Adesina applauds Zewde’s Forbes lifetime award as Africa’s beacon of hope

Africa

AFRICA, 31 March 2026 (NPA) — Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina, former President of the African Development Bank Group, has congratulated Sahle-Work Zewde, Ethiopia’s first woman and fifth President, on receiving the Forbes Woman Africa Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Forbes Woman Africa Awards.

Adesina, in a statement on Tuesday, praised Zewde as an exemplary leader, describing her as a passionate and devoted pan-Africanist, a beacon of hope, and a builder of peace and unity across the continent. 

Zewde was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award on 24 March 2026 at the 11th annual Leading Women Summit in Johannesburg. The honour recognised her trailblazing leadership, historic role as Ethiopia’s first female head of state, and her lifelong dedication to diplomacy, peacebuilding, and the advancement of women’s rights. The summit, held at the Sandton Convention Centre to coincide with International Women’s Day, brought together influential leaders, innovators, and policymakers from across Africa, underscoring the importance of women’s leadership in shaping the continent’s future.

The recognition highlighted Zewde’s enduring impact on governance and gender equality, cementing her legacy as one of Africa’s most influential female leaders. Her achievement stands as an inspiration for future generations of women determined to break barriers and contribute to Africa’s political, social, and economic transformation.