Casablanca – The Africa Women Leaders Summit & Awards 2026 opened today in Casablanca, bringing together women leaders from across Africa to discuss governance, economic participation, technology, diplomacy, and sector-specific leadership.
The two-day event, held on January 28-29, is organized by Verve Management and includes panel discussions, keynote addresses, and an awards program recognizing women-led initiatives.
The summit convened policymakers, business executives, civil society representatives, and entrepreneurs from multiple African countries.
According to organizers, the event aims to provide a platform for dialogue on women’s leadership and its role in public policy, economic growth, and regional cooperation.
Hakima El Haiti, president of Africa Pact and a member of the United Nations Advisory Council for the Zero Waste Initiative, addressed the opening session.
In her remarks, she emphasized the role of women in governance and peacebuilding, citing international data. “With us, you will have more prosperity, stronger economies, greater transparency, and more democracy,” El Haiti said.
During the summit, discussions focused on women’s representation in leadership, participation in the economy, and access to emerging sectors such as technology and digital finance.
Several speakers referenced global and regional studies linking women’s leadership to democratic governance, conflict resolution, and economic performance.
El Haiti cited United Nations data indicating that when women hold more than 30% of leadership positions, countries tend to be more democratic and peace agreements are more likely to be reached and sustained.
She also referred to a McKinsey study estimating that Africa’s gross domestic product could grow by up to 10% with greater participation of women in the economy.
Focus on business, technology, and youth engagement
Verve Management representatives outlined the objectives behind the event. Event Manager Aman Bandekar said the summit was designed to bring together women who are already leading in their respective sectors. “This summit was curated to bring women together who are not only talking about change but leading in the market,” he said.
Marketing Executive Karthik Pradeep added that the organizers aimed to recognize leadership and encourage collaboration among women shaping policies in business and communities.
Participants also discussed women’s leadership in professional services and entrepreneurship. Meryem Mazini, founder and managing director of CEM Agency, said the diversity of sectors represented was a key element of the gathering.
“It’s meaningful to meet many women, each working in a different sector, yet each with a voice about Africa and her professional field,” Mazini said. She also referenced her work through LinkedIn Local Morocco, an initiative connecting professionals offline.
Youth engagement and diplomacy were addressed during dedicated sessions. Political scientist and international security analyst Khaoula Bouchebka spoke about the role of Moroccan youth in international relations.
“If you have something to achieve, you just have to work and be ambitious,” she said during her remarks.
Participants also addressed technology and financial innovation. Fatima Zahra Sadir, founding president of the Association for Women in Crypto’s Morocco chapter, discussed the organization’s activities in fintech and digital finance.
She said the association focuses on training and awareness rather than investment alone. “We believe not only in investing in crypto, but also in learning how it is developed and tracked through the system,” Sadir said.
The hospitality sector was represented by Sara Benaomar, founder and chief executive of Leonis Connection, a Morocco-based hospitality management company founded in 2025.
Speaking on women’s participation in the industry, Benaomar said, “Our presence as women in the hospitality industry will help us grow and shine internationally, starting with the African continent.”
Digital literacy and disinformation were raised as cross-cutting issues. Dr. Dorothée Danedjo Fouba of Cameroon, founder of the edtech platform Estimate, presented an educational toolkit developed with UNESCO and the European Union.
Read also: Casablanca Honors Africa’s Women Leaders of Impact
The initiative focuses on digital information literacy in English and French. “Everybody is facing infodemics like fake news and disinformation,” Fouba said, explaining the motivation behind the project.
The summit also featured its awards ceremony, recognizing women leaders from across Africa for their contributions in business, media, finance, technology, and public service. Organizers said the awards aim to acknowledge leadership impact across sectors and regions.
Among those recognized were Jelena Milovanovic, named Women Icon of the Year; Aziza Ramzi, founder and managing director of Arod Management; Salma Benaddou Idrissi, managing partner at BFP Finance; Lazrak Nadia of GeoAgility Group; Nada Aboumejd, marketing director for North and Francophone Africa at Mastercard; Leila Kefi, deputy chief executive officer of CIM Santé; Meryem Mahfoud, partner at INSKIP; and Benjelloun Touimi Habiba, general manager of World Media Services.
Several recipients were also listed among the Top 100 Women Leaders in Africa, according to the awards program presented during the ceremony.
The Africa Women Leaders Summit & Awards 2026 continues tomorrow with additional panels, and networking sessions.
