Ishioma Imokhai-Bello redefines Africa’s economic story by amplifying women’s visibility through The Benchmark and the Africa Female CEO Conference.
In Africa’s media landscape, headlines often circle billion-dollar valuations, corporate power plays, and the continent’s most visible tycoons. But for Ishioma Imokhai-Bello, one glaring omission stood out: the women driving Africa’s economic transformation were largely missing from the record.
She didn’t arrive at that conclusion by observation alone — she lived it.
In 2021, Imokhai-Bello became the pioneer staff writer at Billionaires Africa, tracking stock movements, business acquisitions, and expansion strategies of the continent’s wealthiest. Immersed in the machinery of capital, one question persisted: “Where are the women?”
It wasn’t that they weren’t contributing. Across Africa, women were founding startups, building legacy enterprises, dominating the informal sectors and sustaining formal economies. Yet their stories rarely made the platforms that mattered.
Imokhai-Bello moves to bridge the gender visibility gap
The disparity, she found, was structural. Africa’s male billionaires were not only building businesses — they were also building visibility. They curated their public profiles, courted the press, and invested in platforms that kept their names in circulation.
By contrast, women often stayed in the shadows — not for lack of achievement, but lack of amplification.
“Many of Africa’s most remarkable women in business remain invisible. It’s not laziness. Often, women don’t prioritise their personal brand because they’re sometimes overwhelmed with other critical responsibilities. That’s why we tell them to hire someone or leverage networks to secure strong branding opportunities,” shares Ishioma Imokhai-Bello, Founder of The Benchmark and Convener of Africa Female CEO Conference.
In a world where visibility influences investment, policy, and partnerships, silence is costly. For the media entrepreneur, this was not just a media gap; it was an economic void.
To this problem, her response was The Benchmark, a pan-African media platform dedicated to documenting women whose work drives GDP growth and shapes Africa’s image — both on the continent and in the diaspora.
Ishioma Imokhai-Bello launches AFCC
Rather than wait for traditional outlets to recalibrate, she built a dedicated space where excellence could be covered with depth, dignity, and reach. Since launch, The Benchmark has shaped the narratives of founders, C-suite executives, and grassroots leaders too often overlooked by mainstream business journalism.
This mission also gave rise to the Africa Female CEO Conference (AFCC), a high-level summit designed to spotlight Africa’s most influential and emerging female business leaders, innovators, creatives, and policymakers. The 2025 maiden edition will take place on September 18 at the Radisson Blu, Ikeja, providing a forum for women to network, share insights, and position themselves as central actors in the continent’s growth story.
The maiden edition, themed “Building Sustainable Businesses,” already boasts representation from five countries across three continents. Distinguished guests will include high-profile women such as Dr. Olori Boye-Ajayi, Managing Partner of Borderless Trade & Investment; Dr. Elizabeth Jack-Rich, Philanthropist and Founder of Elin Group; Mrs. Ijeoma Onah, Founder of the Nigeria International Film & Television Summit (NIFS); and Hon. Orode Meyiwa Uduaghan, Honourable Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services, and Girl Child Development, Delta State, among other top professionals.
For Ishioma Imokhai-Bello, visibility is not just a “soft skill” — it’s strategic capital. It dictates who gets funded, who shapes policy, and who defines the narrative of Africa’s economic future.
“Africa’s future depends not only on how we build, but on who we centre in that growth story,” she says. “When women are visible, they influence ecosystems, shift policies, and redefine what’s possible.”
She aims to ensure that the next generation of African women won’t have to ask, “Where are the women?” Their stories will already be amplified, archived, and impossible to ignore.
Have you registered for the Africa Female CEO Conference (AFCC)? Join over 200+ influential and emerging African women leaders at the inaugural AFCC on September 18th at Radisson Blu, Ikeja, Lagos, to chart the course for Africa’s future. Hit this link to reserve your slot: https://tix.africa/africa-female-ceo-conference-afcc
