African Union
Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma speaks during a joint statement
with French President Francois Hollande on October 5, 2015 at the Elysee Palace
in Paris. AFP PHOTO / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN
As chairperson of the AU Commission – the policy-making and driving arm of the AU – this continental heroine runs the day-to-day cycle of what is considered Africa’s most influential body, the African Union.
One of her passions to steer the AU away from foreign dependence for funding African projects. This year she has been unrelenting in her call on “African captains of industry” to pledge larger amounts to accelerate self-sufficiency in the African Union.
In 2015, she has also been very active against human trafficking and the struggles of women
British-Nigerian Arunma
Oteh, Treasurer of the ADB (African Development Bank), gives on June 18, 2008
in Paris, a press conference amid other aid campaigners to hammer G8 countries
for falling far behind in aid pledges to Africa and urged France to take a
stand as next EU president to end the “disgrace”.
AFP PHOTO BERTRAND GUAY
AFP PHOTO BERTRAND GUAY
The former director of the Securities Exchange Commission of Nigeria was recently named vice president and treasurer at the World Bank. Doubtless she will be using her new role not only to ensure Africa in top on the World Bank’s agenda, but that the bank’s objectives are more aligned to the continent’s needs than has been the case in the past.
Liberian President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf speaks during a women’s equality event March 9, 2015 in
New York. Two women with global clout — Hillary Clinton and Melinda Gates —
released a sweeping report on Monday showing that women are still far from
winning equality in leadership positions. The “No Ceilings Full Participation”
report is a review of progress made by women since the 1995 Beijing conference
laid out a platform of action for achieving gender equality. The report was
released at the start of a 12-day UN conference on women that will focus on
women’s political power and their influence in economic decision-making. The
report was compiled by the Clinton and Gates foundations, the Economist
Intelligence Unit and the World Policy Center of the University of California
in Los Angeles. AFP PHOTO/Don Emmert
The “Iron Lady” of Africa has overcome many hurdles to steer her country out of the devastations of years of civil conflict. 2015 tested her to a whole new level. As the leader of one of the three countries devastated by the outbreak of the Ebola virus, her guidance was at the heart of the response and solution the the crises. She resolutely stepped up to the task of fighting and beating the deadly virus against all odds, with Liberia the first to be declared Ebola-free on 3 September by the WHO.
