Across sustainability, conservation, agriculture, education and communications, African women are creating businesses, institutions and movements that respond to some of the continent’s most important challenges. This week, Women of the Week celebrates five women whose work demonstrates how purpose can become a platform for innovation, empowerment and lasting impact.
Anita Erskine – Founder/CEO Erskine Communications and Official Host of Africa’s Business Heroes
Anita Erskine has spent more than two decades shaping conversations around African business, leadership, entrepreneurship and social impact through media and strategic communications. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Erskine Global Communications, a communications firm that uses storytelling and media to advance conversations around issues including gender equality, youth employment, digital development, climate awareness and entrepreneurship.
Her influence extends prominently into Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through her role as the Official Host of Africa’s Business Heroes, the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic programme supporting African entrepreneurs. Erskine has been associated with the programme since its inaugural year in 2019 and became its official host in 2020. Through the platform, she has helped bring African entrepreneurs and their stories to audiences across the continent and beyond, while providing communications training to finalists. In 2026, she returned as host for the Africa’s Business Heroes semi finals in Nairobi, continuing her role in amplifying the continent’s entrepreneurial voices. Her wider career includes broadcasting, executive communication, event hosting, mentorship and initiatives supporting women and young people in creative and technology fields.
Olanike Taofeequat – Nigerian eco-conscious entrepreneur and Founder of Liquida Crafts
Olanike Taofeequat is an eco conscious Nigerian entrepreneur and the founder of Liquida Crafts, a creative enterprise built around the possibilities of sustainable craftsmanship. Her journey began with coconut oil production during her university years before she expanded into transforming discarded coconut shells into functional and decorative products. According to BellaNaija, Okunlola developed products including coconut bowls, cups, pendants and keychains, teaching herself the techniques required to turn agricultural waste into usable designs.
What makes her work particularly significant is the intersection of entrepreneurship, creativity and environmental consciousness. Rather than viewing coconut shells as waste, Okunlola recognised their potential as a raw material and developed a business around that idea. Her ambition has been to build a brand associated with sustainability, eco friendly products and creativity, demonstrating how African entrepreneurs can find commercial opportunities within the circular economy.
Dammy Feyide – Leader/Founder of Let It Shine Academy, THEO by Lisa, Haske Cafe and Cocoa Deux.
Dammy Feyide is demonstrating what can happen when social impact moves from an idea into an institution. She is the Founder of Let It Shine Academy, a tuition free educational initiative that has evolved into a boarding school providing education and support for children from underserved communities. The academy’s own platform describes its mission as providing marginalised children with education, character development, mentorship, meals, accommodation and vocational and creative skills.
Feyide began the journey after encountering vulnerable children during her National Youth Service period, initially creating creative arts programmes before building what would become LISA. Her work has since expanded beyond conventional classroom education through initiatives such as THEO by LISA, a technology driven educational platform designed to extend learning beyond physical school infrastructure. Her leadership also extends into entrepreneurship and professional development, with her career spanning banking and SME development. The evolution of LISA from a small intervention into a full boarding institution reflects a broader commitment to creating sustainable pathways for children who might otherwise remain excluded from quality education.
Rachel Ikemeh – Nigerian conservationist, Director of South West and Niger Delta Forest Project, 2026 Rolex Award laureate.
Rachel Ikemeh has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most significant voices in community led conservation. A biologist and conservationist, she is the Director of the South West/Niger Delta Forest Project, an initiative focused on protecting biodiversity and empowering communities in one of Nigeria’s most environmentally threatened regions. In 2026, Rolex named her one of its five global Rolex Awards Laureates, recognising her work to mobilise communities in the Niger Delta around forest and wildlife conservation.
Her conservation work has produced measurable results. Rolex reports that her approach has helped protect more than 5,839 hectares of forest and at least 13 threatened species while improving livelihoods for more than 2,500 people. Her work has also been closely associated with efforts to protect the critically endangered Niger Delta red colobus monkey, whose population has shown signs of recovery following community protection initiatives. The 2026 Rolex Award will support her plans to establish a conservation training hub and mobile education programme, allowing the model to reach more communities across the Niger Delta.
Fauzziyah Isiak – Nigeria’s No 1 Beekeeper and the founder of Fauzziyah’s Honey
Fauzziyah Ebunoluwa Isiak has transformed a personal experience into a career dedicated to beekeeping, agriculture and the production of raw honey. A Nigerian beekeeper and founder of Fauzziyah’s Honey, she moved from a career in the Nigeria Police Force into apiculture and built a business focused on producing and selling raw, unprocessed honey. Her story has been documented by TRT Afrika, which reports that the death of her father after consuming adulterated honey became a major motivation for her to take beekeeping seriously and provide consumers with a more trustworthy alternative.
Fauzziyah’s work extends beyond honey production. She has become an advocate for better understanding of bees, responsible beekeeping and the potential of apiculture as an agricultural enterprise. Her company has participated in Lagos agricultural initiatives, including the Lagos Agrinnovation ecosystem, while she has also used her platform to educate young people about bees and their importance to the environment. Her journey illustrates how agriculture can become both a commercial opportunity and a vehicle for environmental awareness.
Why SHE Matters
These women show that African impact can take many forms, from protecting forests and supporting pollinators to creating sustainable businesses, expanding access to education and amplifying African enterprise. Their work turns individual purpose into platforms capable of influencing communities, industries and future generations.
