• The President of Angola, H.E. João Lourenço, the President of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of Ghana, H.E. John Mahama, and Merck Foundation CEO Dr Rasha Kelej have been recognised among the 100 Most Influential Africans 2025 by the UK-based New African Magazine.
• Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, has been recognised for the seventh consecutive year as one of Africa’s 100 Most Influential Africans. The 2025 recognition by New African Magazine (UK) places her alongside the Presidents of Angola, Ghana and South Africa.
• The 100 Most Influential Africans 2025 list comprises prominent African leaders across sectors including public office, business, technology, change-making, thought leadership, creative industries and sports, whose work continues to inspire communities and shape Africa’s future.
By Staff Reporter
Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of the “More Than a Mother” campaign, has been recognised as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans by the prestigious New African Magazine (UK).
The special edition highlights individuals shaping Africa’s present and future. The magazine’s correspondents and collaborators scanned the continent to identify 2025’s human gems—leaders, innovators and change-makers whose influence continues to drive transformation across Africa and beyond.
Speaking on the recognition, Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, said:
“I am deeply honoured to be recognised as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African (UK), and to be named alongside esteemed leaders of our continent, including the Presidents of Angola, Ghana and South Africa, as well as many other change-makers. Congratulations to all.”
She added that the recognition holds special significance as it acknowledges her sustained efforts to strengthen healthcare capacity, empower women living with infertility, and support girl education through Merck Foundation programmes.
“It encourages and motivates my team and me to further strengthen our commitment to creating lasting and equitable impact across Africa for generations to come.”
Under Dr Kelej’s leadership, Merck Foundation has implemented several impactful initiatives, including the Scholarship Programme for Healthcare Providers, aimed at transforming patient care and improving access to quality and equitable healthcare in Africa and beyond. The Foundation’s flagship “More Than a Mother” movement, launched in 2015, focuses on building reproductive and fertility care capacity, breaking infertility stigma, raising awareness on infertility prevention and male infertility, and supporting girl education. The Foundation also runs the “Educating Linda” programme to advance girls’ education.
Over the past 13 years, Dr Kelej has worked closely with more than 33 African and Asian First Ladies as Ambassadors of the Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” campaign. These partnerships extend to key stakeholders including ministries of health, information, education and gender, academia, policymakers, international fertility societies, the media and the arts across over 52 countries.
“I am delighted to share that we have provided 2,500 scholarships to healthcare providers from 52 countries, covering 44 critical and underserved medical specialties,” Dr Kelej said. “Many of our alumni have become, or are on their way to becoming, the first specialists in their respective countries. We are building a lasting legacy in Africa.”
Through the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother campaign, a strong movement aimed at empowering infertile and childless women through access to information, education, healthcare and mindset change, Dr Kelej has helped transform fertility care and women’s health landscapes across 42 African and Asian countries.
Of the 2,500 scholarships awarded, 770 have been dedicated to clinical training in fertility care and embryology, postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees in sexual and reproductive medicine, clinical psychiatry, women’s health, assisted reproduction biotechnology, urology, laparoscopic surgery and family medicine—specialties critical to advancing equitable women’s health.
Merck Foundation has also supported childless women economically through the “Empowering Berna” programme, enabling beneficiaries to establish small businesses.
“It is all about giving every woman the respect and support she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child,” Dr Kelej said.
A strong advocate for education as a pillar of women’s empowerment, Dr Kelej, in partnership with African First Ladies, has facilitated more than 1,200 annual scholarships for high-performing, underprivileged African schoolgirls from 19 countries, including Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Dr Rasha Kelej is widely regarded as a trailblazer whose vision and leadership have transformed lives across Africa. She is celebrated for pioneering initiatives that address pressing social and health challenges such as infertility stigma, girl education, child marriage, gender-based violence, female genital mutilation and broader women’s empowerment.
Through innovative engagement with the media, fashion and arts sectors, Dr Kelej has amplified the voices of the voiceless. Her initiatives—including a Pan-African TV programme, health media training, annual media and arts awards, awareness songs, children’s storybooks and animated films—have contributed to significant cultural shifts across communities.
A true visionary, Dr Kelej reaches over 8.5 million followers across social media platforms, sharing empowering and educational content. Her unwavering commitment, innovation and passion continue to reshape Africa’s social and health landscape, leaving a lasting legacy of hope, empowerment and progress.
