenomenal 50 — IWD 2026 Edition, a continental list recognising women whose leadership and impact have transformed industries and communities across Africa.
The list, which covers contributions made between March 2025 and March 2026, celebrates women who embody the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026 theme, “Give to Gain.” According to the organisers, the recognition highlights women who invest in platforms, policies, capital, knowledge, and infrastructure that enable others to thrive.
The 2026 edition features honourees across eight sectors, reflecting the breadth of women’s leadership on the continent.
In the Multilateral Policy and Public Service category, notable figures include Amina J. Mohammed, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, and Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey.
The Health, Equity and Human Development category recognises leaders such as Winnie Byanyima and global health advocate Ayoade Alakija, alongside innovators like Temie Giwa-Tubosun and Funmi Adewara.
Climate advocates including Wanjira Mathai, Vanessa Nakate, and Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim were recognised under Climate Action and Environmental Justice, alongside Damilola Ogunbiyi.
In Technology, Data and Open Science, pioneers such as Funke Opeke, Timnit Gebru, and Rediet Abebe were highlighted for shaping Africa’s digital future.
The Trade, Markets and Entrepreneurship category features global economic leaders including Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as well as entrepreneurs like Odunayo Eweniyi and Farida Bedwei.
In Education, Inclusion and Knowledge Systems, honourees include Elsie Effah Kaufmann and Dorothy Gordon, recognised for advancing education and digital inclusion.
The Creative Economy, Media and Social Impact category celebrates personalities such as Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Nana Aba Anamoah, and Nana Ama McBrown for their contributions to storytelling, philanthropy, and youth development.
Speaking on the announcement, ICS Africa Founder and CEO, Emmaline Datey, said the initiative goes beyond recognition.
“Africa’s Phenomenal 50 goes beyond a recognition list. It is a statement of what leadership looks like when women choose to build platforms that uplift others. This year’s IWD theme, Give to Gain, reflects an undeniable narrative we see across the continent: when women invest in people, systems, and communities, the impact multiplies. These honourees are shaping Africa’s future in ways that will outlive all of us,” she said.
She added that the 2026 edition recognises women whose work strengthens ecosystems and expands opportunity across borders.
ICS Africa is a pan-African ecosystem builder focused on empowering creators, leaders, and communities through storytelling, capacity building, and strategic partnerships.
Below is the full list
Scope & criteria: March 2025 → March 2026 impact; clear alignment with Give to Gain (investing platforms, policy, capital, knowledge, or infrastructure that enable others to thrive).
Multilateral Policy & Public Service
- Amina J. Mohammed (Nigeria) — UN Deputy Secretary-General
- Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, OBE (Sierra Leone) — Mayor of Freetown
- Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey (Ghana) — Minister for Gender, Children & Social Protection; MP
- Fatima-Zahra Mansouri (Morocco) — Minister; urban development & resilience
- Zeinab Camara (Guinea) — Governance & public-sector reform leader
Health, Equity & Human Development
- Winnie Byanyima (Uganda) — Executive Director, UNAIDS
- Ayoade (Yodi) Alakija (Nigeria) — Global health & diagnostics access leader
- Temie Giwa-Tubosun (Nigeria) — Founder, LifeBank
- Funmi Adewara (Nigeria/UK) — Founder/CEO, MobiHealth
- Quarraisha Abdool Karim (South Africa) — Epidemiologist, HIV prevention
- Amel Benammar Elgaaied (Tunisia) — Immunology & cancer research
Climate Action & Environmental Justice
- Wanjira Mathai (Kenya) — WRI Africa & Global Partnerships
- Vanessa Nakate (Uganda) — UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador; climate justice
- Elizabeth Wathuti (Kenya) — Founder, Green Generation Initiative
- Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (Chad) — Indigenous climate & land-rights leader
- Beth Koigi (Kenya) — Co-founder/CEO, Majik Water
- Damilola Ogunbiyi (Nigeria) – CEO & UN Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Co-Chair, UN-Energy
- Assita Traoré (Côte d’Ivoire) — Deputy Executive Director, FIRCA; climate-finance mobilization & accredited-entity capacity
Technology, Data & Open Science
- Funke Opeke (Nigeria) — Strategic Advisor, Equinix West Africa; Founder, Main One
- Rediet Abebe (Ethiopia) — Algorithms & public policy for social good
- Timnit Gebru (Ethiopia) — Founder/ED, DAIR Institute
- Abeba Birhane (Ethiopia/Ireland) — AI governance & accountability
- Catherine Nakalembe (Uganda) — Earth observation for food security
- Hilda Moraa (Kenya) — Founder/CEO, Pezesha (embedded finance)
- Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho (Nigeria) — Digital transformation & AI readiness
- Baratang Miya (South Africa) — Founder, GirlHype (girls in coding)
- Juliet Ehimuan (Nigeria) — Founder & CEO, Beyond Limits Africa; Africa’s leading digital transformation strategist.
Trade, Markets & Entrepreneurship
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria) — Director-General, WTO
- Odunayo Eweniyi (Nigeria) — Co-founder/COO, PiggyVest; FirstCheck Africa
- Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli (Nigeria) — ONE Campaign CEO; agrifood systems
- Farida Bedwei (Ghana) — Fintech engineer; disability-inclusion advocate
- Ethel Cofie (Ghana) — Founder, Women in Tech Africa
- Caroline Abel (Seychelles) – Financial inclusion champion; first female Central Bank Governor.
Education, Inclusion & Knowledge Systems
- Sister Deodata Bunzigiye (DRC) — Founder, Collectif Alpha-Ujuvi (literacy & peace)
- Maria Josephine “Mama” Kamm (Tanzania) — Girls’ education pioneer
- Caroline Nyaga (Kenya) — Women in STEAM Initiative; teacher leadership
- Wiem Ben-Mahmoud (Tunisia) — Founder/CEO, KidzRise (AI & early talent)
- Marwa Soudi (Egypt) — Co-founder, IdeasGym; STEM & responsible AI
- Millicent Adjei (Ghana) — Educational equity leader, Ashesi University
- Elsie Effah Kaufmann (Ghana) — Dean, UG Engineering Sciences
- Dorothy Gordon (Ghana) — UNESCO IFAP; digital rights & responsible AI
Creative Economy, Media & Social Impact
- Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde (Nigeria) — Founder, OYEP; creative skills & youth
- Hamisa Mobetto (Tanzania) — Creative entrepreneur & foundation lead
- Nika Diwa (Nigeria/US) — Inclusive style education; maternal mental health
- Nana Aba Anamoah (Ghana) — Media leader; Hearts Wide Open Foundation
- Nana Ama McBrown (Ghana) — Media & philanthropy (education, health)
- Ellen Hagan (Ghana) — Co-founder, Legacy Girls’ College; L’AINE Group
- Irene Stella Agyenim-Boateng (Ghana) — Vice-Chair, Public Services Commission
- Ifedayo Agoro (Nigeria) — Founder, Diary of a Naija Girl; digital community builder, women’s empowerment advocate.
- Peace Hyde (Ghana) — Head of Digital & Partnerships, Forbes Africa
