Nairobi to host African Women Awards as continent’s most influential honoured
Wavinya Ndeti, The Governor, MACHAKOS COUNTY GOVERNMENT receiving her citation from Prof. Amany El-Sharif, The Vice-President for Academic Affairs, THE AFRICAN SCHOOL OF GOVERNANCE during the 4th edition in Kigali 2025.
The 5th African Women Awards and SHE CONNECT Conference come to Nairobi on 20 November, bringing together leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers under the theme “The Role of Today’s Woman in Tomorrow’s Africa.”
By Grace Wanja
Nairobi will host the 5th edition of the African Women Awards and the SHE CONNECT Conference on 20 November 2026, bringing together influential women, policymakers, entrepreneurs and change-makers from across the continent to celebrate female leadership and chart a course for Africa’s future.
Organised by The Business Executive Group, the annual gathering has grown into one of the continent’s most prominent platforms for recognising women whose work is reshaping Africa across business, politics, technology, health, education, media and community development. This year’s edition, held under the theme “The Role of Today’s Woman in Tomorrow’s Africa,” is expected to draw government representatives, corporate executives, investors, development partners and emerging female leaders from across Africa and beyond.
At the heart of the event is the Africa’s 100 Most Influential Women 2026 recognition — a flagship award that honours outstanding women whose leadership and influence are making a measurable difference in their fields. Now in its fifth year, the awards have built a reputation for spotlighting women who are not merely navigating existing structures but actively dismantling barriers, creating opportunities and inspiring the generation that follows them.
Running alongside the awards ceremony, the SHE CONNECT Conference will provide a structured forum for conversation and collaboration on the issues that matter most to women in leadership today — economic empowerment, innovation, entrepreneurship, social impact and the role of women in driving Africa’s sustainable development. Organisers say the conference is designed not only to generate discussion but to produce tangible connections: networking opportunities, mentorship pathways and strategic partnerships that outlast the day itself.
The Business Executive Group has been clear about the philosophy underpinning both the awards and the conference. Africa’s future, the organisers argue, cannot be built without the full participation and leadership of its women — and platforms that celebrate achievement while creating space for collaboration are essential to making that participation a reality rather than an aspiration.
The 2026 edition arrives at a moment when conversations about women’s leadership on the continent are gaining both urgency and momentum. Across Africa, women are increasingly visible at the highest levels of government, business and civil society, yet structural barriers — from unequal access to capital and education to entrenched cultural norms — continue to limit the pace of progress. Events such as the African Women Awards serve a dual purpose: affirming how far women have come while keeping the distance still to travel firmly in view.
The 5th African Women Awards and SHE CONNECT Conference take place on 20 November 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.
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