Ascent Club has unveiled its 2026 Top 100 Career Women in Africa list, celebrating the remarkable women redefining corporate leadership across the continent. The honourees were revealed at a dazzling gala on Saturday, April 25th, 2026, at Alliance Française in Ikoyi, Lagos — an evening that lived up to its theme of “Power, Presence & Prestige” in every sense.
Now in its 6th edition, the Top 100 Career Women in Africa has grown from a recognition list into a movement — one that has become a definitive measure of female excellence in Africa’s corporate landscape. This edition is one of the most geographically and sectorally diverse yet, spanning boardrooms, operating theatres, oil fields, courtrooms, tech labs, and government corridors across the continent.
This year’s list features a standout array of leaders, including:
—Sophia Innih-Mbakwe: Executive Vice President, Business Services, NNPC Limited (Nigeria)
—Mary Mulili — MD/CEO, UBA Kenya (Kenya)
—Pakinam Kafafi: Chief Executive Officer, TAQA Arabia (Egypt)
—Dr. Leila Bouamatou: Managing Director & Board Member, La Générale de Banque de Mauritanie (Mauritania)
—Mmaki Jantjies (PhD): Group Executive, Innovation and Transformation, Telkom Group (South Africa)
—Hanan Morsy: Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Ethiopia)
These women, alongside the full cohort of honourees, were selected through a rigorous process by a distinguished panel of judges — icons of leadership and excellence who brought deep expertise and a sharp eye for impact to the selection. The 2026 judging panel included Osayi Alile, CEO of Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation (ACT Foundation); Funke Amobi, Executive Director, Operations, Stanbic IBTC Bank; Tewa Onasanya, Founder of Exquisite Magazine & ELOY Awards; Hassna Benseddik, Head of Events, IC Publications Group; Saad Uakkas, Consultant, SouthBridge A&I; and Colleen Larsen, Chief Executive, Business Engage Association NPC.
The gala itself was a night to remember. The evening opened with a high-glamour purple carpet before flowing into powerful keynote addresses from three of the honourees — Yemi Adesanya, Financial Controller at FirstBank Nigeria; Sophie Mbakwe, Executive Vice President of Business Services at NNPC Limited; and Adanma Uduanochie, Joint Venture Asset Manager at Shell — who also traded sharp insights in a moderated rapid-fire chat that had the room riveted.
A defining highlight of the 2026 edition was the debut of the NextGen List, supported by FirstBank — a flagship initiative by 9to5Chick recognising 26 outstanding women under the age of 35 who are already making their mark as the next generation of female leaders.
A few NextGen and Top 100 honourees thereafter took centre stage in an Intergenerational Panel Discussion on building and sustaining Africa’s female talent pipeline, moderated by Victoria Ndu, Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility at Airtel Nigeria, and featuring Lois Nweke, Corporate Affairs Specialist at Nestle; Chinenye Adeleye, Learning and Development Manager at Jobberman Nigeria; Enitan Oyenuga, Group Head of HR at FCMB Group; and Folasade Femi-Lawal, Country Director for Mastercard, West Africa.
The night also marked the grand launch of Ascent Magazine 2026 — unveiled with a countdown and sparklers, followed by an exclusive on-stage conversation with the magazine’s cover girl, Onyeka Michael-Ugwu, Founder and CEO of Hello Perfect and a pioneer in Nigeria’s medical aesthetics industry.
A spirited “Style Runway” Best Dressed showcase supported by Karen Ubani and an Afrobeats-fuelled after-party brought the curtain down on a truly electrifying evening.
“This year’s theme perfectly encapsulates the undeniable force of our 2026 honourees,” said Dr. Glory Edozien, Founder of Ascent Club and Convener of the Top 100 Career Women in Africa.
“This platform has evolved far beyond a simple recognition list; it is a movement dedicated to ensuring that the incredible women driving corporate and industry success across the continent receive the exact visibility they deserve. As we gather to celebrate these trailblazers, we are not just highlighting their individual milestones, but amplifying a collective blueprint of African female leadership that will inspire the next generation to command their spaces with absolute authority.”
