London, United Kingdom – April 2025 – The 2025 Global Power Women Awards (GPW Awards), a prestigious international celebration of female excellence and impact, proudly conferred the African Female Leadership Impact Award on Dr. Fatoumata M’Balou Sanogo, the dynamic Chief Executive Officer of PETROCI Holding, in recognition of her visionary leadership and transformative influence in Africa’s energy sector.

Held at the global crossroads of Abu London, the GPW Awards spotlighted the trailblazing achievements of women who are reshaping industries, driving innovation, and championing sustainable development. Dr. Sanogo emerged as one of the most impactful honorees, credited with reshaping Côte d’Ivoire’s oil and gas landscape and amplifying female representation in a traditionally male-dominated sector.

With over two decades of experience in petroleum exploration, production, and operations, Dr. Sanogo has served in pivotal roles at some of the world’s foremost energy companies—ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, ENI, Schlumberger, and Halliburton—overseeing strategic operations across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.

Since assuming the helm at PETROCI, Côte d’Ivoire’s national oil company, Dr. Sanogo has galvanized investment in petroleum infrastructure, championed energy diversification, and positioned the country as a regional powerhouse in Africa’s energy future. She is equally committed to promoting regulatory excellence and advocating for gender equity across the industry.

A petroleum production engineer and Executive MBA holder, her technical expertise is matched by her passion for industry innovation, sustainable development, and empowering the next generation of female engineers and leaders.

The GPW Awards, organized by the Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD)—a United Nations ECOSOC-accredited organization—aim to elevate the stories and accomplishments of women like Dr. Sanogo whose leadership is redefining sectors and inspiring a new era of inclusive growth.

A Star-Studded Celebration of Power and Purpose

The 2025 edition of the GPW Awards was more than an awards ceremony—it was a high-level global movement bringing together powerful women and influential leaders who are shaping the future across business, policy, health, education, and energy.

Diplomatic Prestige on the Global Stage

The event welcomed a distinguished roster of Ambassadors, Diplomats, and Global Leaders from around the world. Notable attendees included H.E. Ignacio Higueras Hare, Ambassador of the Embassy of Peru in London; H.E. Mrs. Manorie Mallikaratchy, Acting High Commissioner of the Sri Lanka High Commission in London; H.E. Christiane Aquino Bonomo, Deputy Consul-General of the Brazil Embassy in London; and Mr. Ivan Romero-Martinez, Ambassador of the Embassy of Honduras in London. Representing grassroots impact, Delyth Panneth, UK Country Coordinator for Days For Girls, stood as a key Resilient Voices Project Partner, advocating for health, dignity, and opportunity for girls globally.

Icons of Influence: Powerful Women Honoured and Present

In addition to Dr. Sanogo, the gala honored and welcomed a prestigious lineup of trailblazing women leaders including:
H.E. Mrs. Ann Marie Davis, Spouse of the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas;
H.E. Dr. Ana Dias Lourenço, First Lady of the Republic of Angola;
H.E. Mrs. Fatoumatta Bah Barrow, First Lady of The Gambia; Mrs. Solange Amichia, CEO of CEPICI (Côte d’Ivoire); Ms. Yaa Amoako-Adu, Executive Director of Above Inspections Limited;
Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, CEO of the Electricity Regulatory Authority in Uganda; Dr. Mandas Marikanda, CEO of Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank; Mrs. Roseanna Onyia, CEO of Clinique Research Development; Mrs. Flora Mutahi, CEO of Melvin Marsh International Limited; and Mrs. Michelle Kilpin, CEO of Tanzania Breweries Limited—among numerous other global influencers making waves across continents.

The evening featured dynamic fireside chats on gender equity and peacebuilding, red carpet glamour, documentary showcases, a fine dining experience, and the highly anticipated Global Power Women Awards Ceremony, followed by a lively networking celebration.

Dr. Fatoumata M’Balou Sanogo’s recognition underscores the immense value of bold, compassionate, and visionary leadership in building the future of Africa’s critical sectors. She now joins an elite cadre of global changemakers recognized for championing resilience, equity, and transformative impact on the world stage.

About the Global Power Women Awards

The  Global  Power  Women  Awards  (GPW Awards)  celebrates  the  remarkable achievements of women who are breaking barriers,  inspiring  change,  and  leading with  purpose  in  industries  around  the world.  Hosted  in  the  heart  of  London, this  prestigious gala  highlights  the strength, diversity, and resilience of female leadership on a global scale. By recognizing trailblazers, changemakers, and  innovators,  the  GPW  Awards is not just an evening of celebration—it’s  a movement that fosters dialogue, amplifes impact, and champions the pursuit of gender equity. Sponsors of this event stand as leaders in advancing inclusivity, innovation, and excellence.

About Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD)

Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD) is a leading human capacity, gender empowerment and development-based organisation that sees itself as a catalyst and thought leader in developing the theory and practice of leadership, social, educational and economic empowerment particularly in Africa, and also the developing countries of the Middle East and Asia. As an organisation currently in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) since 2012, we strive to advance our partnership with public and private sector organisations at different stages to develop, refine and effectively execute strategies that deliver superior corporate/institutional excellence. We empower the men and women folk for peak performance.