Africa is progressing towards a brighter future, with notable gains in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. However, despite this momentum, the continent still faces significant challenges in realising these ambitious goals. One crucial element in driving this change is women’s leadership and participation.
Throughout history, African women have demonstrated remarkable leadership and problem-solving skills, from leading militaries to fighting for freedom and guiding nations through crises. Today, women’s leadership is more recognised than ever, with African women holding key positions in global institutions like the World Trade Organization, African Union, and United Nations.
Despite making up approximately half of Africa’s population, women only hold 24% of parliamentary seats. This falls short of the 30% goal of the Beijing Platform for Action and the 50% target of the African Union Agenda 2063. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), harnessing the untapped potential of women leaders, who can contribute unique skills and perspectives to drive progress, is crucial.
The world is working hard to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) by 2030, and women play a vital role in this effort. Their leadership can help overcome the challenges preventing these goals’ realisation. By highlighting the achievements of women leaders and exploring paths for future leaders, we can inspire collective determination to meet the UN SDGs and create a more just and sustainable world.
The role of female leaders in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is not just important but essential. By highlighting their stories and accomplishments, a new generation of women can be inspired to step into leadership roles and drive progress toward a brighter future for Africa and the world. This article highlights seven African women making significant contributions to sustainable development in their respective fields:
1# Amanda Etuk, Co-founder Of Messenger.ng
Amanda Etuk is a pioneering Nigerian entrepreneur who has significantly impacted the logistics and supply chain industry. With a background in pharmacy and a master’s degree in Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management, Amanda transitioned into logistics after working in health insurance, where she helped pilot a nationwide delivery of chronic medications.
Amanda co-founded Messenger.ng, a logistics and supply chain company, with her brother in 2018. The company started with last-mile deliveries and has since become a significant logistics partner for companies like Jumia and DHL Express. Messenger.ng has expanded its services to include order fulfilment, warehousing, and cold chain solutions, aiming to capture a significant portion of Nigeria’s $5 billion market.
Under Amanda’s leadership, Messenger.ng has developed innovative solutions to optimise deliveries, including asset-backed financing that allows delivery personnel to acquire their vehicles. This approach has increased efficiency, motivated riders, and empowered individuals to build a brighter future. The company has delivered over 1 million successful deliveries, supported over 100 SMEs, and partnered with e-commerce platforms and logistics firms.
Amanda’s vision for Messenger.ng is to facilitate trade and commerce across Africa, and the company is expanding its operations to other economically viable cities across the continent. Her leadership and innovative strategies have earned her recognition, including being among the top 50 finalists in the 2022 Africa’s Business Heroes competition by the Jack Ma Foundation.
Through Messenger.ng, Amanda is driving industrialization and infrastructure development in Nigeria in line with SDG 9. Her innovative approach to logistics is bridging the gap in transportation infrastructure, facilitating economic growth, and creating jobs. As Messenger.ng continues to grow and expand, Amanda remains committed to transforming the company into a globally recognized logistics leader.
2# Brenda Hart, Founder, Soft&Co
Brenda Hart is a seasoned entrepreneur and interior designer who started a new venture at 50 by launching Soft&Co, a bespoke furniture design business in South Africa. With a passion for design and a wealth of experience, Brenda creates beautiful, meaningful furniture pieces that enhance living spaces. Her educational background in Architectural Technology and Interior Design has provided a solid foundation for her expertise.
Brenda completed her diploma in Architectural Technology at Cape Tech and finished her final year in an Interior Design course at Design Time. Her decades-long journey and experiences across continents have influenced her design aesthetic, blending contemporary style with timeless appeal and drawing inspiration from nature, travel, art, and materials.
At Soft&Co, Brenda and her skilled artisans craft unique, high-quality furniture pieces. They combine modern sophistication with luxurious comfort and prioritize originality, functionality, and sustainability. They use only the finest materials and techniques. The company’s curated collections, Voguish and Cozy, offer cohesive design stories, making it effortless for clients to select pieces that work harmoniously together.
