Senior government officials, corporate executives, policy architects, and technology leaders from across Africa convened in Nairobi for the second edition of the InstinctWomen Conference and Awards, a growing continental platform dedicated to advancing women’s leadership across governance, business, and innovation.
Held on 26 and 27 February 2026 at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel, the conference brought together a distinguished cross-section of women leaders who are increasingly shaping Africa’s institutional and economic transformation. Organised by InstinctWave Group, the gathering continues to gain prominence as a forum where leadership, policy dialogue, and recognition of excellence intersect.
Under the theme Women Who Move Nations: Leadership, Legacy and Impact, the conference examined the expanding role of women in shaping public policy, steering major institutions, and driving economic influence across the continent.
Over two days of discussions, speakers repeatedly returned to a central proposition: that the next phase of Africa’s development will depend not only on economic reforms and technological progress, but also on the depth and diversity of leadership guiding its institutions.
Beyond the formal sessions, conversations across the conference reflected a growing shift in tone among women leaders. Speakers urged women across sectors not to retreat from decision-making spaces or make themselves invisible within boardrooms and institutions, but rather to compete with competence, preparation, and the courage to lead in environments historically dominated by men.
Leadership Voices from Government and Industry
The conference opened with keynote addresses from a distinguished group of public sector and corporate leaders whose work spans governance, regulation, and development policy.
Ms Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services, set the tone for the discussions, followed by Dr. Sheila Addo, Deputy CEO of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority.
Their remarks underscored the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks that enable women to participate fully in governance and public service leadership.
Corporate and institutional perspectives were delivered by Mrs. Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director of the MTN Nigeria Foundation, Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya, and Esther Ngari, Managing Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards, further reinforcing the conference’s cross-sector perspective, highlighting how women are influencing regulatory, legal, and corporate landscapes across Africa.
Technology, Governance, and the Future of Leadership
Panel discussions formed the core of the conference’s intellectual exchange. The session Women in Tech Leading Africa’s Digital Transformation brought together Fiona Asonga, Chief Executive Officer of the Technology Service Providers of Kenya, Annepeace Alwala, Vice President of Global Service Delivery at Sama, Ann Kyalo, Country Manager for East Africa at CloudPlexo, Rose Muturi, Chief Executive Officer of Branch NeoBank Kenya, and Mrs. Odunayo Sanya.
Beyond focusing exclusively on technology, the conversation examined the human dimensions of leadership in rapidly evolving sectors. Panelists spoke about the resilience required to navigate male-dominated industries, the importance of building credibility and the responsibility to create pathways for emerging female leaders.
Following the panel discussions, the conference hosted a fireside conversation between Dr Sheila Addo, NPA’s Deputy CEO, and Ms Evelyn Cheluget EBS OGW, Director General of the Directorate of Immigration Services. Their discussion centred on Nation Builders Women Shaping Public Policy, Governance and Institutional Reform, offering insights drawn from their leadership within complex national institutions.
Both speakers reflected on the challenges of navigating high-pressure public service roles while maintaining professional credibility and institutional discipline. The conversation reinforced the idea that effective women’s leadership in institutions demands both competence and courage
Further discussions examined the evolving workplace and the realities of sustaining leadership over long periods of institutional responsibility. Sessions featuring Lillian Ngala of Diamond Trust Bank, Evah Kimani of Britam Connect, and Ing Nicholina Nkang Ma Yembilah of GRIDCO Ghana explored how organisations can cultivate leadership cultures that support women’s advancement while strengthening institutional performance.
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Recognising excellence across the continent
The conference concluded with a gala awards ceremony recognising women and institutions whose leadership continues to shape Africa’s governance and economic landscape.
Esther Ngari of the Kenya Bureau of Standards received both the Public Sector Chief Executive Officer of the Year award and the overall Woman of the Year Excellence Award, reflecting her leadership within Kenya’s standards and regulatory framework.
Other award recipients included Faith Odhiambo, recognised as Legal Advocate of the Year, Dr Sheila Addo, honoured as Energy Woman Leader of the Year, and Rose Muturi, named Digital Finance Leader of the Year.
Technology leader Fiona Asonga received the Technology Personality of the Year award, while Ing Nicholina Nkang Ma Yembilah was recognised as Woman Engineer of the Year. Evah Kimani was honoured as Insurance Personality of the Year, Lillian Ngala received the Human Resources Personality of the Year award, and Annepeace Alwala was recognised as Business Services Leader of the Year.
Institutional recognition was also extended to the Kenya Bureau of Standards for Best Public Sector Gender Mainstreaming Initiative and Women in STEM and Digital Inclusion, while the MTN Foundation received awards for Excellence in Maternal and Family Wellness and Excellence in Youth and Women Empowerment.
Ms. Evelyn Cheluget also received recognition as Immigration and Border Security Personality of the Year.
A platform for the next generation of leadership
Reflecting on the significance of the gathering, Akin Naphtal, Group Chief Executive Officer of InstinctWave and convener of the InstinctWomen Conference and Awards, described the conference as a reflection of a broader shift in Africa’s leadership landscape.
“What we witnessed over these two days was not simply a conference but a powerful demonstration of the influence African women are bringing to institutions across the continent,” he said.
“The message that emerged repeatedly is that leadership must be pursued with competence, courage, and conviction. When women participate fully in governance, policy making, and corporate leadership, the impact extends far beyond individual organisations. It shapes the trajectory of nations.”
As the conference concluded in Nairobi, organisers indicated that the next edition will continue expanding its continental reach, reinforcing the platform as a space where leadership, policy dialogue, and institutional recognition converge.
It is a platform worthy of their calibre, one that takes their contributions seriously enough to examine them with rigour and celebrate them with dignity. IWCA was built to be that platform.”
Mr. Naphtal added that the second edition had confirmed what the inaugural event only promised. “We came into 2026 with a responsibility to deepen the work to move from inspiration to impact, from symbolism to substance. The speakers, panelists, and awardees of this edition represent the full architecture of what women’s leadership looks like when it is given the space to operate without apology: in public institutions, in technology, in finance, in energy, in law, and in the corridors of policy. InstinctWave will continue to build this platform with the same conviction that drives the women it celebrates. Africa is watching. And Africa is being moved by them.”