The 2026 Top 100 Career Women in Africa list includes honourees from across the continent, with representation from:
- West Africa: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo (63)
- Southern Africa: Angola, South Africa, Zambia (16)
- East Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda (16)
- North Africa: Egypt, Morocco (5)
The full list of the 2026 Top 100 Career Women in Africa, arranged alphabetically, is as follows:
1. Abiola Fasina-Ayoola — Medical Director, R-Jolad Hospital — Nigeria
2. Achieng Butler — Managing Director, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute — Kenya
3. Adanma Uduanochie — Joint Venture Asset Manager, Shell — Nigeria
4. Adaora Ndukwe-Ugwu — Head of Investment Management, Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) — Nigeria
5. Adedayo Adejokun — Deputy General Manager, eTranzact PLC — Nigeria
6. Aisha Ogbechie — Executive Director, PetroVision — Nigeria
7. Amina Aminu Dorayi — Regional Portfolio Director, West and Central Africa, Pathfinder — Nigeria
8. Anelisa Matutu — Head, Commodities, JSE — South Africa
9. Assumpta Nnaggenda Musana — Senior Lecturer, Makerere University — Uganda
10. Beverley Ogbaide — HR Policy & Benefits Manager, Shell — Nigeria
11. Bolanle Odunayo-Ojo — Senior Operations Manager, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) — Nigeria
12. Catherine Awuor — Head of Marketing and Corporate Communication, UBA Kenya — Kenya
13. Celia Mantshiyane — Group Chief Information Security Officer, FirstRand — South Africa
14. Celiwe Ross — Group Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer, Old Mutual — South Africa
15. Chima Patience Steve-Ebor — Executive Director and Head Affluent Banking and Branches, Standard Chartered Bank — Nigeria
16. Chinenye Chizea — Technical Lead and Security Architect, Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project — Nigeria
17. Chinwe Bode-Akinwande — Head of Sponsorships, Partnerships, Events & Collaboration (SPEC), First Bank of Nigeria Ltd — Nigeria
18. Christine Masiika Thembo — Cyber Security & Digital Solutions, Uganda Investment Authority — Uganda
19. Derin Adefulu — Group General Counsel, emPLE Group — Nigeria
20. Dr. Adedayo Joseph — Clinical Radiation Oncologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital — Nigeria
21. Dr. Oyeladun Okunromade — Director, Policy and Planning, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention — Nigeria
22. Dr. Alice Ajeh — Vice Chairman, Nigerian Reputation Management Group, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) — Nigeria
23. Dr. Houda Chakiri — Program Lead, BS Cloud Computing & Big Data Analytics / MS Big Data Analytics, Al Akhawayn University — Morocco
24. Dr. Leila Bouamatou — Managing Director & Board Member, La Générale de Banque de Mauritanie — Mauritania
25. Dr. Olayemi Olupitan — Project Director, Institute of Human Virology (IHVN) — Nigeria
26. Ebere Okwarabizie — Head of HR & Admin, Propetrol Group — Nigeria
27. Edith Olubunmi Lawson — DM External Relations, NNPC Limited — Nigeria
28. Eman Abouzeid — Head of Global Procurement & Strategic Sourcing, Giza Cable Industries GC3 — Egypt
29. Emma Wenani — Chief Director, Global Media Alliance — Ghana
30. Esiri Agbeyi — Partner, PwC Nigeria — Nigeria
31. Evelyn Namara — Senior Programs Manager, Global Digital Inclusion Partnership — Uganda
32. Faith D. Lannap — Chief of Party, US Government Funded THRIVE Project, Center for Clinical Care and Clinical Research — Nigeria
33. Folake Ogundipe — Interim MD & Finance Director, Cadbury West Africa, Mondelēz International — Nigeria
34. Gabriela Palacios-Flusk — Head of Legal & Contracts, Infrastructure Delivery Division, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) — South Africa
35. Gladness Deogratias — Head, Global Markets, NMB Bank Plc — Tanzania
36. Grace Isaac-Aryee — Treasurer, First Bank Ghana — Ghana
37. Hajara Pitan — Project Director, LNG Arete — Nigeria
38. Hanan Morsy — Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa — Ethiopia
39. Helena Capaxe — Human Resources Manager, Algoa Cabinda Fabrication Services — Angola
40. Idayat Uthman — State Director, Lagos, Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme — Nigeria
41. Ifeoma Utah — General Manager, Commercial Legal, MTN Nigeria — Nigeria
42. Ifeyinwa Okafor — Manager, Asset and Facilities Management, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) — Nigeria
43. Ijeoma Thomas-Odia — Editor, Guardian Woman — Nigeria
44. Isabel Boaten — Managing Partner, AB & David Ghana — Ghana
45. Isioma Martins — General Manager, Tergo Energy Limited — Nigeria
46. Jocelyne N’Guessan — Deputy General Manager, Banque Atlantique — Côte d’Ivoire
47. Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny — Director of Communications, Afrobarometer — Ghana
