Women are shaping Africa's renaissance

There is a paradigm shift going on in Africa, this shift has giving women opportunities they never had before. When the Apartheid finally came tumbling down, there was no question that the decisive blows came from South African women.

Today, women from Monrovia to Nairobi are building on African indigenous foundations. Women are beginning to flex their intellectual muscle and are beginning to lead and manage institutions and businesses across the continent. Today, Africa has the first African female President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia. Women in growing numbers are beginning to serve and be heard across Africa.

African needs to embrace and encourage equality for women. The only way Africa is going to prosper is participation from women. We need more women entrepreneurs, artists, scientist, engineers, and risk-takers.

Here is a small list of women making an impact in Africa:

Winnie Byanyima, Uganda
Director of the AU Women, Gender and Development Directorate



Samia Nkrumah, Ghana
International Journalist



Mamphele Ramphele, South Africa
Vice-Chancellor of University of Cape Town




Wangari Maathi, Kenya
Environmentlist and Nobel Peace Prize winner



Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigeria
Author



Gertrude Mongella, Tanzania
President of AU Pan-African Parliament



Alek Wek, Sudan
Model



Asha-Rose migiro, Tanzania
UN Deputy Secretary General