Leaders Address Africa's Female Economy at ASP 2026

At the Africa Soft Power Summit 2026 held in Nairobi, leaders including Rita Dominic, co-founder of a company, Rukki Ladoja, founder of Dye Lab, and Wandia Gichuru, CEO of Vivo Fashion Group, addressed the chronic undervaluation of Africa's female economy. They argued that the issue is rooted in systemic design problems rather than a lack of visibility.

Mapula Bodib, CEO of MTN South Sudan, noted that women account for approximately 47% of formal employment, with participation rising to nearly 80% when informal economic activities are included. The panel emphasized that current measurement systems systematically undercount women's economic contributions, affecting capital allocation and policy design.

Ladoja illustrated the importance of building commercial businesses within Africa's female economy, while Dominic discussed the evolution of Nollywood and the need for ownership structures to ensure long-term value for African creators. The discussions highlighted the necessity for a shift in how women's economic activities are recorded and valued.