Available for free in digital and physical formats, the book aims to provide 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.

The book is aimed at encouraging, inspiring and guiding the reader, no matter their background, age or ambition. It follows on from the successful 2020 launch of Inspiring #Changemakers: Lessons from Life and Business in South Africa.

The 2021 book is further brought to life through a series of illustrated artwork specially commissioned from four female artists from across the continent, including:
  • 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.

Nunu Ntshingila, regional director at Facebook Africa, says, "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, as well as how they've turned these into important life lessons to help inspire others," concludes Ntshingila.

The women featured in LeadHERs: Life Lessons From African Women include:
  • Elizabeth Akua Ohene: journalist and politician (Ghana)
  • Alice Nkom: lawyer and human rights activist (Cameroon)
  • Tecla Chemabwai: athlete and educator (Kenya)
  • Baratang Miya: tech entrepreneur and CEO (South Africa)
  • Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim: global activist (Chad)
  • Dr Judy Dlamini: entrepreneur, author and philanthropist (South Africa)
  • Hawa Sally Samai: founder, CEO and campaigner (Sierra Leone)
  • Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu: founder and CEO (Ethiopia)
  • Lelemba Phiri: entrepreneur, investor and educator (Zambia)
  • Temi Giwa-Tubosun: founder and CEO (Nigeria)
  • Vanessa Hau Mdee: media personality, musician and podcaster (Tanzania)
  • Monica Musonda: lawyer, entrepreneur and CEO (Zambia)
  • Saran Kaba Jones: founder and CEO (Liberia)
  • Kalista Sy: showrunner and screenwriter (Senegal)
  • Yvonne Okwara: journalist and news anchor (Kenya)
  • Tara Fela-Durotoye: entrepreneur and CEO (Nigeria)
  • Noella Coursaris Musunka: model and philanthropist (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  • Samantha 'MisRed' Musa: media personality, social influencer and philanthropist (Zimbabwe), and
  • Djamila Ferdjani: doctor and entrepreneur (Niger).
Facebook has indicated that March 2021 marks the three-year anniversary of Facebook's '#SheMeansBusiness' programme in sub-Saharan Africa, an initiative designed to inspire, empower and train female entrepreneurs across the continent to build, grow and start their own businesses.

As part of this, Facebook is launching a new training component on business resiliency through financial education in Nigeria, South Africa and Senegal. Additional modules are aimed at improving female business owners' financial management skills, while addressing challenges that women entrepreneurs face, such as access to capital.

To download the book, individuals are encouraged to click here. 

For more information, visit www.facebook.com.