If you have been blessed to be in the company of a wise woman, you’ll agree with me that it is as super fulfilling as the famous Kenyan masala chai, aromatic Kenyan kahawa or that strong addictive Ethiopian coffee.
After all, Proverbs 8 did tell us that counsel, sound judgement and insight are powerful tools to be used by kings and leaders to govern and rule.
Today we’re looking at 7 female African leaders that have led massive economies. These African female Heads of States are among many, known and unknown, remembered and forgotten, who came before them. I mean, we’ve all heard of fearless African warriors who led their communities valiantly.
- Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia
Sahle-Work Zewde is known to many as a well-seasoned diplomat. She took the presidential office in 2018 after being unanimously elected by members of the National Parliamentary Assembly.
Prior to assuming her President role, she served as an ambassador for Ethiopia in Senegal, Djibouti and France. She worked as Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA).
She was also the Director-General for African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. In 2011, Zewde was appointed to the position of Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. President Sahle-Work Zewde also served as the UN representative at the African Union.
Read More: https://afrikanexcellence.thelovetablet.com/2023/02/16/the-7-pillars-of-good-governanceleadership/
- Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, Gabon
Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, the Prime Minister of Gabon was born in 1964 in Libreville. She is an economist by training. Don’t you love economists? I adore them. These breed can accelerate GDP rates like the Kenyan athletes do the marathons if they want to.
She received a degree in economics and public finance from the Gabonese Institute of Economy and Finance. She has served Gabon for decades.
Raponda has worked as Director General of the Economy and Deputy Director General in the Housing Bank of Gabon, as Budget Minister and was the elected Mayor of the capital city Libreville representing the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party.
She also became President of United Cities and Local Governments Africa and played a vital role in Africa’s peace and security. Talking about an African warrior, Raponda also served as her country’s Defense Minister.
- Prime Minister Dogbé Tomegah, Togo
Victoire Sidémého Dzidudu Dogbé Tomegah, the Prime Minister of Togo is a respected and experienced politician. Prior to her position, she worked at the United Nations Development Programme and also served as the Cabinet Director to the President of Togo.
Tomegah Dogbé was also the Minister of Grassroots Development, Youth Craft and Youth Employment.
- President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a Liberian politician who served as the 24th President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. She studied at Madison Business College and Harvard University.
She was the Deputy Minister of Finance, worked for the World Bank in the Caribbean and Latin America and worked for Citibank and then the Equator Bank. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf won the 2005 presidential election and was re-elected in 2011. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011, in recognition of her efforts to bring women into the peacekeeping process. She has received numerous other awards for her leadership.
Is it just me or does she eminate a Wangari Maathai vibe?
- Samia Suluhu Hassan
She is the current Tanzanian president after assuming office upon the death of president John Pombe Magufuli in 2020.
She previously served as the Vice president of Tanzania, the Member of Parliament for Makunduchi and was the Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office for Union Affairs. She also served as a minister in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar during President Amani Karume’s administration.
- Joyce Hilda Banda, President of Malawi (2012-2014)
Joyce Hilda Banda served as the President of Malawi from 2012 to 2014 after taking over the office following the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika.
Before becoming the President of Malawi, she served as the Member of the Parliament, Minister of Gender and Child Welfare and as a foreign Minister. In 2014, Forbes named her as the 40th powerful woman in the world and the most powerful woman in Africa.
- Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of Mauritius (2015 – 2018)
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, a biodiversity scientist served as the President of Mauritius from 2015-2018. She opened her own science center known as CIDP Research & Innovation where she is the Managing Director.
There are many other indomitable and fearless female African leaders who are daringly transforming their respective African countries. The contribution of women to what Africa is today is unquestionable.
