Dr. Békanty Yao Chance Amour AMANI is a multidimensional expert and the Founder of the African Network of Women Entrepreneurs and Investors (RAFEI), a pan-African organization focused on women’s economic empowerment and social innovation.
He holds an MBA in Actuarial Sciences and a Doctorate in Project Management, with over 10 years of experience in project management, sustainable development, advocacy, and data analysis. He has obtained nearly 86 certifications in sustainability, governance, and innovation and serves as Country Representative for Côte d’Ivoire in the African Bioethics Network.
Dr. Békanty is a Silver Medalist (2023) of the Global Sustainables Future Network. He served as National Delegate of Education and Climate Ministers at the COP 2023 Simulation (in preparation for COP 28, Dubai) and as a Young National Delegate of the World Bank for the 2023 and 2024 summits. He is an ASHOKA Ambassador (Next Gen Changemakers Academy), Digital Ambassador for the African Development Bank, and Promoter of the Global Soil Doctors Program.
He is the CEO of BEKANTY.CI, overseeing 12 mining sites in Côte d’Ivoire with €120 million in managed funding. His professional roles include Member of the Selection Committee for Climate Mobility (COP 29), Country Delegate at the World Bank Youth Summit, Consultant Trainer for UN Women, Mentor for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Professor at the University of Burundi.
He also serves as Vice President of APPE AFRIQUE, Local Coordinator for Students For Liberty, and collaborates with organizations such as FAO and the 4PER1000 Initiative. A former 2021 legislative candidate in Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Békanty is a strong advocate for sustainable development, women’s empowerment, agroecology, and climate change mitigation.
Amb. Lady Ola-Rose Ironkwe is the Country Representative of ANWEI–Nigeria and a seasoned entrepreneur, business management consultant, and women-focused capacity development advocate with over 15 years of professional experience. Her career spans entrepreneurship development, SME growth, technology, public relations, herbal enterprise, and legal advisory services, with a strong focus on empowering women and building sustainable businesses across Nigeria and the West African region.
She began her professional journey with training in Computer Engineering, holding CompTIA A+ and Cisco Networking certifications, and later expanded her expertise through Secretarial Studies, Advanced Public Relations at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Law, and Herbalism and the study of medicinal herbs.
In addition, she has completed multiple leadership and capacity-building trainings, equipping her with cross-sectoral skills in governance, enterprise development, and institutional leadership. Her contributions to education and human development have earned her recognition as a Peace Ambassador for International Human Rights and a Pan-African Educationist.
Amb. Lady Ola-Rose Ironkwe has held several strategic leadership and advisory roles, including Chairperson, Zone 3 Catholic Women Organisation; Legal Adviser to the NOUN Alumni Association in both Abia State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Director of SME Membership Mobilisation at the Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI); and General Secretary of the DSTI-SME Cooperative Society.
She also serves as Country Representative for RAFEI/ANWEI. As an entrepreneur, she is the Chief Executive Officer of RoseSoft Communications Ltd and ORCAS Herbs, where she leads initiatives in business development, communications, and herbal enterprise.
Within ANWEI, she plays a key role in promoting the organization’s vision and strategic objectives, supporting women entrepreneurs through access to funding, training, mentorship, and strategic networks, and fostering partnerships with local and international institutions. Her work emphasizes innovative, women-led socio-economic initiatives that advance sustainable development and inclusive growth.
Her leadership philosophy is rooted in service, integrity, and empowerment. Amb. Lady Ola-Rose Ironkwe is deeply committed to mentorship and capacity building, and she believes that Africa’s long-term development depends on empowered, educated, and economically independent women leaders.
Mrs. Josephine Mwuese Ejimah is the Director General of ANWEI–Nigeria and an entrepreneur in the agro-processing sector with over five years of professional experience in value addition, structured processing, and cooperative enterprise development for Nigerian and African products.
She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bright Smile Global Resources, where she supports agro-based businesses to become organized, compliant, and market-ready. Her professional experience spans operations coordination, project support, enterprise development, and emerging food systems.
Mrs. Ejimah holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Public Administration and has completed professional training including the She Works Here – All Women’s Accelerator, UNDP Food Transformation Systems Certification, project management and operations support, food safety, hygiene, and quality control, entrepreneurship and cooperative development, and funding readiness and grant documentation.
She joined ANWEI in 2025 as an active member and contributor, providing support in project planning, coordination, implementation, administration, certification and compliance processes, budgeting inputs, and proposal structuring. She has played a key role in supporting ANWEI Nigeria’s 5-Year Strategic Growth Plan (2025–2030) and the RAFEI Shared Agro-Processing Hub Project, contributing to planning, funding documentation, and sustainability strategies.
Her leadership philosophy is grounded in integrity, teamwork, and service, with a focus on strengthening systems and supporting initiatives that create long-term, sustainable impact. Her advocacy and professional interests center on women’s economic empowerment, agro-processing, cooperative business models, and the promotion of Nigerian and African products.
Ms. Gbemisola Olaide Ibidapo is the Deputy Country Representative of ANWEI–Nigeria and an entrepreneur in the food processing and FMCG sector with over three years of experience in enterprise development and value-driven consumer products.
She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bettervalue Limited, where she leads initiatives focused on building sustainable, market-ready food brands. Her academic background includes an NCE, ND in Mass Communication, and an HND in Business Administration.
Ms. Ibidapo has completed professional development programs including the She Works Here – All Women’s Accelerator, She Leads Africa (Digital Marketing and Content Creation), and the African Food Changemakers BRACE Program focused on building resilience against climate and environmental shocks. She is also undergoing executive visibility training with ImpactHer – ShowcaseHer (Cohort 3).
She assumed her role at ANWEI in 2025, where she supports the Country Representative in executing ANWEI’s strategic vision and operational plans in Nigeria. She contributed to the launch of ANWEI’s WhatsApp engagement platform to enhance member collaboration and strategy development.
Her vision is for ANWEI to become the leading catalyst for a transformative ecosystem that empowers Nigerian women entrepreneurs to build scalable and sustainable businesses, driving national economic growth through women’s economic inclusion. She describes ANWEI as a transformative sisterhood of opportunity that amplifies the collective voice and resilience of African women entrepreneurs.
Her leadership philosophy is guided by servant leadership, integrity, accountability, and inclusive innovation. Her advocacy focuses on women’s economic empowerment, climate-resilient entrepreneurship, and youth mentorship, particularly in closing the digital and financial gap for women-led businesses.
Head of Human Resources/ Exhibition Director
Partnership and Fundraising Director
Maintenance Director
Assistant General Secretary
Director of Project
Packaging Director
Government and international relations Director
Public Relations and Social Director
Training Coordinator Director
Financial Secretary
Training and Capacity Building Director
Procurement Director
Communications Director
Loan and Revenue Director
Marketing and Sales Director
Compliance Director/Legal Advisor
Director of Logistics
Information Technology Director
Public Relations Officer
External Consultant ANWEI-Nigeria
Chief Consultant ANWEI-Nigeria
Country Rep. ANWEI-Liberia
CEO Thelema Foundation.
Director General/CEO Pan African Alliance Of Small And Medium Industries
Director TAP
President Pan African Educationist Project.
Chief Vision Officer of NITF
To foster unity, we maintain a strong brand identity through membership badges, ID cards, and uniform Aso-Oke gowns with branded T-shirts and caps. Meetings are held bi-monthly online and monthly in person to encourage collaboration and engagement.
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