Award-winning film-maker, actress and TV talk show host, Monalisa Chinda is set to make an appearance at this year’s edition of the Young African Women Congress (YAWC) 2024.

Participants at this year’s congress will get the opportunity to listen to and interact with the Nollywood star, whose works have earned her an enviable name among her peers both in Nigeria and beyond.

Monalisa Chinda is also a producer, philanthropist, as well as a global media influencer whose services have been engaged by reputed brands across the globe.

Coming on board the event, she is expected to share her story, especially on the nuances and intricacies of her journey from an ordinary young girl into a global brand, representing the voices and aspirations of many young Nigerian and African girls who aim to break through the ceilings of gender inequality to achieve their dreams.

Mr. Daneil Osei Tuffuor, Founder and Executive Chairperson of the YAWC Network expressed his delight at having such an influential personality as Monalisa Chinda make an appearance at the event.

“She represents the dream of many girls on the African continent and even in the diaspora”, he intimated. “She is a personality that many young African girls see every day in the movies and look up to as a standard of who and what a true African woman is and should be. It will be extremely gratifying to have her impact the next generation of African queens on our platform.”

The Young African Women Congress (YAWC) Network is a fraternity of young women of African descent living in Africa and in the diaspora who seek to be empowered and be themselves, change-makers for leadership and development on the continent.

At the heart of its mandate is the mobilisation of women from the grassroots level for leadership and development through advocacy, training and projects.

This year’s edition, scheduled to be held between October 27 and 31 in Abuja – the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria under the theme: “Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment through Innovation and Technology”, is expected to host over 1,500 young women from Nigeria and across the continent.

About Monalisa Chinda
Having enjoyed a successful career, Monalisa Chinda is currently the Director of Communications for the Actors Guild of Nigeria; a member of the Board of Directors, for the Audio-Visual Society (AVRS); and a Member of the Nigerian-Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce.

Throughout her career, which she boasts is centred on inspiring change through unconventional productions that recalibrate society’s moral journey, Monalisa has won several awards over the years including the Nollywood@20 award; the E-Golden Award for Outstanding Character Actress; NEGA 2012, Germany, Afro-Australian Music and Movie Award for Most Outstanding Actress, 2010 and the African Film Awards, UK, 2009 only to mention but a few.

In 2011, she was crowned the Face of Port Harcourt Carnival Queen, in her hometown, Rivers State and in 2012, became one of four Nollywood actors to be featured on the cover of a Hollywood weekly magazine.

Outside of acting, Monalisa Chinda is a child and youth rights advocate, having championed several causes aimed at the betterment of the African child and youth through her foundation – Arise Monalisa Foundation.

She says the foundation is dedicated to inspiring hope, promoting creativity and creating opportunities for the less privileged across the continent.

As part of their work, the foundation organised the first-ever symposium and walk for life sensitization on Lupus Disease in Nigeria in 2021 which was followed by several press conferences and campaigns.

Some other campaigns championed by her foundation include autism awareness promotion; Walk Against Rape; the Hurried Child Project 2021; Slum2School Project; Child and Youth Advocacy, among several others.

The foundation is also credited with the organization of the Africa Women Conference held in Namibia [2019], Morocco [2020] and Rwanda [2021].