Leadher spotlights life lessons from 19 female leaders across Africa

As part of activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Month, founder, House of Tara Int’l, Tara Fela-Durotoye and Founder and CEO, lifeBank, Temi Giwa-Tubosun are among 19 women profiled from across Africa by Facebook in its book, LeadHERs: Life Lessons From African Women. The book which is a collection of beautifully inspired stories and life advice, features women who are breaking boundaries in fields including media, entertainment, politics, education and business.

Available for free in digital and physical formats, the book provides inspirational real-life stories for future generations and young leaders. Each chapter focuses on a personal experience and life lesson around how these women have navigated their path to success, alongside the challenges they have had to overcome along the way. LeadHERs: Life Lessons from African Women is aimed at encouraging, inspiring and guiding the reader – no matter the background, age or ambition.

LeadHERs follows on from the successful 2020 launch of ‘Inspiring #Changemakers: Lessons from Life and Business’ in South Africa. This 2021 book is further brought to life through a series of beautifully illustrated artwork specially commissioned from four female artists from across the continent – Massira Keita from Côte d’Ivoire, Lulu Kitololo from Kenya, Karabo Poppy from South Africa, and Awele Emili from Nigeria.

With over 5,000 copies printed, the book will be provided for free to a number of Facebook’s local training partners including She Leads Africa, Fate Foundation, DigifyAfrica, Siyafunda, Smart Ecosystems for Women and cCHub. These will be distributed across 15 countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Senegal and Kenya – in schools and to beneficiaries of training(s) offered by Facebook partners.

Regional Director, Facebook, Africa Nunu Ntshingila, said: “At Facebook we know that African women are at the helm of shaping the future of our promising continent – they are changemakers, mothers and CEOs. This book is a celebration of just some of the exceptional African women who in their own right are trail-blazers, motivating and inspiring people and advocating for good across Africa, and the world. We’re excited about their individual stories, inspired by challenges they’ve endured and how they’ve risen above these, and importantly how they’ve turned these into important life lessons to help inspire others.”

Among the women featured are Elizabeth Akua Ohene [Ghana], Hawa Sally Samai [Sierra Leone], Baratang Miya [South Africa], Yvonne Okwara [Kenya]; Dr Judy Dlamini [South Africa]; Tecla Chemabwai [Kenya]; Alice Nkom [Cameroon]; Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim [Chad]; Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu [Ethiopia]; Lelemba Phiri [Zambia]; Vanessa Hau Mdee [Tanzania]; Monica Musonda [Zambia]; Kalista Sy [Senegal]; Noella Coursaris Musunka (Congo]; Samantha ‘MisRed’ Musa [Zimbabwe] and Djamila Ferdjani [Niger].