Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa and Executive Board Member of World Rugby, will deliver the keynote address at a special virtual webinar hosted by Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG) on Thursday, 31st July, 2025, to mark Pan African Women’s Day.

The high-profile event, themed “Rooted in Greatness: Advancing African Women’s Leadership and Legacy in Sport”, aims to celebrate and elevate the role of African women in sports leadership while addressing the gender disparities that persist across the global sports landscape.

Mr. Mensah will address the critical role of African women in sport, with a focus on increasing gender representation in leadership roles, promoting inclusive pathways, and championing the importance of male allies in driving equity across the sporting ecosystem.

Joining him on the virtual platform will be a distinguished group of speakers, including the Minister of Sports of Sierra Leone, Augusta James Teima, and Paulina Lanco, Executive Committee Member of Rugby Africa and Chairperson of the Women’s Rugby Advisory Committee.

The webinar comes at a time when women’s sports are gaining global attention, yet statistics highlight a stark underrepresentation of women in leadership roles.

According to the United Nations, only 26.9% of executive positions in international sports federations are occupied by women.

Additionally, girls are twice as likely as boys to drop out of sports by the age of 14.

The Pan African Women’s Day sports webinar seeks to challenge these trends and build momentum toward lasting change by gathering influential voices from across Africa to explore concrete solutions.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, 31 July 2025
• Time: 3:00 PM GMT
• Platform: Zoom
• Meeting ID: 875 5734 7052
• Passcode: 231264

Featured Speakers:

• Augusta James Teima – Minister of Sports, Sierra Leone (Plenary Address)
• Paulina Lanco – Rugby Africa EXCO Member and Chairperson, Women’s Rugby Advisory Committee
• Dr. Memuna Williams – Co-Founder and Executive Director, Empowering Sustainable Change; Operations Lead, Champs for Change
• Tega Onojaife – Founder, Ladies in Sports International; Sports Producer and Presenter
• Ouname Mhotsha – Professional Golfer and Advocate for Women in Sport

Moderator: Carole Beckford – Sports Marketing Specialist and former publicist to Usain Bolt.

The webinar is expected to generate dialogue on advancing women’s leadership and legacy in African sport, while inspiring greater inclusivity and support for the next generation of women athletes and leaders.