In a world with diverse voices, experiences, and aspirations, International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrates femininity and women’s resilience and strength. This year, the theme of the IWD—Inspire Inclusion—turns the spotlight on women’s experiences, acknowledging that differences are not barriers but invitations to create a more inclusive world.
As we commemorate the strides toward gender equality, join us as we look at some remarkable individuals who have broken barriers and paved the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for women.
1. Nthabeleng Likotsi – First Female Bank Owner in South Africa
Nthabeleng Likotsi is a South African accountant, entrepreneur, businesswoman, and community leader. She is currently the chairperson of the Young Women in Business Network (YWBN) and Managing Director of the YWBN Co-operative Financial Institution, a majority female-owned and lead financial institution.
Born on August 11, 1984, Likotsi holds a master’s degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of Witwatersrand, among other academic qualifications. Ms. Likotsi is currently hailed as a rising star of female entrepreneurs, the first woman and youngest to establish a bank promoting inclusiveness across the continent. Under her leadership, YWBN has grown from nine board members to a thriving institution empowering women entrepreneurs.
Her achievements have not gone unnoticed, as she won the 2023/24 Leadership Award at the Africa-India Partnership Summit.
2. Isabel dos Santos – Businesswoman, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist
Isabel dos Santos, a trailblazing figure in business and entrepreneurship, has made her mark on the global stage by breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated industries. The eldest child of Angola’s former President Jose Eduardo dos Santos’s achievements span various sectors, including finance, telecommunication, and energy.
She started as a project manager in the early 90s before starting a trucking business. Since then, she has delved into the international business world, creating companies and holdings in Angola and mostly abroad and investing in high-profile enterprises in Portugal.
The BBC recognized her as one of their 100 Women in 2015.
3. Tobi Amusan – Nigerian Track and Field Athlete
Oluwatobiloba Ayomide Amusan (OON) is a rising star in the world of athletics who exemplifies the spirit of excellence and pure determination.
Born on April 23, 1997, Amusan specializes in track and field events, competing in 100-meter hurdles and sprints. She is the current world record holder in the 100-meter hurdles, with a time record of 12.22 seconds set in 2022 at the women’s 100-meter hurdles in Eugene, Oregon.
Her speed, agility, and precision on the track have earned her numerous national and international accolades. Beyond her athletic prowess, Amusan is a role model and inspiration for many aspiring athletes, especially young girls, in Nigeria and beyond. Not only has she shattered stereotypes and barriers, but she has also proved that hard work and perseverance can make anything possible.
Read more: Ibijoke Faborode, a Public Policy advisor driving women inclusiveness in politics
4. Farida Bedwei – Software Engineer and Founder of Logiciel
Farida Nana Efua Bedwei is a Ghanaian software engineer and advocate for disability rights who has made significant strides in technology and finance. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Farida co-founded Logiciel, a successful fin-tech company in Ghana that has built mobile and enterprise applications. She is known for her knowledge of software architecture and deploying mobile services.
Despite being diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of one, Farida’s determination and ingenuity have propelled her to become a force in her field. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she uses her platform to raise awareness of disability rights and promote social inclusivity.
Her unwavering commitment to creating a more equitable world has earned her several awards and appointments. She also made a comical cerebral palsy superhero called Karmzah.
5. Fadumo Olow – Sports Media Enthusiast
Fadumo Olow is one of the UK’s leading voices in women’s sports. The sports journalist, who hails from Somalia, is also an activist and community leader. Despite facing numerous challenges as a refugee and immigrant, she stands tall today, advocating for the rights and well-being of marginalized communities.
The sports industry recognizes Fadumo Olow as the first women’s sports social media editor. She has experience as a journalist, presenter, reporter, expert pundit, event host, and influencer. She has also worked with leading brands and companies, including The Telegraph, Adidas, Copa90, The FA, BT Sport, Gal-dem, and BBC London.
The former footballer and youth worker currently co-hosts the “She is Offside podcast”. She continues to inspire individuals to advocate for change and build a more just and equitable society.
6. Halima Aden – First Hijab-Wearing Model
In the world of glitz and glamour, Halima Aden became a trailblazer, breaking barriers and redefining beauty standards. As a semi-finalist in Miss Minnesota USA 2016, Aden became the first woman to wear a hijab. Her participation in the pageant received national recognition, prompting her to become the first model to wear a hijab and burkini in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Born in a Kenyan refugee camp, Aden’s journey to success is a testament to her resilience and determination to challenge norms. Being the first hijab-wearing model, Aden has become a symbol of adversity and inclusivity in an industry known for lacking representation.
