As the countdown to the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 gathers momentum, Africa’s women in sport are preparing for a defining moment. From November 5–7, 2026, Dakar, Senegal, will host the prestigious 50 Most Influential African Women in Sports (50MIA) Awards and Summit, a landmark gathering that promises to reshape the future of sports leadership, investment, and gender equity across the continent.
More than an awards ceremony, the summit is emerging as a powerful platform for policy dialogue, athlete empowerment, commercial partnerships, and leadership development. Its timing alongside the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, the first Olympic event ever hosted on African soil—makes it even more significant for the future of African sport.
Leading this ambitious initiative is Kenyan sports media strategist and advocate for structural reform, Wairimu Nyathira, who believes Africa must take ownership of its sporting narratives and create systems that support women beyond the field of play.
“For too long, the brilliant achievements of African women in sport have been treated as isolated moments of individual triumph,” Nyathira explains. “Through the 50MIA framework, we are building a permanent ecosystem that links elite performance with commercial acumen, policy reform, and systemic safeguarding.”
Delivering a project of this magnitude requires collaboration across multiple levels. Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG), the driving force behind 50MIA, has established strategic partnerships that strengthen the initiative locally, continental, and globally. At the local level, Senegal-based empowerment organisation SENEGEL has been appointed as the Exclusive Local Host Partner. This collaboration will ensure meaningful participation of women-led businesses, small and medium enterprises, and youth innovators, allowing the benefits of major sporting events to reach local communities.
Across the continent, the long-standing partnership between ASVG and the Women Sports Africa Network (WSAN) continues to play a pivotal role in shaping athlete advocacy, leadership development, and gender equity programmes. On the global stage, the initiative has secured a historic partnership with the G100: Group of 100 Global Women Leaders, which joins as the Official Global Partner. Through its international network of women leaders, policymakers, innovators, and He-for-She champions, G100 will help elevate Dakar as a global centre for sports diplomacy and women’s leadership.
Over the years, 50MIA has evolved beyond celebrating achievements. The Dakar 2026 edition will focus on creating practical opportunities and sustainable pathways for women across the sports ecosystem.
Key discussion areas and training modules will include:
- Financial Empowerment – Equipping female athletes with financial literacy skills to protect their earnings, avoid exploitation, and build long-term wealth.
- Safeguarding and Welfare – Strengthening policies and systems that protect women and girls within sports institutions.
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation – Supporting athletes as they transition into business, agriculture, leadership, and other sectors after retirement.
- Sports Technology – Exploring how innovation and digital tools can expand opportunities for women in sport.
- Mentorship – Connecting emerging talent with experienced leaders and professionals across Africa.
These conversations will bring together athletes, administrators, media professionals, sponsors, policymakers, and business leaders committed to advancing women’s sport on the continent. The 50MIA Summit offers a platform where African women can share experiences, build networks, influence policy, and create partnerships that will shape the next generation of sport.
As the Road to Dakar campaign gains momentum, one message is becoming increasingly clear: African women are no longer waiting for a seat at the table, they are building the table themselves.
The 50 Most Influential African Women in Sports (50MIA) is Africa’s premier platform dedicated to celebrating, anchoring, and elevating female leadership across the sports ecosystem. Founded by Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG), 50MIA recognizes trailblazers in governance, performance, business, and media while driving critical conversations around athlete safeguarding, financial literacy, and equitable sports development.
By connecting decision-makers with the next generation of changemakers, 50MIA continues to serve as a catalyst for narrative sovereignty, leadership, and systemic progress in African sport.
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