From politics to economics to culture, these rising women are among the continent’s most noteworthy.
Congratulations to Ibilola Amao, CEO, Lonadek, IWEC Past Awardee, for making the list!
By NBC Washington News
The following content is created in partnership with Global Group Media. It does not reflect the work or opinions of NBC Washington’s editorial staff. Click here to learn more about Global Group Media.
Historically, women have had fewer opportunities to participate in the economy than men. This may largely be the result of their untapped market potential. The McKinsey Global Institute estimated that the female economy is the world’s largest emerging market, set to add $12 trillion to the global GDP by 2025. Much of that will likely be contributed by the women entrepreneurs of the world.
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2018/2019 Report indicated that roughly 252 million women entrepreneurs and another 153 million are running established businesses. The highest rate for total entrepreneurial activity by women was found in sub-Saharan Africa (21.8 percent). Yet, as the African Development Bank estimated, these entrepreneurial-minded women have struggled to grow their businesses thanks to a $20 billion financing gap—a gap many organizations are working to address.
Below—in the first of our three-part series, Rising Women, Africa Series—Global Group Media spotlights dozens of women in Africa, including Ibilola Amao, who are thriving and influencing developments in the areas of politics, socio-economic development, health, education, technology, finance, and culture.
[A note from Oni Aningo, Executive Director and Founder, Global Group Media and Creator, Rising Women Series: In light of the COVID-19 global pandemic, this article is dedicated to the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, the Nigerian physician and health advocate who diagnosed and contained Nigeria’s first-ever Ebola patient in July 2014. After losing her life to the disease, Ameyo’s family established the DRASA Trust to ensure Nigeria developed a strong health care system to prevent, detect, and contain infectious diseases.]