Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o together with Jacqueline Mugo of The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) and activist Ory Okolloh have been named among Africa’s top 50 most influential women by the Paris based magazine, Jeune Afrique.

The outstanding women have been selected based on their impact on the economy, leadership or governance last year.

Lupita Nyong’o has been acknowledged for her strides in Hollywood and the influence she has on millions of followers on her social media platforms.The 31 year old has also been recognized for her appreciation for her black roots an attribute that the report says has inspired a generation of black women in Africa or elsewhere. Currently, Lupita has 1.9 million fans on Facebook and 1.3 million on Instagram.

Ms Mugo, executive director at the FKE, was recognized for driving economic empowerment through job creation and also in her capacity as the secretary-general of the continental body for employers, Business Africa, and for advocating a safe environment for African enterprises to grow without government interference.

Ory Okolloh has been acknowledged for embracing avant-garde of new technologies to advocate for good governance. As a co-founder of the Ushahidi platform and Mzalendo websites, she is recognized for improving the continent by fighting corruption and promoting entrepreneurship.

Nigeria’s celebrated writer Chimamanda Ngozi, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, Graca Machel and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, are among other influential women who were listed among Africa’s top 50 influential.

In November last year, Lupita Nyong’o and Okolloh were also named in the new African magazine’s annual list of 100 Most Influential Africans.