Beyond her work in fashion, Aden is a passionate advocate for refugee rights and girls’ education. 2018, she became a UNICEF ambassador and was named one of BBC’s 100 Women in December 2021.
7. Amina J.Mohammed – Nigerian Diplomat and Politician
Amina Jane Mohammed (GCON) is a British Nigerian diplomat and politician serving as the fifth Deputy-Secretary General of the United Nations. The diplomat and sustainable development leader has dedicated her career to tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
The former Nigerian Minister of Environment and current Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group has been a fierce advocate for initiatives to address climate change, gender equality, and poverty alleviation.
Her tireless efforts to empower women and girls have earned her widespread recognition and accolades, including being named one of the world’s 100 most powerful women by Forbes magazine in 2019. She was awarded the Nigerian national honor of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) in 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
8. Temie Giwa-Tubosun – Health Manager and Founder of LifeBank
Born Oluwaloni Olamide Giwa, Temie Giwa-Tubosun is the founder of LifeBank (formerly known as One Percent Project), a business enterprise in Nigeria aiming to facilitate easy blood transfusion across the country.
She founded LifeBank following the birth of her first child and the complications she experienced. The health entrepreneur has revolutionized the Nigerian health sector thanks to her organization. The Technology and Logistics company based in Lagos has helped deliver over 26,000 pints of blood to more than 10,000 patients in nearly 700 hospitals in Nigeria.
Ms. Giwa Tubosun’s efforts have not gone unrecognized at home or abroad. In 2014, she was listed as one of BBC 100 Women alongside Funmi Iyanda and Obiageli Ezekwesili. In 2019, she was named Jack Ma’s African Entrepreneur Prize winner and listed among the “15 African Female Founders You Should Know in 2023” in March 2023.
9. Ola Brown – Medical Doctor and Health Entrepreneur
Nigerian medical doctor and entrepreneur Ola Brown is another leading figure in health innovation and development in Africa. Born in 1986, Olamide Brown (MFR) is a healthcare entrepreneur, founder of the Flying Doctors Healthcare Investment Group, and director of Greentree Investment Company.
Brown’s commitment to improving healthcare access has earned her widespread acclaim, with Forbes magazine recognizing her as one of Africa’s most influential women. She founded the Flying Doctors in Lagos in 2007 after the death of her sister under challenging circumstances.
Flying Doctors Healthcare Group is active in air ambulance services, consulting/healthcare technology, hospital/clinic construction, and many other areas. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, Brown and her FDHIC team launched a COVID-19 mobile testing booth. This helped reduce the need for PPE by providing a barrier between potentially infected patients.
Her work has earned her several national and international recognitions since 2013.
10. Seyi Oluyole – Inspiring Choreographer and Compassionate Social Advocate
In the heart of Lagos, Seyi Oluyole, a passionate dance instructor, was drawn to dreams’ transformative potential. Her journey intersected with the lives of remarkable children, giving rise to The Dream Catchers.
Seyi’s journey has been one of resilience and overcoming adversity. The English and literary studies graduate is a social entrepreneur and advocate for quality education, especially for young boys and girls from marginalized communities in South-West Nigeria.
Dream Catchers Academy was founded in 2014, working in collaboration with the Nurture Initiative. This was in response to the increasing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. Seyi’s Dream Catchers Academy project has received international attention from celebrities like Beyonce, Naomi Campbell, Rihanna, and John Boyega, to mention a few.
In 2018, she was selected as one of the 20 Outlook Inspirations for the year. She and her students received a recognition plaque from the then-Lagos state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. Ms. Oluyole also received awards from the Nigerian Child Initiative (2018).
11. Nelly Cheboi – Founder and CEO of TechLit Africa
Combining technology and education, Nelly Cheboi steps into the spotlight in Kenya. She founded TechLit Africa, an organization that teaches digital skills using donated laptops in rural primary schools.
