Top 10 Richest Women in Africa (2023)

A lot of people are aware of the richest men in Africa however only a handful are aware of women earning their income and running viable businesses. They’re the most perfect example of the phrase what a man can do, a woman better, or more.

These women have attained a level of wealth that is above the average and are currently at the top of the boards of companies across a variety of fields in the world of business. Isabel Dos Santos is the richest woman in Africa.

The Top 10 Richest Women in Africa

1. Isabel Dos Santos

Isabel Dos Santos is believed to have been the first woman from Africa to be granted the millionaire status. She is a native of Angola and an entrepreneur of repute today. She graduated from the renowned King’s College London. Her father was the president of Angola and it is believed that she made use of his power as a president to gain a foothold impact in business.

She has significant stakes in major corporations and holds numerous management positions within these firms. Isabel Dos Santos started her business career as a manager. She has also worked along with her father Eduardo on a project that aimed to wash and disinfect Luanda. This project was named Urban 2000. With her numerous companies and investments at present, she’s valued at $2.2 Billion, which makes her the richest woman in Africa.

2. Folorunsho Alakija

Folorunsho Alakija is Nigeria’s richest woman and the second richest woman in Africa. Her birthplace was Lagos State, Nigeria, and she is currently the director of The Rose of Sharon Group. Folorunsho Ajakija is the Vice-chairperson for Famfa oil.

In the past, she used to be employed by Sijuwade Entertainment here in Nigeria before becoming an employee of Chicago’s First National Bank of Chicago. After her experiences, she enrolled in her first job at the First City Monument Bank in Nigeria and then went into the business full time. She currently has an estimated net worth of about $1.3 Billion.

3. Ngina Kenyatta

Ngina Kenyatta is an eminent businesswoman who has achieved great success in the world of business today. She was born in 1933 and was given the birth name Ngenda. She was married to Jomo Kenyatta before his demise years after their wedding.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, president of Kenya is her son. He was among the children that she shared with Jomo before his death. She is now an enormous entrepreneur, with many investments spread across the globe. She has an estimated net worth of $1 Billion which makes her the third richest woman in Africa.

4. Divine Ndhlukula

Divine Ndhlukula is a successful businesswoman from Zimbabwe. She has held sensitive positions in a variety of large businesses both inside and outside Africa. She also has one of the highest-paying security firms in Zimbabwe. With an estimated total net worth of $809 million, Divine Ndhlukula is the most successful woman in Zambia as well as one of the richest women in Africa.

5. Dr. Stella Okoli

Stella Okoli is a businesswoman and pharmacist by profession. She received her first education in Nigeria before traveling overseas to study medicine in the UK. She graduated from The University of Bradford and the University of London. When she returned to Nigeria she began working as a normal worker within pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria.

Then, she started her own pharmaceutical business towards the end of the 70s. Today she’s the proud founder of well-known Emzor Pharmaceuticals. The biggest well-known manufacturer of the Paracetamol tablets in Nigeria. She is said to be worth an astounding $880 million.

6. Patricia Poku-Diaby

Patricia is currently the most wealthy woman in Ghana and one of the richest women in Africa presently. She is the co-founder of the Plot Enterprise Group which is a company for processing cocoa.

They transform tonnes of cacao into various products such as butter, cake, and more. They earn millions of dollars each year from this. Presently, Patricia has a whopping net worth of $720 million.

7. Bola Shagaya

Bola Shagaya is one of the top businesswomen in fashion from Nigeria. In addition to being a renowned fashionista, she’s also into other fields of business, such as real estate, and much more. She is a member of the board of many large companies throughout Africa including the well-known Unity Bank.

She earned her Bachelor’s diploma in Economics from Armstrong College in the USA. At the present, she is an active participant in the Fashion Designers Association here in Nigeria. Presently, Bola Shagaya has a net worth of $630 Million.

8. Mo Abudu

Mo Abudu is a Nigerian businesswoman born and raised in the United Kingdom. After her master’s degree in the UK, her return to Nigeria was to manage the role of the Head of Human Resources within Exxon Mobil which is among the largest oil companies in the world. She is the brain behind the media House known as EbonyLife TV.

Additionally, she is a varied business owner who is involved in a variety of sectors of business such as real estate, and a variety of other areas. Mo Abudu is also a charitable philanthropist that helps the needy. With the sum of $600 million, she is one of the richest women in Africa.

9. Bimbo Alase

Bimbo Alase is a Nigerian professional who has been creating waves in the world of business. She is the co-founder of Leatherworld. She is among the richest women in Nigeria presently, and she is estimated to have more than $550 million. Her company manufactures top standard pieces of furniture and they have a massive client base in Africa.

While she received her initial education in Nigeria, she went on to study fashion and Interior Design in the United States. Bola also went on to earn professional degrees from the London School of Design and Pitman College in the UK. When she came back to Nigeria she began small however she has grown into a big woman today. Also, she’s a generous philanthropist that helps many souls.

10. Wendy Appelbaum

Wendy Appelbaum is the richest woman in South Africa today. She was employed in various firms in the past and she was the Vice-Chairperson at Connection Group Ltd. Wendy is a great charitable person, and her efforts have had a positive impact on the lives of many people who are less fortunate throughout South Africa as a whole. She currently has an estimated value of $259 million making her one of the richest women in Africa.

Related:

• Top 10 Richest Men In Africa
• Top 10 Best English Speaking Countries In Africa

Conclusion

Many African women have proven their worth by their commitment and dedication to their jobs. They have led to women being able to earn a spot on the list of richest women in Africa. This is yet another proof that success and wealth aren’t tied to gender.