News Release
7th March 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANNOUNCING THE 2025 TOP 20 INSPIRATIONAL AFRICAN DIASPORA & INDIGENOUS PROFESSIONAL WOMEN (ADIPWO)
The 2025 Top 20 Inspirational African Diaspora & Indigenous Professional Women (ADIPWO) list is here! This annual recognition honours extraordinary African women excelling across industries, driving innovation, and breaking barriers on the continent and globally.
For the past few years, ADIPWO has evolved to reflect a growing movement—African women returning home, thriving, and making a significant impact. To celebrate this shift, ADIPWO now stands for African Diaspora & Indigenous Professional Women, recognising the vital contributions of both African women in the diaspora and those shaping industries at home.
Celebrating Women Who Drive Change
This year’s honourees represent diverse fields, including business, STEM, philanthropy, entertainment, environmental advocacy, and leadership. Selected through public nominations and editorial research, these women embody excellence, resilience, and the determination to redefine what is possible. Their achievements align powerfully with the two themes for International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025:
- #AccelerateAction – A Call to Speed Up Progress Toward Gender Equality
With the current pace of progress, full gender parity is projected to take until 2158—five generations from now. The #AccelerateAction campaign urges us all to take decisive steps to close this gap, by championing women’s economic empowerment, education, leadership, and access to opportunities. - #ForAllWomenAndGirls – Commemorating 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration
Thirty years ago, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action set a bold vision for women’s rights and gender equality. As we mark this milestone, the #ForAllWomenAndGirls campaign reminds us that we cannot wait another 30 years to achieve equal rights and opportunities for all women and girls.
Honouring Impactful Leadership
ADIPWO founder Francine Beleyi expressed her admiration for this year’s honourees:
“Every year, I am deeply moved by the stories of these incredible women who are shaping the future. Their journeys demonstrate what’s possible when talent meets opportunity, and their achievements inspire a new generation of leaders to step forward and make their mark.”
Join the Celebration & Support Women’s Advancement
We invite you to explore the full list of ADIPWO 2025 honourees and their inspiring stories at www.francinebeleyi.com/adipwo.
In the spirit of IWD 2025, we also encourage you to support women-focused initiatives through fundraising, mentorship, and advocacy. Whether by amplifying these women’s voices, engaging in discussions about their impact, or taking action to support gender equality, everyone can play a role in accelerating change.
Let’s celebrate these trailblazing African women and keep building a future where gender equality is not a distant dream, but a reality.
#AccelerateAction #ForAllWomenAndGirls #ADIPWO2025
ENDS
For more information, please contact Francine Beleyi at francine@nucleusofchange.com or on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/francinebeleyi/
About ADIPWO:
The African Diaspora Professional Women (ADIPWO) is an online forum that aims to:
- Celebrate the success of African Women across the world, including in Africa.
- Give visibility to women who have achieved success in their own way but may still be unknown by the wider public.
- Inspire the new generation of African Women and share ideas to make a difference (no matter how big or small it is).
- Contribute to Africa’s rebranding and development by identifying opportunities to transfer the vast knowledge gained outside the continent.
This forum is open to women of the African Diaspora and to anyone who has a passion for Africa development.
Join ADIPWO LinkedIn group with 500+ members to participate in the conversation.
More about the list and previous editions
About the Editor:
Francine Beleyi is the Editor and Founder of African Diaspora & Indigenous Professional Women (ADIPWO), a list started in 2011 to feature the achievements of African women in their host countries and on the continent.
Francine is an award-winning British-Togolese digital and branding strategist, business advisor, and international speaker. She assists entrepreneurs, CEOs, and organisations with their digital communication strategies and the management of their personal and professional brands. Her expertise enables her clients to enhance their visibility, effectively reach their target audience, and boost their profitability, thereby maximising their impact.
She is the founder of nucleus of change and author of the book ‘Personal branding in the digital age: How to become a known expert, thrive and make a difference in the connected world’. She is one of the co-authors of the book ‘Africa–Europe Cooperation and Digital Transformation’ chapter 16 ‘Fostering Prosperity for African Female Entrepreneurs: Opportunities for AU–EU Cooperation in Digital Entrepreneurship Networks.’
Follow Francine: LinkedIn com/in/francinebeleyi | Twitter & Instagram: @FrancineBeleyi
For interviews and speaking requests, contact Francine@nucleusofchange.com
Francinebeleyi.com | www.nucleusofchange.com
ENDS