On Tuesday, 50/50 Women on Boards (WOB), a global nonprofit advocating for gender balance and diversity on corporate boards, officially unveiled its inaugural African Chapter in Nairobi.
The launch significantly expanded the organisation’s mission to promote gender equality in corporate governance and leadership across the continent.
The Nairobi Chapter of 50/50 WOB aims to spur change for women poised for leadership but often held back by systemic challenges such as age bias and insufficient opportunities to expand their networks beyond their immediate professional circles.
This is by providing access to valuable resources, training, mentorship, and networks that help women overcome these barriers and increase their representation in board positions.
Despite Africa’s leadership in global statistics; boasting the highest representation of women on boards at 25%, compared to the world average of 17%; significant gender inequality persists in boardrooms and corporate sectors across the region.
Speaking at the launch, 50/50 WOB co-chair and founder Philana Mugyenyi said many boardrooms remain dominated by homogenous leadership teams, which can hinder innovation and strategic decision-making.
While expressing her optimism for the chapter’s potential, she added that diverse boards bring fresh perspectives, experiences, and ideas that are essential for long-term success.
“The launch of the Nairobi Chapter is an important step toward advancing the agenda for African women in corporate leadership,” Mugyenyi said.
“While we’ve made progress, many talented women, especially young professionals, are still underrepresented on boards due to limited social capital and biases related to age.”
“Through our programs, partnerships, and network, 50/50 Women on Boards will empower these women to take on leadership roles and create more inclusive boardrooms across Africa.”
Other key objectives of the Nairobi Chapter include fostering collaboration between companies, governments, and civil society to promote gender diversity and more equitable leadership as well as engaging male allies in the conversation to champion the importance of a diverse, inclusive boardroom.
On his part, President of the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) Admassu Tadesse, highlighted the value of diverse boardrooms adding that diversity drives innovation, strengthens governance and ultimately improves performance.
“Boards that lack diversity are prone to groupthink, limiting their strategic perspectives and ability to tackle complex challenges,” Tadesse said.
“The launch of 50/50 Women on Boards’ Nairobi Chapter will create pathways for African women to assume leadership roles, driving meaningful change in corporate governance.”
Follow us on Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future updates. Send tips to editorial@techtrendsmedia.co.ke
