In an episode of Next Chapter, Queen of Talk Oprah Winfrey said to Beyoncé, “You make me proud to spell my name W-O-M-A-N.” Those words, originally spoken by Maya Angelou, will reignite a flame in your heart after reading “The 20 Youngest African Power Women of 2014” list. Forbes contributor Mfonobong Nsehe revealed the fourth annual list of politicians, entrepreneurs, media influencers and more who are making impressive strides in Africa and throughout the world. There’s so much to praise in each of these women: hard work, resiliency against all odds, selflessness and sacrifice, and so much more. Take a look at these standouts and get inspired.
Afua Osei and Yasmin Belo-Osagie, Co-Founders, She Leads Africa
Afua Osei (Ghanian, 27) and Yasmin Belo Osagie (Nigerian Ghanian, 25) are the co-founders of She Leads Africa, “a platform that provides the most talented female entrepreneurs across the continent with access to the knowledge, networks and financing needed to build and scale strong businesses.” Osei and Belo-Osagie have recruited over 1,000 woman-led start-ups into their network and they aspire to engage at least 10,000 women entrepreneurs by 2015. The young power women launched an entrepreneurship competition, raking in nearly 400 applications from 27 countries. Both currently hold full-time positions at McKinsey & Company, but we have a feeling it won’t be long before these two are in full-time business for themselves.
Fatima-Zahra Mansouri, Moroccan, Mayor of Marrakech
Fatima-Zahra Mansouri is the 38-year-old Mayor of Marrakech, the third largest city in Morocco with a population exceeding 1 million. Mansouri was elected when she was only 33-years-old after winning a seat at the City Council on the Platform of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM). She is largely credited with “introducing transparency, accountability and efficiency within Marrakech’s 96-member city council.” The power politician studied law in France before returning to Morocco.
Rimini Makama, Nigeria, Director, Africa Practice
Rimini Makama is 34 and the Communications Director at Africa Practice—the continent’s foremost strategy and communications consultancy. Makama is responsible for introducing some of “the largest international institutions on the continent and beyond into the Nigerian market, simultaneously helping to strategically positioning [sic
]Â them as key players in their industry and encouraging foreign investment in the country.” Her client list has included BlackBerry, Bloomberg and Western Union, just to name a few. Makama has a B.L. from the Nigerian Law School and an LLM in International Law and World Order.Yvonne Khamati, Kenyan, Deputy Head of Mission at Kenya Embassy, Somalia
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki appointed Yvonne Khamati as the head of Chancery and Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations Office in Nairobi when she was 25-years-old. Khamati is now 32 and still one of the country’s youngest diplomats as Deputy Head of Mission at the Kenya Embassy in Somalia. She also established the Yvonne Khamati Foundation to aid in alleviating poverty, protecting the environment and partnering with governments and business to initiate development projects.
Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Nigerian, Social Entrepreneur
At 31 years old, Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji is the Founder of RISE Networks, “a Nigeria-based private and public sector funded Youth Interest social enterprise with a primary focus on wholesome youth and education development.” With focus on creating intellectual development for young Nigerians ages 16 through 30, RISE gets funding from several state governments and blue-chip companies.
See who else made the list here, plus check out which women entrepreneurs Oprah gifted with $25,000!