Brenda demonstrates a thoughtful approach through her commitment to sustainable design and responsible consumption. She creates timeless, functional pieces that reduce the need for frequent replacements, aligning with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Soft&Co’s emphasis on bespoke, handcrafted furniture also encourages a more mindful approach to consumption, urging clients to prioritize quality over quantity.
As Soft&Co grows, Brenda aspires to expand her brand internationally, sharing her vision for elegant, sustainable, and functional design with a broader audience. Through her work, Brenda demonstrates that following your dreams, regardless of age, can lead to a fulfilling and impactful entrepreneurial journey.
3# Nathalie Gambah Kpante, Co-Founder, Chocotogo
Nathalie Gambah Kpante, a pioneering entrepreneur from Togo, is revolutionising the cocoa industry with her company, Chocotogo. Togo, a country with a 150-year history of cocoa production, has traditionally exported 100% of its cocoa beans. However, Nathalie’s vision is to change this narrative and bring economic hope and prosperity to local cocoa farmers and communities.
Inspired by the need for more knowledge among cocoa farmers about the value of their produce, Nathalie founded Chocotogo to extend the value chain and produce high-quality, handmade chocolates from local ingredients. Her company promotes the empowerment of women and girls in the cocoa industry, improves living conditions, and supports sustainable practices.
Chocotogo offers a variety of delicious dark chocolates with unique flavours such as coconut, ginger, and peanut, as well as pure cocoa paste that is perfect for baking. The company has received health certifications and was honoured with the Social Enterprise Award in 2022 due to its commitment to quality and responsibility.
Nathalie has a BA in Project Management and is working towards a Sociology degree. With over eight years of experience in food processing and social development, she has emerged as a leader in her field. Her accomplishments include enhancing local households’ livelihoods, providing women employment opportunities, and reducing transportation expenses for cocoa farmers.
Through Chocotogo, Nathalie promotes decent work and economic growth in the cocoa industry, aligning with SDG 8. Her company’s impact goes beyond economic growth, as it also focuses on promoting sustainable cocoa production, empowering women, and supporting community development projects like Chocoland.
4# Clarisse Iribagiza, CEO and Co-founder, HeHe Limited
Clarisse Iribagiza, a Rwandan computer scientist and entrepreneur, is transforming Africa’s supply chains with her fintech business, HeHe Limited, contributing to SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. Founded in 2010, HeHe optimises business operations and connects customers with products and services on-demand, promoting financial inclusion and reducing economic inequalities, in line with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
Clarisse’s vision is to digitize Africa’s supply chains, efficiently matching demand and supply. HeHe has digitized over 150 businesses, 60% of which are female-led, serving 2 million consumers. Her company’s focus on logistics, especially last-mile delivery, has made it the largest e-commerce business in Rwanda, creating decent work and economic growth opportunities aligned with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Through HeHe Labs, Clarisse empowers young people, especially girls, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This promotes gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, which are key to achieving SDG 5: Gender Equality. Her initiatives have trained over 470 young people, with 69% being female. By providing access to financial services and promoting digital payments, HeHe Limited reduces economic inequalities and stimulates economic growth.
Clarisse’s innovative approach has also led to developing innovative technologies and infrastructure, supporting Africa’s industrialization and economic growth, which is crucial for SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. Through collaborations with organisations like MIT, GirlHub, and the African Development Bank, Clarisse fosters partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, embodying the spirit of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
By promoting decent work, economic growth, innovation, and partnerships, Clarisse’s work has a ripple effect, impacting multiple aspects of sustainable development. Her commitment to reducing economic inequalities has earned her numerous accolades, including Forbes 30 under 30 and recognition from the African Development Bank. Clarisse’s leadership in Africa’s fintech industry inspires a new generation of entrepreneurs and change-makers.