Despite growing up in poverty in the rural village of Mogtio, Kenya, Cheboi did not let her situation stop her from dreaming. In 2012, she received a full scholarship to study computer science at Augustana. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science in 2016
During her junior year of college, she built a school in Kenya called Zawadi Yetu. 2018, she started transporting donated laptops from the United States to Kenya. In 2019, she founded TechLit Africa with Tyler Cinnamon.
Today, Cheboi’s organization teaches basic computer skills to over 4000 students aged 5-14. As of 2022, they have built ten computer labs in rural Kenya and plan to build 100 more. In 2022, Cheboi was also named one of the 30 under 30 on the Forbes list for social impact.
Read more: Stella Ndekile
12. Abimbola Windapo – Pioneering as Nigeria’s First Female Construction Professor
In a male-dominated industry, Professor Abimbola Windapo, a distinguished professor of construction management at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, stands as a beacon of excellence and leadership.
Windapo graduated from the University of Ife in 1987 with a degree in building, making her the first woman to do so. She then obtained her master’s degree in construction management from the University of Lagos. 2005, she earned her Ph.D. in building, and the University of Cape Town appointed her in 2009.
Windapo became a full professor in 2020, officially making her the first female professor of Construction Management in Nigeria and South Africa. The same year, she received the 2020 South32 Award in the Engineering Research Capacity Development category presented by the National Science and Technology Forum.
This confirms for Professor Windapo that she is a role model for women, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to give them hope that nothing is impossible.
13. Torkwase Iyortyer – Pioneer and Founding Chairperson of the Women Association of Quantity Surveyors (WAQSN)
In the quantity surveying sector, Mrs. Mercy Torkwase Iyortyer is a woman of many firsts. She has achieved record-breaking accomplishments in various aspects of her life, and one can rightfully describe her as a history-making woman.
The Benue State indigene was the first female Quantity Surveyor in the Northern Region of Nigeria, the first female chairperson of a chapter of NIQS (FCT Chapter), and the pioneer and founding chairperson of the Women Association of Quantity Surveyors (WAQSN). She’s also the first woman to represent the institute on the Council of the African Association of Quantity Surveyors and the first woman elected unopposed as the Deputy President of the NIQS.
Mrs. Iyortyer would later become the first female President of the Institute in 2016, 46 years after its establishment. She was passionate and vocal about female representation in all its programs and committees during her tenure.
14. Sandra Aguebor – The Nigerian Lady Mechanic
Sandra Aguebor, known as “Sandra the Lady Mechanic,” is a pioneering Nigerian entrepreneur and advocate for women’s empowerment in the automotive industry. Breaking gender stereotypes and challenging societal norms, Aguebor has blazed a trail as the first female auto mechanic in Nigeria and one of the few in Africa.
Born in Benin, Nigeria, Sandra is the founder of the Lady Mechanic Initiative. The initiative trains sexually abused and underprivileged women to become mechanics and fend for themselves. Aguebor’s passion for empowering women extends beyond the workshop, as she actively advocates for gender equality and women’s rights in Nigeria and beyond. She challenges societal norms and stereotypes through advocacy, inspiring women to pursue careers in male-dominated fields and assert their rights to equal opportunities.
In 2017, Dolapo Osinbajo and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode presented her with the Inspirational Woman of the Year award.
15. Olayinka Ogunsulire – CEO of Orange Island Development Company.
In the male-dominated construction sector, another name that stands as a beacon of hope and encouragement for women is Olayinka Ogunsulire. Olayinka is currently the CEO of Orange Island Development Company.
With over 30 years of experience in the real estate and infrastructure sectors, Olayinka Ogunsulire is one of Nigeria’s leading property development professionals. With a master’s degree in Land Management from the University of Reading, she is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and a member of the Institute of Directors. Before joining Orange Island Development Company, she was CEO of Heirs Real Estate and ARM Properties Plc.
In 2018, she received the RICS Pride of the Profession award. The FIABCI (the International Real Estate Federation) recognized her work on the Orange Island project with the Prix d’Excellence Gold Award for Best Master Plan Development. She is also the co-founder of Building Women, a social initiative dedicated to empowering low-income and unemployed women through skills training in construction.
16. Adora Nwodo – Software Engineer
Nenne Adora Nwodo is a highly acclaimed Software Engineer at the forefront of Cloud and Emerging Technologies. Thanks to her solid foundation in Computer Science, the first-class University of Lagos graduate enjoys building innovative technology on the cloud.
