Across Africa, a new generation of women entrepreneurs are tackling social challenges with bold, scalable solutions.
From empowering rural women in shea processing to championing tech education for girls, these leaders are proving that entrepreneurship can be both profitable and profoundly transformative.
Their ventures sit at the intersection of business and impact—building ecosystems that uplift communities, advance gender equity, and promote sustainability.
Meet five extraordinary African women who are using innovation, technology, and community-driven models to rewrite the narrative of social enterprise on the continent.
1. Yasmin Horgan Famodu (Nigeria)
Founder of Ingressive for Good, a nonprofit platform that cultivates technical talent and supports early-stage African tech careers. Her venture complements Ingressive Capital (a VC fund she also co-founded), and together they foster a pipeline of diverse, empowered tech entrepreneurs.
2. Ifrah Arab (Kenya)
CEO of SuperMom, a social enterprise that equips marginalized and unemployed women with financial training and empowers them to become distribution agents for fast-moving goods—closing gaps in distribution while uplifting communities.
3. Regina Honu (Ghana)
Founder of Soronko Academy, the first coding and human-centered design school for youth in West Africa. Her work promotes digital skills, especially among girls, and has earned her global recognition, including the 2017 Buffett Award for Emerging Global Leaders.
4. Rita Idehai (Nigeria)
Founder & CEO of Ecobarter, a social enterprise that facilitates waste-free living for households. Ecobarter also supports women and informal waste pickers, helping them capture more value and rebuild livelihoods through responsible consumption and circular economy practices.
5. Ayisha Fuseini (Ghana)
Founder and CEO of Asheba Enterprise, she works with over 600 rural women in shea processing—providing processing centers, training, and financial services. Her initiative produces high-quality shea butter products (including for The Body Shop) and enhances women’s income opportunities.
