Leaders Address Africa's Female Economy at ASP Summit 2026

At the Africa Soft Power Summit 2026 held in Nairobi, leaders addressed the systemic undervaluation of Africa's female economy, arguing that the issue lies in the design of measurement systems rather than a lack of visibility. The panel featured Rita Domin, co-founder of a company, Rukki Ladoja, founder of Dye Lab, Wandia Gichuru, CEO of Vivo Fashion Group, Mapula Bodib, CEO of MTN South Sudan, and was moderated by Fiona Kemigisha, CEO of Khama Digital Content Hub.

Bodib pointed out that women represent approximately 47% of formal employment in Rwanda, with participation rising to nearly 80% when informal economic activities are included. She criticized the current measurement systems for systematically undercounting women's economic contributions.

Domin discussed the evolution of Nollywood and the importance of ownership structures for African creators, while Ladoja illustrated how her company, Dye Lab, builds local capacity and trust in African brands. The discussions emphasized the need for systemic changes to accurately reflect and support women's economic roles.