The inaugural Zikoko HER Women of the Year Awards 2026 is set to recognize Nigerian women who have made significant contributions to the culture, economy, and standard of the country from March 2025 to the present. This prestigious award aims to acknowledge the achievements of 50 women who have defined the zeitgeist, using a rigorous methodology similar to the Zikoko Culture List. The nominees have been selected based on their outstanding work in various fields, including business and entrepreneurship.
Audrey Joe-Ezigbo, a veteran architect of Nigeria's energy future, is one of the nominees, having been honored with the AWIEF Lifetime Achievement Award in October 2025 for her three decades of leadership at Falcon Corporation. Ife Durosinmi-Etti, founder of Herconomy, has also made history as the first Nigerian fintech to win three Silver Lions at the Cannes Lions Festival in 2025. Her groundbreaking Breastmilk Money initiative has been recognized globally, and she has been named a 2025 JCI TOYP honouree. Dr. Ola Brown, the primary catalyst for African venture capital, has scaled investments into high-impact fintech and healthtech startups through HealthCap Africa, with her portfolio valued at over $700 million.
The public can now cast their votes for the Zikoko Women of the Year and Audience Choice Awards 2026, with the winners to be announced on the HERtitude 2026 stage. The awards aim to give recognition to the women who have owned the year, and the public's vote will determine who takes the crown. The nominees have been categorized into different fields, including business and entrepreneurship, and the winners will be selected based on their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.
The Zikoko HER Women of the Year Awards 2026 is a celebration of Nigerian women who have made a significant impact in their respective fields, and the public's participation in the voting process will help to determine the winners. The awards are a testament to the achievements of Nigerian women and their contributions to the country's culture, economy, and standard.
Ife Durosinmi-Etti's groundbreaking work with Herconomy is a shining example of how Nigerian women are bridging the gap between social advocacy and hard finance. Her ability to turn domestic care into investable capital is a blueprint for the next generation of African women to own their economic power. This is a significant development in the Nigerian fintech space, and it has the potential to inspire more women to take up leadership roles in the industry. The recognition of Ife Durosinmi-Etti and other nominees at the Zikoko HER Women of the Year Awards 2026 is a testament to the impact that Nigerian women are having on the country's economy and culture.
