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On 15 October 2024, the 50/50 Women on Boards (WOB), the global nonprofit advocating for gender balance and diversity on corporate boards, is thrilled to announce the launch of its inaugural African chapter in Nairobi, Kenya. This marks a significant expansion of the organization’s mission to promote gender equality in corporate governance and leadership across the continent.
Despite Africa’s leadership in global statistics—boasting the highest representation of women on boards at 25%, compared to the world average of 17%—significant gender inequality persists in boardrooms and corporate sectors across the region. The 50/50 WOB Nairobi Chapter seeks to address these disparities by providing African women with the training, mentorship, and networks needed to break through barriers and increase their representation in board positions.
Philana Mugyenyi, Founder and Co-Chair of 50/50 Women on Boards Africa expressed her optimism for the chapter’s potential: “The launch of the Nairobi Chapter is an important step toward advancing the agenda for African women in corporate leadership. While we’ve made progress, many talented women, especially young professionals, are still underrepresented on boards due to limited social capital and biases related to age. Through our programs, partnerships, and network, 50/50 Women on Boards will empower these women to take on leadership roles and create more inclusive boardrooms across Africa.”
Admassu Tadesse, President of the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB), highlighted the value of diverse boardrooms: “At TDB, we’ve seen how diversity drives innovation, strengthens governance, and ultimately improves performance. Boards that lack diversity are prone to groupthink, limiting their strategic perspectives and ability to tackle complex challenges. The launch of 50/50 Women on Boards’ Nairobi Chapter will create pathways for African women to assume leadership roles, driving meaningful change in corporate governance.”
