Ahead of the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD), the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Kudirat kekere-Ekun; the first female president of Nigeria Academy of Science, Prof. Ekanem Ikpi Braide; and former Minister of Transport, Amb. Kema Chikwe, are among distinguished women leaders that made the list of the 2026 edition of Nigeria Women Annual: 100 Leading Women.
Others are the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Lydia Shehu Jafiya; General Manager, Education and Training Department, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF, Hajia Rabi’ah Umar Waziri-Adamu; Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Akon Eyakenyi; Head of Civil Service of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Elsie Anietie Peters; and Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Caroline Kemen Niagwan.
Also in the list are the Acting Director of the Directorate of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Onyechi Appolonia Anele; Rev. Christie Bature; Dr. Ipalibo Banigo; and member representing the Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency of Benue State in the House of Representatives and wife of the SGF, Regina Akume.
The joint publishers of the annual biographical compendium on outstanding Nigerian women leaders, Storyline Limited and Profiles & Biographies, unveiled the list in Abuja on Friday.
The annual compendium serves as Nigeria’s most qualitative compendium that profiles outstanding women across different frontiers and they include innovators, barrier-breakers, activists, top bureaucrats, captains of industry, and celebrities.
Edited by Kammonke Abam and Chioma Oti, the compendium will be unveiled on March 8 as part of the activities to mark the IWD.
Abam said: “The theme of IWD 2026 – ‘Give to Gain’ – calls for a mindset rooted in generosity, collaboration and shared progress. This year’s theme highlights the power of reciprocity: when individuals, organisations and communities invest in women, opportunities expand, systems strengthen and societies thrive. Giving is not a loss – it is intentional multiplication.
“‘Give To Gain’ captures a truth that resonates deeply with the publishers which is why they invest in women through sharing their unique and inspirational stories, thereby unlocking growth, innovation and resilience that benefit everyone, spotlighting the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality.”
On her part, Oti explained that Nigeria Women Annual: 100 Leading Women is one of Nigeria’s leading biographical reference resources, adding that it is perhaps the only one that is printed compendium.
“The decision to make it a printed compendium is borne out of the fact that the publishers want to etch the names of the women, who make the prestigious list, in the permanence of history and also for ease of reference.
“Through this compendium, we have discovered the incredible energy and grace that God has endowed Nigerian women all over the globe providing intrinsic value in societies they have found themselves in,” she said.
The publishers disclosed that given that one of the key objectives of the publication is to inspire the girl-child to aspire to greatness and conscientise the male adolescent child to appreciate and respect female achievements and accomplishments, copies of the book will be distributed free to secondary schools across the nation.
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