As a Digital Creator and Founder of NexaScale, Adora is passionate about nurturing the next generation of tech enthusiasts by providing them with resources and opportunities to work on projects and gain work experience. Beyond her technical expertise, she is a dedicated advocate for inclusivity in the tech industry. She serves as Vice President of the Nigerian Chapter of the AR/VR Association.
Adora’s impact extends beyond her professional achievement; she is also an accomplished author. She demonstrates her commitment to driving inclusion for women in technology by actively participating in community events, contributing to Open Source, and speaking at technology conferences worldwide.
17. Tosin Oshinowo – Architect and Designer
Tosin Oshinowo, an accomplished architect and designer, has made significant strides and contributions to architecture, design, and urbanism. She is also a creative entrepreneur, a public speaker, and an author.
Tosin’s early tendencies in life influenced her career choice as the founder of CMDesign Atelier Design. She has led numerous architectural projects that reflect a deep understanding of culture, history, and community. Her designs are functional and aesthetically pleasing, ranging from residential buildings to cultural institutions.
Tosin is the convener of Sho-n-Tell, an annual event that gives undergraduate and postgraduate students of the University of Lagos a platform to share the same studio with practicing professionals to enhance their learning process. She is also the founder of Ile Ila (House of Lines), a contemporary Nigerian lifestyle furniture line.
18. The Makinde Sisters – Female Nigerian Pilots
For years, men have dominated the aviation industry. Piloting has been left to men, while women have trained as flight attendants. However, three Nigerian sisters have dared to defy the odds and break gender barriers.
Mopelola, Oluwaseun, and Oluwafunmilayo Makinde are three Nigerian sisters from Ondo State who have made history as pilots in their own right, carving out a path of inspiration for many in the aviation industry. Their father, a seasoned helicopter pilot who dedicated his life to flying, influenced their journey.
Moplelola Makinde, the eldest of the three, followed in her father’s footsteps. She is an accomplished and proficient helicopter pilot with Deland Aviation. Oluwaseun Makinde, the middle child also her wings as a skilled helicopter pilot. She works with Bristow Group as a helicopter pilot.
Among the three siblings, the youngest decided on a different course while remaining rooted in the aviation industry. Oluwafunmilayo Makinde is a fixed-wing pilot with Deland Aviation.
These sisters have proven that women can excel in any field, matching, and often surpassing the capabilities of their male counterparts.
19. Siza Mzimela – First Female Airline Owner
Still in the aviation industry, Sizakele Petunia Mzimela is credited as the first black woman to launch and lead an airline. The South African businesswoman with a career spanning over three decades has left an indelible mark on the African aviation landscape and beyond.
Mzimela started the airline Fly Blue Crane on September 1, 2015, alongside her colleagues Jerome Simelane and Theunic Potgieter. Under her leadership, the airline employed over 100 people in one year.
Before founding Fly Blue Crane, she held various leadership positions in the aviation industry, including serving as the CEO of South African Airways (SAA). Her trailblazing achievements in the aviation industry earned her widespread recognition, including being named one of Forbes Africa’s Most Powerful Women.
20. Tosin Olaseinde – Founder of Money Africa
Oluwatosin Olaseinde founded Money Africa in 2018 with the inspiration of turning passion into reality. Trained in Accounting at the University of Johannesburg and the University of South Africa, the chartered accountant is a trailblazing figure in the tech and finance industry.
As the founder of Money Africa and The Money Africa Foundation, Olaseinde has revolutionized financial literacy and inclusion efforts. She has also empowered individuals across Nigeria and beyond with essential knowledge and resources to navigate the complexities of personal finance since 2018. Her start-up emerged winner of the 2022 Capital Market Content Creator of the Year award organized by the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) in Lagos.
Recognized as the “New Face of Money,” she exhibits a profound passion for catalyzing transformative change, particularly in the lives of millennials and Gen Zs, aiming to uplift them from the grips of poverty.
The stories of these remarkable women, from Nthabeleng Likotsi to Adora Nwodo, exemplify the theme of “Inspire Inclusion” on this International Women’s Day. Their diverse achievements across various fields underscore the importance of breaking barriers, championing diversity, and creating opportunities for all.
As we celebrate their accomplishments, let us be inspired to continue the journey toward a more inclusive and equitable world where every woman’s voice is heard and valued.