Forbes lists six Nigerians among 20 influential women in Africa

Toyosi Akerele, founder of Rise Networks, a social enterprise for youth development, has been listed in the 2014 edition of Forbes magazine 20 young and influential women in Africa.

The ranking, which comes out on an annual basis, targets 20 young, extraordinary and inspiring women below 45 years across the continent.

Titled the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa, the magazine described those on the list as “continent’s emerging power brokers, the amazons to watch and the custodians of tomorrow.”

Reacting to the news, Akerele (pictured), who just returned from Azerbaijan, where she represented Nigeria at the very first United Nations Global Forum on Youth Policies, expressed excitement

“This huge acknowledgement challenges me to higher responsibility in my commitment to capacity building and human capital development for the youth of the continent,” said the newly wedded woman.

“It is timely as Africa is the next port of call for some of Rise Networks’ Initiatives and Forbes has only emphasized the need to deepen engagements across Africa in a way that brings development to Nigerian young people across Africa and the world.”

Rise networks provides a platform for young people across the world to express their views and make their lives count.

Other Nigerians on the list are:

• Yasmin Belo-Osagie, 27, co-founder 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.
• Adiat Disu, Founder, African Fashion Week, a 27-year-old an international publicist and founder of Adirée, a New York-based communications and brand strategy company.
• Amy Jadesimi, 39, managing director, of the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL), Nigeria’s only indigenous-owned deep offshore logistics base.
• Rimini Makama, 34, the communications director at Africa Practice, Africa’s foremost strategy and communications consultancy.
• Ada Osakwe,adviser to the minister of agriculture and rural development.