Former Nigeria Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, has been named winner of the 2017 New African Woman in Politics and Public Office Award.
Mohammed, who is now United Nations deputy secretary-general, was named winner at a ceremony held in Dakar, Senegal, on Wednesday, April 12.
Nigeria’s Joan Okorodudu was also named New African Woman in Arts & Culture for her raising the profile of African models and fashion.
Organised by New African Woman magazine, the award, now in its second edition, is to celebrate and honour African women who have made exceptional impact and change in their countries or communities in the past 12 months.
Before her appointment as minister by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015, Mohammed, 55, had played a crucial part in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa, particular for women.
Winners in the New Africa Woman awards were selected from 68 shortlisted candidates across 12 categories by a special panel of judges.
The grand honour of Woman of the Year was given to Gambia’s Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajan for her courageous act in galvanising the opposition that eventually sacked long-term now exiled leader, Yahya Jammeh.
FIFA’s Secretary General, Fatma Samoura of Senegal, was named New African Woman in Sport.
