Merck Foundation CEO, Rasha Kelej and Namibia First Lady; Monica Geingos, Make It to the List of 100 Most Influential African Women 2020

The list which has a representation of the most powerful African women from 34 countries was chosen from various career backgrounds including diplomacy, politics, activism, entrepreneurship, business leadership, and entertainment. The 2020 list features a record of 75 new entrants with some of the leading names such as: Monica Geingos, First Lady of Namibia; Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation; Former President of Liberia; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Founder, EJS Center; Lydia Nsekera, Olympic Committee Member and Dr. Hala Zayed Egypt Minister of Health and Population.

The list of 100 Most Influential African Women 2020, released by Avance Media group as part of 'Be a Girl' Initiative to acknowledge their efforts to empower girls through education to enable them to reach their potential and pursue their dreams Mumbai, Maharashtra, India & Accra, Ghana - Business Wire India Leading African PR & Rating firm, Avance Media announced its second annual publication on Africa's most prominent women dubbed the 2020 100 Most Influential African Women. The list which has a representation of the most powerful African women from 34 countries was chosen from various career backgrounds including diplomacy, politics, activism, entrepreneurship, business leadership, and entertainment.

The 2020 list features a record of 75 new entrants with some of the leading names such as: Monica Geingos, First Lady of Namibia; Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation; Former President of Liberia; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Founder, EJS Center; Lydia Nsekera, Olympic Committee Member and Dr. Hala Zayed Egypt Minister of Health and Population. The list is focused on women who are leading various initiatives across the continent and seeks to present them as role models for the younger generation as part of the 'Be a Girl' Initiative. They were selected because of their incredible achievements as women and they deserve high recommendations among other female trailblazers in Africa.

