ICS Africa unveils Africa’s Phenomenal 50 women, in the wake of IWD 2026!

Pan-African ecosystem builder, ICS Africa, has today unveiled the “Africa’s Phenomenal 50 – IWD 2026 Edition“, in partnership with Oasis Magazine and The Fearless & Fabulous Network!

What is the Africa’s Phenomenal 50 about, and why is ICS Africa recognizing these women?

The International Women’s Day (IWD) edition of Africa’s Phenomenal 50 is essentially a list recognising key women whose leadership and impact have transformed industries and communities across the continent, particularly between March 2025 and March 2026. The categories under consideration were Multilateral Policy and Public Service, Health, Equity and Human Development, Climate Action and Environmental Justice, Technology, Data and Open Science, Trade, Markets and Entrepreneurship, Education, Inclusion and Knowledge Systems, and Creative Economy, Media and Social Impact.

Embodying the spirit of the theme “Give To Gain”, these women were being recognized for investing in platforms, policies, capital, knowledge, and infrastructure that will enable others to thrive!

While acknowledging that the initiative goes beyond recognition, the founder of ICS Africa, Emmaline Datey, had this to say following the announcement, “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 added that the 2026 edition recognises women whose work strengthens ecosystems and expands opportunity across borders. Below is the full list of “Africa’s Phenomenal 50 – IWD 2026 Edition :

Multilateral Policy & Public Service

1. Amina J. Mohammed (Nigeria) — UN Deputy Secretary-General
2. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, OBE (Sierra Leone) — Mayor of Freetown
3. Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey (Ghana) — Minister for Gender, Children & Social Protection; MP
4. Fatima-Zahra Mansouri (Morocco) — Minister for urban development & resilience
5. Zeinab Camara (Guinea) — Governance & public-sector reform leader

Health, Equity & Human Development

• Winnie Byanyima (Uganda) — Executive Director, UNAIDS
• Dr. Ayoade (Yodi) Alakija (Nigeria) — Global health & diagnostics access leader
• Temie Giwa-Tubosun (Nigeria) — Founder, LifeBank
• Dr. Funmi Adewara (Nigeria/UK) — Founder/CEO, MobiHealth
• Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim (South Africa) — Epidemiologist, HIV prevention
• Dr. Amel Benammar Elgaaied (Tunisia) — Immunology & cancer research

Climate Action & Environmental Justice

1. Wanjira Mathai (Kenya) — WRI Africa & Global Partnerships
2. Vanessa Nakate (Uganda) — UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador; climate justice
3. Elizabeth Wathuti (Kenya) — Founder, Green Generation Initiative
4. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (Chad) — Indigenous climate & land-rights leader
5. Beth Koigi (Kenya) — Co-founder/CEO, Majik Water
6. Damilola Ogunbiyi (Nigeria) – CEO & UN Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Co-Chair, UN-Energy
7. Assita Traoré (Côte d’Ivoire) — Deputy Executive Director, FIRCA; climate-finance mobilization & accredited-entity capacity

Technology, Data & Open Science

1. Funke Opeke (Nigeria) — Strategic Advisor, Equinix West Africa; Founder, Main One
2. Rediet Abebe (Ethiopia) — Algorithms & public policy for social good
3. Timnit Gebru (Ethiopia) — Founder/ED, DAIR Institute
4. Abeba Birhane (Ethiopia/Ireland) — AI governance & accountability
5. Catherine Nakalembe (Uganda) — Earth observation for food security
6. Hilda Moraa (Kenya) — Founder/CEO, Pezesha (embedded finance)
7. Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho (Nigeria) — Digital transformation & AI readiness
8. Baratang Miya (South Africa) — Founder, GirlHype (girls in coding)
9. 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
• Dr. Millicent Adjei (Ghana) — Educational equity leader, Ashesi University
• Prof. 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)
• Dr. Ellen Hagan (Ghana) — Co-founder, Legacy Girls’ College; L’AINE Group
• Dr. 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

Wish to follow ICS Africa?

You can connect with ICS Africa by either visiting their website or by interacting with them on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube!

Thanks for taking the time to read the article

The Brew Show now has a new home, accompanied by a new social media presence designed to enhance your experience! You can still connect with us on our Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads social media accounts!