At a time when gender parity across the continent remains at a critical tipping point, HERizon Africa emerges with a clear mission to champion women-led possibilities, drive data-informed equity and help build an Africa in which equality is an intangible reality.
Across the continent, progress remains uneven and painfully slow. According to the 2025 World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report, the world is still 123 years away from achieving full gender parity if current trends continue. This remains a sobering statistic that underscores the scale of the challenge before all stakeholders.
WestlionCo’s latest initiative, HERizon Africa, a pan-African community connecting visionary women across the continent and its diaspora to lead change, close the gender gap and inspire sustainable partnerships, seeks to confront this reality head-on.
Established under the leadership of Miss Gifty Boatemaa Annan, Global Lead and visionary behind the movement, HERizon Africa stands as a realization of her long-held dream. During the launch, she expressed her joy in steering this continental agenda, stating:
“HERizon Africa is a long-held dream unfolding in meaningful steps. It is an intentional space where our collective intelligence becomes our collective propulsion, where a woman in Accra can co-create with a founder in Nairobi, an innovator in Kampala can learn from a strategist in the diaspora, and a student in Dakar can be mentored by an executive in Johannesburg.”
The official launch of HERizon Africa serves as an urgent call for renewed mobilization across the continent, a collective reinforcement, and a reminder to governments, institutions, corporations, and communities that gender progress must be intentional, resourced, and boldly pursued.
The launch brought virtually together women leaders from across Africa and the diaspora, featuring keynote remarks from members of HERizon Africa’s prestigious Global Advisory Council: Dr. Kalkidan Esayas, Ecologist & Conservation Biologist, Ohenewa Sakyi-Bekoe, Development Consultant and Arielle Molino, Impact Investing Specialist.
Additionally, the network unveiled its first Chapter Leads for the Diaspora and Uganda, Jessica Q. and Denise Kyozira, who will champion HERizon Africa’s expansion and community-building efforts in their respective regions.
In her remarks, Dr. Kalkidan Esayas who served both as the Keynote Speaker and a Global Advisory Council Member, delivered a compelling insight:
“When we look across the world, the struggle for women’s advancement is universal, though the context varies. Africa has a unique contribution to make. Our continent brings something powerful to the global conversation: a lived experience of resilience, community-rooted leadership, and innovation born from constraint. We do not lead with dominance; we lead with collaboration, compassion, and courage. Women’s leadership is not an alternative model; it is the future of leadership.”
A portion of Ohenewa Sakyi-Bekoe’s remarks, Global Advisory Council Member, is also captured here:
“Talent has no gender, dreams have no limits, and leadership should have no boundaries. We will continue to amplify women’s voices, support initiatives that power the next generation of female leaders, encourage creativity, celebrate ambition, and make room for bold ideas that truly drive progress. We are committed to creating a world where every woman and even the youngest girl with the smallest dream can see herself reflected in positions of power, influence, and success.”
With HERizon Africa officially launched, we call on all women, men, youth, partners, policymakers, and global allies to rise with us. The future we seek is one in which African women have equitable access to opportunities, influence, and prosperity. A future in which systems work for women, not against them. A future we can all take pride in.
Application for membership is open to African women across all sectors and all countries.
For more information, please contact;
HERizon Africa Secretariat
herizon@westlionco.com
www.westlionco.com/herizonnetwork/