Cover Image for Africa’s Women’s Day Awareness Quarterly Panel Discussion Sun, March 10th, 2024

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Africa’s Women’s Day Awareness Quarterly Panel Discussion Sun, March 10th, 2024

Hosted by Africa's Women's Day

Zoom

Past Event

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About Event

After the resounding success of Africa's Women's Day 2023, we're thrilled to present another chapter, our Quarterly Panel Discussions all geared towards continually raising awareness about Africa's Women's Day (Every 31st of July).

Africa's Women's Day Quarterly Panel Discussion, happening on Sunday, March 10th, 2024! Come and relax with us and be inspired.

Theme: "Innovating for Impact: Strategies and Success Stories of African Female Entrepreneurs."

In line with the theme of this year's International Women's Day, ''Investing in Women: Accelerate and Progress'' we would love to invest in you by organizing this free Africa's Women's Day Awareness event, which will be filled with words of wisdom, inspiration, experience, and strategies from a constellation of brilliance, women who are the embodiment of hard work, resilience, and extraordinary achievements. Together, we’ll explore how these African Female Founders and CEOs Leverage innovation to drive meaningful change in their industries and communities.

Meet our panelists! African Female Founders and CEOs, each a shining star in her own right:

1) Awamary Lowe - Khan (Gambia)

Awamary Lowe-Khan, a trailblazing entrepreneur and CEO, hails from the Gambia, born of a Spanish mother and a Gambian father. Raised in The Gambia, Africa’s smallest mainland nation, she embarked on a remarkable journey of empowerment and leadership. At the age of 17, she left her home country to pursue higher education in the United States, where she obtained a BSc. in Business Administration from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, and an MBA from Upper Iowa University. Her commitment to continuous learning led her to complete an executive education program at Harvard University and earn a non-profit management leadership certificate from Duke University.

In 2018, Awamary returned to The Gambia, driven by a deep desire to effect transformative change. She established @thewomanboss_ , The Disruptive Lab under the @innovate_gambia umbrella amongst other business ventures. The Woman Boss is dedicated to empowering women and girls by fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership. With a focus on tackling societal challenges such as gender-based violence and traditional gender roles, The Woman Boss equips women with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become successful entrepreneurs and leaders. The Disruptive Lab serves as a hub for Gambian tech entrepreneurs, providing acceleration, incubation, and co-working space to nurture their innovative ventures. Awamary’s commitment to championing women’s empowerment and fostering innovation extends beyond The Gambia. She has initiated projects in several African countries, including Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. Through her tireless efforts, she has mentored and empowered thousands of women and girls, transforming their lives and inspiring them to embrace their potential.

Through her organizations, she continues to shape the landscape of leadership, break down barriers, and empower the next generation of women leaders in Africa.

2) Nelly Cheboi (Kenya)

From growing up in hardship in a village in rural Kenya to becoming a game-changer in the digital world, Nelly Cheboi’s journey is a testament to the power of determination and the transformative potential of education. Faced with the challenges of basic sustenance and limited opportunities, Nelly’s life took a remarkable turn when she earned a full scholarship at Augustana College in Illinois to pursue her dreams in the United States.

While working odd jobs to support her family, she discovered her true passion: computer science. With a newfound vision to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty, she devised a groundbreaking plan. Her mission? Harness the digital economy to unlock global opportunities for rural Africans and so, she founded @techlitafrica , a non-profit organization in 2018 along with Tyler Cinnamon. This innovative organization breathes new life into discarded computers, transforming them into tools of empowerment. In primary schools across Africa, TechLit Africa up-cycles these old computers, teaching vital digital skills to students. They have built ten computer labs in rural Kenya through their efforts, benefitting 4,000 students and 20 teachers.

Nelly’s relentless drive and visionary approach have not gone unnoticed. She has rightfully earned a place on the prestigious Forbes 30 under 30 list and was hailed as CNN Hero of the Year in 2022. Her relentless pursuit of change is fueled by a deep-rooted commitment to reshaping the lives of those facing similar hardships to her upbringing.

