Pan-Atlantic University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Enase Okonedo, Honored with 2025 Harambee Award

Pan-Atlantic University is proud to announce that its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Enase Okonedo, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Harambee Award for the Advancement and Equality of African Women. This recognition celebrates her relentless dedication to shaping future leaders and championing women’s education, a mission she has passionately pursued for over three decades.

Professor Okonedo's influence transcends Pan-Atlantic University, as she has been a formidable advocate for women’s empowerment in Nigeria and beyond. She made history as the first female dean of a business school in Nigeria, leading the Lagos Business School, and later, as the first female Vice-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University. With a strong commitment to mentorship, she has guided numerous women toward leadership roles in management, business, and public service. Her contributions extend to initiatives such as Wimbiz Nigeria’s Wimboard Mentoring Programme and her membership in the African Initiative for Governance (AIG) Leadership Council, where she works towards strengthening public sector leadership in Nigeria.

Additionally, in her role as President of the AIFA Reading Society, Professor Okonedo actively promotes sustainable education in Africa by fostering a strong reading culture among young people.

The Harambee Award, established in Spain by Harambee ONGD, honors individuals and initiatives making significant humanitarian, cultural, and educational contributions in Africa. Since 2010, Harambee-Spain has recognized exceptional African women dedicated to supporting vulnerable women in their communities. The award underscores the importance of education as a fundamental tool for gender equality and the peaceful advancement of African societies.

Professor Okonedo now joins this distinguished group of changemakers as a 2025 award recipient. The Harambee Award will also support development projects in the rural community of Iloti, southern Nigeria, focusing on the economic and social empowerment of women and youth—a cause close to her heart.

The award ceremony took place on Tuesday, March 4th, in Madrid at the Hotel Urban. Dignitaries present included the Mayor of Madrid, Mr. José Luis Martínez-Almeida, who presented the award alongside HRH Doña Teresa de Borbón Dos Sicilias, Honorary President of Harambee ONGD, and Mr. Nicolás Zombré, General Manager of Pierre Fabre in Spain.

Pan-Atlantic University celebrates this remarkable achievement and remains immensely proud of Professor Enase Okonedo’s extraordinary contributions to women’s empowerment and leadership development. Her recognition with the Harambee Award is a testament to her unwavering dedication and a source of great pride for the entire university community.