Liberian President, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf; Malawian President, Mrs.Joyce Banda; United States’ television personality, Oprah Winfrey; Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi-Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Maduekwe; wife of Microsoft Co-founder, Melinda Gates; and wife of former British Prime Minister, Mrs. Cherie Blair, have been named among the top 100 women supporting Africa and its peoples to develop their potentials.

Their names topped the list of prominent women across the world, cutting across various professions – politicians, technocrats, authors, actresses, fashion models, journalists and entrepreneurs – in the current edition of Arise Magazine, a UK-based publication published by Leaders & Company, which also owns THISDAY Newspapers.

Others who made the list include: Alek Wek, model and campaigner, from South Sudan; Angelina Jolie, the Academy Award winning actress based in the United States; Angélique Kidjo, a singer and campaigner from the Republic of Benin; Vice Chair, National Crisis Group, Mrs. Ayo Obe from Nigeria; Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian-born author resident in the US; former Prime Minister of Mali, Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé; a Nigerian actress, Ms. Genevieve Nnaji; and Nigeria’s Hajia Bola Shagaya, founder and CEO, Bolmus Group International.

story by Chiemelie Ezeobi