Driven by her passion, she later established Zawadi School in Kenya, where TechLit Africa took its first steps toward creating a brighter future.

3) Chulu Chansa (Zambia)

Chulu is the Founder of @africanawoman , which exists to help African women embody self-love, health, and wealth. She is a Wellness Entrepreneur, Speaker, Mental Health Advocate, Mentor, and Award award-winning podcaster. Chulu’s superpower is creating safe spaces for difficult conversations. She has a passion for empowering African women with practical tools to thrive in all aspects of life; work, personal, spiritual, and social. She has lived in Europe, and the USA, travelled extensively, and is currently based in Kabwe, Zambia.

Because of her diverse experiences abroad and within Zambia, she was inspired to create Africana Woman, a safe space for women to have open & vulnerable conversations about wellness. Since 2020, Africana Woman has grown into a vibrant global community of African women of different countries, ages, races, creeds, and backgrounds. Amongst its services are a visionary membership, retreats, book club, podcast, and blog.

In 2022 and 2023, the Africana Woman podcast won APVA’s best Society & Culture podcast in Africa. It has also been nominated for 3 other awards including Health & Wellness, Advocacy & Social Change. In 2023, she was the first Zambian to take her podcast on tour across the country and sold out all three cities.
She has spoken on Wellness at the Courage 2 Heal Conference, UNIZ Insights - The Network of Zambians in the UN abroad, Podcast Movement, TechUp Women UK, University of Lusaka, and on numerous international podcasts as a guest. Chulu is also a Davies Scholar, YALI Southern Africa Fellow, Founder of Exceptional Youth Zambia, CNC Africa Representative in the United World Colleges International Council, not forgetting nominee for Best Wedding Cake Designer in Zambia 2019.

4) Iyin Akinlabi-Oladimeji (Nigeria)

Iyin Akinlabi-Oladimeji is a Nigerian American who has always been passionate about seeking opportunities to add value in West Africa. Growing up, she was shocked to find out that most of her favorite childhood products in Nigeria were not made in Nigeria or even in West Africa.

To that end, throughout her formal education and professional experience, @iyin_akin maintained a peripheral interest in made-in-Africa products that progressively evolved into a keen interest in being a part of the ecosystem. In 2019, Iyin made a bold decision to move to Ghana. The decision was inspired by her interest in exploring the thriving technology landscape and also learning about factors that make the region a key player in the exports of commodities around the world.

While living in Ghana, she learned about the disparities in the cocoa industry - from deforestation to child labor to farmer poverty. Equipped with that knowledge and the motivation to support cocoa farmers and their communities in West Africa, she felt compelled to make a change. This led her to create @lujischocolate, a premium, ethically sourced, all-natural chocolate brand produced entirely in West Africa and distributed to the US.

5) Bongai Mhloyi (Zimbabwe)

@bongai_mhloyi was born and raised in Zimbabwe. She went to the United States in 1985 and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Social Relations and a Master’s degree in Special Education and worked in social services for more than 25 years.

Growing up in Zimbabwe, she witnessed child marriage in her family where her 75-year-old grandfather married a 12-year-old girl. Today, she is a passionate founder dedicated to empowering girls through education via a nonprofit organization(End Child Marriages). Bongai Mhloyi is committed to breaking barriers and fostering a brighter future for young girls as she is dedicated to ending child marriages and advocating for the rights and well-being of girls through education and empowerment. Since 2010, her organization has helped more than 140 girls stay in school and have an opportunity to choose their lives.

Her goal is to end child marriages in communities around the globe. “ If you want to go fast, go alone but, if you want to go far, go with others.” - African Proverb

Meet the Hosts and Moderators:

Hosts:

Joy Wanjiru Zenz ( @afwi.trade @africawomenintradeofficial ) and Abigail Adaeze Egbunine ( @jgusldesigns )