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The African Women Leadership Conference (AWLC) has announced that First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Maada Bio, Sylvia Blyden and 12 other Sierra Leonean women have been selected among the 50 Most Influential African Women Award honourees for 2025, recognising women whose leadership and impact continue to shape Africa and the global community.
The announcement was made in an official press release issued by the Organising Committee of the African Women Leadership Conference and the 50 Most Influential African Women Awards.
According to the statement, the awards form part of a Pan-African recognition programme celebrating exceptional women across politics, governance, education, health, finance, agriculture, peace and security, media, culture, advocacy and women’s empowerment.
The press release further states that the announcement comes ahead of the African Women Leadership Conference scheduled for 24 April 2026 at the Freetown International Conference Centre, followed by the Grand Awards Ceremony on 25 April 2026 at the Country Lodge Hotel in Sierra Leone.
Organisers noted that the initiative represents a year-long leadership engagement process that combines conference dialogue, visibility, networking and culminating recognition of women making a difference across the continent.
Bio is recognised in the category of Politics, Leadership and Governance, and Blyden, former Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs.
Other Sierra Leonean award recipients listed in the press release include Mabinty Funnah, Musayeroh Barrie, Haja Isatu Bah Kamara, Jeneba Kpaka Bangura, Nabeela Tunis, Fatmata Mida Carew, Olive Baimba, Hawa Sally Samai, Justice Miatta Samba, Naasu Fofanah, Marie Momoh and Sally Adams.
The Organising Committee stated that the awards celebrate women of excellence whose work continues to advance leadership, governance, social development, peace, financial inclusion and women’s empowerment across Africa.
It added that the 2026 conference will convene women leaders, policymakers, development partners and private-sector actors to engage on women’s leadership, governance, health, financing and investment, peace and inclusive growth.
The Grand Awards Ceremony in April 2026 will formally honour all fifty awardees in what organisers described as a high-profile Pan-African celebration of women’s excellence and impact.
The full list of honourees and details of the programme were published in the official AWLC press release announcing the 50 Most Influential African Women Awards 2025.
