The Amujae Initiative, founded in 2020 by Nobel Laureate and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, is the continent’s premier programme for advancing women’s public leadership. It equips participants with mentorship, coaching, and access to a high-level Pan-African network of women leaders.
The new cohort includes accomplished public leaders from countries including Tunisia, Lesotho, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia.
According to the EJS Center, Mayor Lowe has been a fierce advocate for sustainable urban development and women’s political participation, both locally and internationally.
“Her leadership in Banjul has been marked by a strong commitment to inclusive governance and championing the rights of women and girls,” the Center stated.
Mayor Lowe’s selection comes at a critical moment for women’s leadership on the continent.
According to the Center, in 2024, women held only 27 percent of seats in national parliaments and 35.5 percent of seats in local governments globally, and 107 countries have still never had a woman Head of State.
“Her selection to the Amujae Initiative recognizes not only her achievements in The Gambia but also her growing influence as a voice for local leadership across Africa,” the Center stated.
The 13 outstanding women public leaders - the fourth cohort of Amujae Leaders - now join 42 other women leaders from 19 countries who form part of the continent’s most prestigious leadership program for women.
These women represent a new wave of African public leadership principled, bold, inclusive, and determined to build a better future for all. As part of the Amujae Initiative, they will benefit from strategic mentorship, coaching, and a powerful Pan-African network of trailblazing women public leaders.
H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and founder of the EJS Center, stated: “Welcoming this new group of Amujae Leaders is both a celebration and a call to action. These remarkable women represent the best of African leadership with their deep commitment to prioritizing the communities they work with. Their entry to the Amujae Initiative comes at a time when the world is yearning for a new kind of leadership one that is inclusive, ethical, and transformative. These women are not the leaders of tomorrow they are the leaders of today, and they are helping to reshape the future of our continent.”