5# Jasmine Samantar, Founder, Samawat Energy
Jasmine Samantar, an innovative entrepreneur, is transforming access to healthcare in Somalia through her renewable energy business, Samawat Energy. Motivated by her firsthand experience of witnessing the significant impact of lack of electrification in off-grid areas, Jasmine set out to narrow the energy gap between rural and urban areas and enhance access to essential services.
With Samawat Energy, Jasmine is introducing novel solutions to bypass Africa’s energy grid and deliver cost-effective solar systems to off-grid homes, small businesses, and communities. Her company’s key product, ‘Afiya’, is a solar-powered health kit that integrates digital health technology with solar energy to provide a sustainable solution for improving the healthcare sector in Africa.
“Afiya” is a portable kit with tools for midwives conducting childbirths. The kit includes a lantern, blood pressure meter, blood glucose meter, pulse oximeter, thermometer, ultrasound device, body weight scale, and smartphone. It is powered by a solar panel and battery, enabling doctors to examine and diagnose patients remotely within 24 hours.
Jasmine’s solution addresses the critical issue of maternal and infant mortality rates in Somalia, which are among the highest in the world. Samawat Energy contributes to SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being by providing clean energy solutions and empowering individuals and communities to thrive.
Through her work, Jasmine provides clean energy solutions and promotes gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, particularly in rural and off-grid communities. Her innovative approach has made her a leader in Somalia’s renewable energy sector, inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs and change-makers.
6# Ifeyinwa Ogar, CEO of Roki Foods
Ifeyinwa Ogar, a visionary entrepreneur, founded Roki Foods to address the pressing issue of food affordability in Nigeria. With a background in commercial banking and a passion for creating impactful solutions, Ifeyinwa identified a critical need in the market and established Roki Foods. Her company offers affordable, nutritious, and convenient food bundles to middle-income earners, saving them up to 30% on grocery spending.
Roki Foods is a food processing and bundling company that provides quality and authentic products through its subscription-based model. Ifeyinwa’s leadership has propelled the company to new heights, creating jobs for 20 people and providing affordable food options to thousands of families.
Ifeyinwa’s journey is a testament to her commitment to innovation, economic empowerment, and community development. She aims to expand Roki Foods to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, and export products to Western countries, generating foreign exchange and supporting economic empowerment and job creation.
Through Roki Foods, Ifeyinwa contributes to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of No Poverty (SDG 1) and Zero Hunger (SDG 2). By sourcing food directly from farmers across Nigeria, Roki Foods supports local agriculture and reduces poverty. Ifeyinwa’s innovative approach has made Roki Foods a leading online grocery mart in Nigeria, trusted for its variety of over 100 well-processed and packaged food items.
7# Foluke Michael, CEO of Caterina de’ Medici Africa
Foluke Michael is a committed leader in the fight against climate change, leading Africa’s shift to a Green Economy. As the CEO of Caterina de’ Medici Africa, she utilizes her expertise in project management, design thinking, and SDG implementation to drive sustainable growth and development.
Foluke’s journey began with her involvement in anti-corruption initiatives, which earned her the United Nations SDG Action Award and recognition from the University of Salford. She later pivoted to climate action, establishing “Solution17 for SDGs” and “Solution17 Art for Climate Change,” which resulted in the creation of 34 Climate Action Enterprises and was launched by the UN Deputy Secretary-General.
Foluke’s latest project, Naija Climate Now, has completed its first phase in partnership with the United Nations, German Cooperation, and other organisations. This demonstrates her dedication to sustainable climate action. Her book, “The Green Entrepreneurs,” was published on Amazon in 2021, further establishing her as a leader in the field.
At Caterina de’ Medici Africa, Foluke and her team of experts work to promote sustainable growth, eco-friendly practices, and transformative change. Their vision is a sustainable future that protects and preserves the environment for generations. Through her work, Foluke supports climate action aligned with SDG 13 and inspires a movement towards a greener, more sustainable Africa.
