Forbes-ranked Dos Santos heading to Nam

Isabel dos Santos, Africa’s first female billionaire, is expected to attend the Southern Times Women Summit in Walvis Bay next month. According to a draft programme, Dos Santos is expected to deliver the closing remarks of the event that will take place on October 8. The 42-year-old business magnate is ranked the richest African woman by Forbes. According to Forbes, her assets in Angola include 25% stake in Unitel, the country’s largest mobile phone network, and a stake in a bank - Banco BIC. The one-day summit aimed at empowering women will be opened by Namibia’s First Lady Monica Geingos. Geingos, a qualified lawyer, has been ranked by various global organisations and publications as one of Africa’s top 100 economic leaders. Another notable guest is Phuti Mahanyele, who was nominated for Forbes Businesswoman of the Year in 2014 and was one of the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa in 2011. Mahanyele, who was selected as a global youth leader by the World Economic Forum in 2007, is expected to deliver a presentation titled, ‘How Women Can Speak Up, Stand Out and Succeed’. The Secretary-General of the Southern African Broadcasting Association (Saba), Ellen Nanuses, will discuss the role the media play in empowering women. According to the General Manager of Southern Times newspaper, Gwen Snyders, the event targets local women in the corporate sector who will be connected with mentors. “I was inspired last year when I saw so many women in the corporate sector losing their jobs. If women are given an opportunity to learn from others who made it in the male -dominated world, we will see a resilient female workforce in future,” said Snyders. JEMIMA BEUKES