Criteria for selection included: Excellence in Leadership & Performance, Personal accomplishments, Commitment to sharing knowledge, Breaking the Status Quo, and being an accomplished African Woman. Profiles of the 2020 100 Most Influential African Women are published on 100women.avancemedia.org Below is the list of Avance Media's 2020 100 Most Influential African Women arranged in alphabetical order: 1. Agnes Binagwaho (Prof) || Vice-Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity 2. Agnes Kalibata || CEO, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa 3. Amanda Mukwashi || CEO, Christian Aid 4. Amani Abou-Zeid (H.E Dr.) || Commissioner for Infrastructure & Energy, African Union 5. Amel Karboul (Dr.) || CEO, Education Outcomes Fund 6. Amina C. Mohamed (Dr.) || Cabinet Secretary, Sports, Culture & Heritage (Kenya) 7. Amina J. Mohammed (H.E) || Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations 8. Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh || Regional Head, IBM Africa 9. Angélique Kidjo || Musician 10. Anita Erskine || Founder, Anita Erskine Media 11. Anna Nimiriano || Editor-in-Chief, Juba Monitor 12. Anne-Marie Dias Borges || Presenter, BBC 13. Antoinette Sayeh || Deputy MD, IMF 14. Arikana Chihombori Quao || Activist 15. Aurélie A. Soulé Zoumarou || Minister, Digital Economy and Communications (Benin) 16. Ayisha Osori || CEO, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) 17. Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala || Vice President & CFO, AFDB 18. Bella Disu || Vice Chairman, Globacom 19. Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu || CEO, soleRebels 20. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi || First Lady, Ekiti State 21. Chileshe Kapwepwe (H.E.) || Secretary-General, (COMESA) 22. Dorothy Tembo || Ag. Executive Director, International Trade Centre 23. Edith Yah Brou || Blogger 24. Eghosa Oriaikhi Mabhena || CEO, Puma Energy Africa 25. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf || Founder, EJS Center 26. Elsie S. Kanza || Head of Africa, World Economic Forum 27. Emma Lohoues || Actress 28. Emma Theofelus || Deputy Minister, Namibia 29. Esther Cobbah || CEO, Stratcomm Ghana 30. Fadumo Dayib || Politician 31. Faith Osier (Prof) || President, International Union of Immunological Societies 32. Fatou Bom Bensouda || Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court 33. Fatoumata Bâ || Founder, Janngo 34. Françoise Remarck || Chairman, Canal+ Cote D'Ivoire 35. Graça Machel || Founder, Graca Machel Trust 36. Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor || Minister, International Relations and Cooperation 37. Hajer Sharief || Co-Founder, Together We Build it 38. Hala Zayed (Dr.) || Minister, Health and Population (Egypt) 39. Halima Dangote || Executive Director, Dangote Group 40. Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu || CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation 41. Ilwad Elman || Director, Elman Peace and Human Rights Center 42. Irene Charnley || Founder, Smile Communications 43. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang (Prof) || Chancellor, Women's University in Africa 44. Jewel Howard Taylor (H.E) || Vice President, Liberia 45. Juliet Ehimuan || Director, Google West Africa 46. Kamissa Camara || Secretary-General, Mali Presidency 47. Lalla Moulaye Ezzedine || Chairman, Bank of Africa Côte d'Ivoire 48. Laureen Kouassi-Olsson || Regional Head, Amethis 49. Leila Bouamatou || Managing Director, BANK OF MAURITANIA GENERAL 50. Linda Ikeji || CEO, Linda Ikeji Media 51. Louise Mushikiwabo || Secretary General, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie 52. Lucy Quist || Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Morgan Stanley 53. Lydia Nsekera || Member, International Olympic Committee 54. Magda Wierzycka || CEO, Sygnia 55. Maggie Kigozi || Chairperson, Africa Scout Foundation 56. Mamokgethi Phakeng (Prof) || Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Town 57. Mansa Nettey || CEO, StanChart Ghana 58. Martine Coffi-Studer || Chairperson, Bolloré Transport & Logistics 59. Massogbè Touré || CEO, SITA S.A 60. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti (Dr) || Regional Director for Africa, WHO 61. Melene Rossouw || Founder, Women Lead Movement 62. Mimi Kalinda || CEO, Africa Communications Media Group 63. Monica Geingos (H.E) || First Lady, Republic of Namibia 64. Nana Asantewa Afadzinu || Executive Director, WASCI 65. Nathalie Akon Gabala || Regional Head, Mastercard Foundation 66. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli || Founder, LEAP Africa 67. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala || Board Chair, Gavi Alliance 68. Nompumelelo Thembekile Madisa || CEO, Bidvest Group 69. Olajumoke Adenowo || Founder, AD Consulting 70. Oumou Sangaré || Musician 71. Owen Omogiafo || CEO, Transcorp Group 72. Patricia Obo-Nai || CEO, Vodafone Ghana 73. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (Dr) || Executive Director, UN Women 74. Racheal Njoroge || Managing Director, Cummins 75. Rachel Sibande (Dr) || Founder, mHub 76. Rasha Kelej (Dr) || CEO, Merck Foundation 77. Rawya Mansour || Founder, RAMSCO 78. Raychelle Omamo || Minister, Foreign Affairs (Kenya) 79. Rita Bissoonauth || Head, AU International Centre for Girls and Women's Education 80. Sahle-Work Zewde (H.E) || President, Ethiopia 81. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey || Minister, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (Ghana) 82. Sinach || Musician 83. Sisi Ntombela || Premier, Free State (South Africa) 84. Snowy Khoza (Dr) || CEO, Bigen Africa 85. Soham El Wardini || Mayor, Dakar 86. Sola David-Borha || Group CEO, Standard Bank Africa 87. Stella Nyanzi (Dr.) || Convenor, Women's Protest Uganda 88. Sylvia Mulinge || Chief Customer Officer, Safaricom 89. Temie Giwa-Tubosun || Founder, LifeBank 90. Toyin Sanni || CEO, Emerging Africa Capital 91. Toyin Saraki || Founder, Wellbeing Foundation Africa 92. Uche Pedro || Founder, BELLANAIJA 93. Vera Daves De Sousa || Minister, Finance (Angola) 94. Vera Songwe (Dr) || Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa 95. Wala'a Essam Al-Boushi || Minister, Youth and Sport (Sudan) 96. Wanjira Mathai || Vice President & Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute 97. Winnie Byanyima || Executive Director, UNAIDS 98. Yemi Alade || Musician 99. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr || Mayor, Freetown 100. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed || Minister, Finance (Nigeria) Contributed by Amr Jalal from "For Africa" Media To View the Images Click on the Links Below: 100 Most Influential African Women 2020 100 Most Influential African Women 2020 PWR PWR