Kodou Jeng joins African women leaders in new book launch

By Alieu Jallow

Gambian innovator and STEM advocate Kodou Jeng has joined four trailblazing African women to co‑author Five by Five, a book celebrating resilience, leadership and impact.

The publication was launched on March 26 in Accra, Ghana, bringing together the personal and professional journeys of five accomplished women from across the continent. Alongside Jeng, the co‑authors are Maryse Lokossou, Director General of CDCB; Hansatu Adegbite, a Chartered Secretary and private sector consultant; Janette Bettina Boohene‑Andah; and Kadiatou Fadika Coulibaly.

Jeng, CEO and Founder of Women in STEM Gambia, said her story reflects a commitment to advancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for women and girls. Through WiSTEM Africa, she has inspired a new generation of female innovators and worked to bridge the gender gap in STEM fields.

The launch event, convened by the Menfyd Foundation, drew high‑profile dignitaries including Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee and Mohamed Ibn Chambas. It celebrated both the release of the book and the collective impact of African women shaping leadership, policy, business and healthcare.

The Five by Five initiative highlights how storytelling can amplify women’s voices and inspire future generations. For Jeng, her inclusion marks another milestone in her mission to elevate African women in STEM and leadership spaces.

The book offers readers a compelling narrative of five women, five countries and one shared vision for a more inclusive and empowered Africa.