6 African Women Trailblazing In The PR Industry
In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of public relations, African women are making significant strides and setting new standards. These trailblazers go beyond transforming the PR landscape to inspiring the next generation of communicators. Today, as we mark World International Public Relations (WIPR) Day, we highlight six African women who continue to lead the way in the PR industry with their expertise, innovation, and dedication.
Nene Bejide
Nene Bejide, founder of Blanche Aigle Communications, brings over six years of experience in the media industry delivering effective campaign and project execution for local and international brands in Tech, lifestyle, FMCG, and the corporate sector. She co-founded the In-Service of Humanity (ISOH) Foundation before establishing Blanche Aigle Communications in 2018.
Her agency offers public relations, digital marketing, content creation, and crisis management services across various sectors. Recognized as one of the top 50 influential women in marketing communication by Brand Communicator, Nene led her team to notable successes, including Hilda Baci’s Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon. Blanche Aigle was also named one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing SMEs by Business Day Media.
Laila Abubakari
She is the External Communications Manager at the Electricity Company of Ghana. As the External Communications Manager for the Electricity Company of Ghana, Laila Abubakari plays a crucial role in shaping the public image of one of the country’s most vital utilities. In 2023, Laila Abubakari won acclaim for her exceptional media relations at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
She revitalized the brand by improving customer response and launching the ECG mobile app. Laila also co-founded the ECG Fempower outreach, mentoring 150 women and sponsoring ten girls in electrical engineering and computer science. Additionally, she was selected for the Global Women in PR (GWPR) Empower program, which enhanced her leadership skills.
Mary Njoki
Mary Njoki, CEO and Founder of Glass House PR Ltd. She is a renowned trailblazer in the Kenyan PR industry. Since the inception of Glass House PR Ltd in 2012, the firm has grown into a reputable brand and consulted for companies like Facebook, Viber, and the Ethiopian Government, among other entities in East, South, and West Africa.
She also set up ‘A Billion Startups’, a free initiative to mentor young entrepreneurs on brand visibility and sustainable development since 2017. She and Glass House PR also organize the annual Africa Digital Finance Summit, bringing together key leaders to discuss the future of finance. Njoki was listed among 50 African Trailblazers by Business Review Africa in 2023.
Samantha Kipury
She is the group head of media at Dentsu Kenya. She has evolved and brought immense growth to Dentsu Kenya (formerly known as Carat), since its inception in 2010. Dentsu evolved from a single media agency to a comprehensive provider of integrated marketing communication disciplines, including creative, digital performance, content, and digital PR. As a leader in marketing communications, she also grew Dentsu Kenya to over 100 people, working alongside strong leadership in the digital and creative space.
In addition, she has partnered with various global and local brands in Kenya and across the continent. One of which is Coca Cola in which she is managing 25 markets in Sub-Saharan Africa amongst other reputable partnerships like Beiersdorf, Diageo, Safaricom, and MasterCard. She was selected as a Jurist in the media category of the Loeries in South Africa in 2020 and 2021. She was also chosen as Top 40 Women under 40 in 2018 and the Top 25 Women in C-suite in 2021.
Prudence Glorious
Prudence Glorious, a Tanzanian Pan-African thinker and strategist, is the Chief Purpose Officer at Prudence Zoe Glorious (PZG), Tanzania’s first impact communications firm which she founded in 2020, having also practiced as an independent consultant and UN advisor. With over 11 years of experience, she excels in strategic communications, PR, and social responsibility.
She sits as a board member of the New Life Foundation and the United States Foreign Trade Institute. Prudence excels as a media commentator on various topics and writes a weekly thought leadership column for The Citizen, published every Tuesday. She has also authored a Children’s book called ‘Jua na Ua’. Her other specialties include communications management and strategic social responsibility.
Vickie Remoe
She is a multifaceted communications strategist known for her expertise in public relations, digital marketing, and media production. Vickie Remoe is dedicated to reshaping perceptions of her homeland. She’s host of the ‘Make Sierra Leone Famous’ podcast and the ‘Vickie Remoe Show’ on AYV TV, where she highlights Sierra Leone’s rich culture and history.
Vickie raised $60,000 for COVID-19 relief for Sierra Leonean hospitals and authored two children’s books. She launched initiatives like the Make Sierra Leone Famous Showcase for creatives and entrepreneurs and the Vickie Remoe Prize for Journalism and New Media in Sierra Leone. In addition, she co-chaired the Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference, strengthening US-Sierra Leone relations. As a Digital communications strategist, she passionately promotes Sierra Leone’s cultural preservation and global recognition.