48. Judy Melifonwu — Head of International Relations, Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership — Nigeria
49. Kagwiria R. Nkonge — National Project Officer, Kenya/Nigeria, International Telecommunication Union — Kenya
50. Keseena Chengadu — Head of Africa Investment Desk, Centurion Law Group — Mauritius
51. Khady Dior Ndiaye — Vice President, Country Manager, Kosmos Energy — Senegal
52. Kulani Likotsi — VP: Technology Lead and Enterprise Data Management, Absa Group — South Africa
53. Latifah Aitse Lawal — Head, Mechanization / NIRSAL Connect — Nigeria
54. Lika Scott Sow — Vice President Marketing & Sales, Caterpillar Inc. — Senegal
55. Lungile Mashele — Energy and Infrastructure Specialist, Public Investment Corporation — South Africa
56. M. Esther Dassanou — Director, Gender Programs, Mastercard Foundation — Rwanda
57. Madonna Okpaleke — Head of Legal, Africa, Reckitt — South Africa
58. Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel — GM Gas Commercial, Sahara Group — Nigeria
59. Marie-James Sibe — Chief Enterprise Performance Officer, Oilserv Limited — Nigeria
60. Mary Mulili — MD/CEO, UBA Kenya — Kenya
61. Mayowa Egunjobi — Vice President, Institutional Cash/Trade Finance FI, Deutsche Bank — Nigeria
62. Melba K. Wasunna — GM, External Affairs, Base Titanium Ltd — Kenya
63. Mmaki Jantjies (PhD) — Group Executive: Innovation and Transformation, Telkom Group — South Africa
64. Molade Adeniyi — CEO, Teach for Nigeria — Nigeria
65. Mwaka Kopakopa — Head Treasury, Zambia Industrial Commercial Bank — Zambia
66. Ngoanathari Maja — Manager, Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings and Infrastructure (EEPBIP) — South Africa
67. Ngozichukwu Njemanze — Programme Director, Executive Master of Leadership and Governance, African School of Governance — Rwanda
68. Nkechi Alikor — Legal Manager (Power Project), Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Co. Ltd. — Nigeria
69. Nkechi Anaedobe — Head of Business Services, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), NNPC Limited — Nigeria
70. Olaitan Martins — Group Executive, Corporate Banking, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. — Nigeria
71. Omolola Oloye — Associate Director, KPMG Nigeria — Nigeria
72. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya — Partner, ALP NG & Co — Nigeria
73. Pakinam Kafafi — Chief Executive Officer, TAQA Arabia — Egypt
74. Patience Muvea — Chief Actuary, Liberty Life Insurance Ltd. — Kenya
75. Rachel Adeshina — Group Chief Information Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. — Nigeria
76. Rachel Akhuetie — Executive Director, SunTrust Atlantic Energies Limited — Nigeria
77. Rahmat Lasisi — Manager, Verraki Africa (A Member of Andersen Consulting) — Nigeria
78. Rose Wachuka Macharia — Chief of Staff, Office of the Chief Justice of Kenya — Kenya
79. Rosemary Udu — Head of Human Resources, DHL Global Forwarding Nigeria — Nigeria
80. Rosine Atafeinam Abalo — Investment Officer, Togo Invest — Togo
81. Ruth Kagabane — Compliance Director, ABSA — Uganda
82. Samantha Muhwezi Kassami — COO, Uganda National Oil Company — Uganda
83. Sarah Mazhar — Chief Technical Officer, AXA Egypt — Egypt
84. Sithembile (Nkosi) Songo — Group Head: Information Security, National State-Owned Entity — South Africa
85. Sokhna Maïmouna Diop — Managing Director, NSIA Banque Sénégal — Senegal
86. Sonume Nnanna — Investment Professional, Africa Finance Corporation — Nigeria
87. Sophia Innih-Mbakwe — Executive Vice President, Business Services, NNPC Limited — Nigeria
88. Tamara Qwatekana — General Manager, Mafube Coal — South Africa
89. Tatiana Bonaparte Silva — General Director of Academia, Sonangol — Angola
90. Theresa N. Chikwendu — Principal Consultant, Legal M&A, Group General Manager, MTN — South Afric
91. Toyosi Olatunji — Group Chief Project Officer, Leadway — Nigeria
92. Uche Cynthia Nwuka — General Manager, Large Enterprises, Bank of Industry Limited — Nigeria
93. Uche Uzoebo — Managing Director/CEO, SANEF Limited — Nigeria
94. Uzo Ejidoh — Lead Stakeholder Relations, NNPC Limited — Nigeria
95. Uzo Ozoh — Senior Manager, Category Management & Contracting, Chevron — Nigeria
96. Victoria Nkemdilim Ogbuehi — Head Country Security Operations, Coca-Cola HBC — Nigeria
97. Wendy Atswei Laryea — Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Specialist, Nestle — Ghana
98. Yasmin Obadaki — External Communication Officer, Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) — Nigeria
99. Yemi Adesanya — Financial Controller, First Bank of Nigeria Limited — Nigeria
100. Zulfa Abdurahman — Chief Risk Officer, Old Mutual Investments — South Africa
For more information on these inspiring women, check out our Instagram page here or click here to read their full profiles.
The 2026 event was proudly supported by FirstBank, NNPC, Shell, MTN, and Pernod Ricard.
