Trailblazing Women Honored at AEGC 2025: Cherie Blair, Zainab Ahmed, and Sara Nyanti Receive the AEMA Black Prize

Mary Nnah

At the heart of the African Economic Global Convergence (AEGC) 2025 Summit in New York, a special moment unfolded as three remarkable women from Africa and the diaspora were jointly celebrated with the AEMA Black Prize – Lifetime Achievement Award for their extraordinary impact in law, finance, and diplomacy.

Lady Cherie Blair CBE, KC, founder of Omnia Strategy LLP and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, was recognized for her decades-long legal advocacy, her role as a human rights defender, and her support for women entrepreneurs in more than 100 countries. A global legal figure, Lady Blair has bridged law and development like few others.

H.E. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, CON – currently serving as Executive Director at the World Bank Group, was honored for her exemplary record as Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, where she stabilized macroeconomic indicators, improved fiscal transparency, and expanded access to international credit facilities that improved lives across West Africa.

H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia and former United Nations Resident Coordinator, was celebrated for her tenacious leadership in humanitarian diplomacy, global development negotiations, and her work uplifting Liberia’s international standing. A former child advocate and UN systems leader, her work resonates across the Global South.

The awards presentation highlighted the need to continue investing in female leadership and cross-sector alliances, reinforcing AEGC’s core values of equity, empowerment, and innovation.

📍 Global Women, Global Impact
From London to Washington, from Abuja to Monrovia, these women exemplify what it means to lead with purpose, policy, and passion. Their recognition is not just a personal milestone, but a continental call for more women to ascend global leadership platforms.

The AEMA Black Prize – Lifetime Achievement Award is one of Africa’s highest recognitions of global excellence, presented annually to individuals whose contributions have had lasting impact on development, peace, and prosperity across borders.

This year’s AEGC Summit brought together Heads of State, ministers, investors, and UN leaders under the theme, “International Summit on Security, Economy, and Investment in the Global Space,” with sessions on strategic investment, youth empowerment, and Africa’s pathway to global competitiveness.

With preparations now underway for AEGC Malta and Beijing 2026, and continued annual presence during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, this year’s honorees exemplify AEGC’s enduring mission: to spotlight transformational African and diaspora leadership, inspire intercontinental partnerships and catalyze sustainable prosperity for the global south.