Yesterday, Thursday 6th December 2012, Forbes released its 20 Young Power Women in Africa 2012 List. According to Forbes, the list consists of African women – all under the age of 45 – who are unconflicted about themselves, who they are and the role they play, not only within their families but in their countries and the world at large.
Nigerian Attorney and co-founder of Live Wello, Florence Iwegbue makes the 6th position. After her son was diagnosed with autism, the UK-trained attorney and her physician husband, a self-taught software developer, built LiveWello to support their Austic son’s health while harnessing the best elements of their African culture – village life.
Managing director of MNet Africa, Biola Alabi, also makes at the 11th position as one of the continent’s most powerful women in media. Honoured as a 2012 young global leader by World Economic Forum, Forbes says Biola Alabi has been at the forefront of the expansion of the AfricaMagic channels brand across the continent.
Also making the list is beauty ambassador and Miss Universe 2011 queen, Leila Lopes, who stands tall at the 8th position, but the most inspiring person on the list is a 14 year old Zimbabwean accounting student, Maud Chifamba at the 5th position. At just 14, she has made history has the youngest student in Zimbabwe – and probably the whole of Southern Africa – to enroll in a University. The orphaned genius was admitted to the University of Zimbabwe where she will study towards a Bachelor Accountancy Honors Degree.
Truly inspiring not just for women all over Africa but also for men.
Forbes 20 Young Power Women in Africa 2012 – The Full List
Leymah Gbowee, Liberia, Peace and Women’s Rights Activist
Cina Lawson, Togo, Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Togo
Juliana Rotich, Kenya, Co-Founder Ushahidi
Patience Mthunzi, PhD. South Africa, Senior Scientist, CSIR
Maud Chifamba, Zimbabwe, 14-year old University Accounting Student
Florence Iwegbue, Nigeria, Attorney & Co-Founder, LiveWello
Lisa Opoku Busumbru, Ghana, Chief Operating Officer, Goldman Sachs
Leila Lopes, Angola, 2011 Miss Universe
Isha Sesay, Sierra Leone, News Anchor & Journalist, CNN
Rainatou Sow, Guinea, Women’s Right Activist, Founder & Executive Director, Make Every Woman Count
Biola Alabi, Nigeria, Managing Director, MNET Africa
Lorna Rutto, Kenya, Sustainable Living and Green Technology Entrepreneur, Ecopost
Yolanda Sangweni, South Africa, Senior Editor/Producer, ESSENCE.com
Danai Gurira, Zimbabwe, Actress & Writer
Eunice Cofie, Ghana, Founder & Chief Cosmetic Chemist, Nuekie
Marieme Jamme, Senegal, Social Entrepreneur, Technologist & CEO, SpotOne Global Solutions
Jepchumba, Kenya, Digital Content Creator, Cultural Curator, African Digital Art
Redi Tlhabi, South Africa, Journalist, Broadcaster & Author
Swaady Martin-Leke, Ivory Coast, Entrepreneur & Founder, Yswara
Jacqueline Chimhanzi, PhD. Zimbabwe, Corporate Executive