![40 Nigerians Under 40: Dr. Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba [29]](https://businesscabal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Dr.-akudo.jpg "40 Nigerians Under 40: Dr. Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba [29] 1")
Was shortlisted as one of the 3 finalists for the Ogunte Women’s Social leadership Awards in the category: Leader Charitable Organizations and Campaign 2013 which she won.
Akudo founded Friends Africa (Friends of the Global Fund Africa) as an African voice in support of the Global Fund and the fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Friends Africa mobilizes and builds the capacity of the African private sector, civil society and government to improve Africa’s health and is the recipient of the 2012 Stevie Award for Non-profit of the year and finalist for the 2012 ONE Africa Award.
She serves on a number of boards including Roll Back Malaria, the Global Health Council and the Nigerian arm of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). Through her leadership, Friends Africa has been able to mobilize over $560 million USD to countries in Africa for the purpose of integrating family planning and HIV services. This integration will reduce maternal mortality rate and reduce the number of infants born with HIV across Africa. She is constantly giving an African voice to high-level meetings across the globe, campaigning tirelessly for increased commitment to Health from government and organizations both African and Foreign. Under the leadership, Friends Africa has trained over 2700 SMEs across Africa to create a healthy workforce. Dr. Anyanwu Ikemba is a World Economic Forum 2012 Young Global Leader, Stevie Award Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 and Stevie Award Innovator of the year 2012. She is also a member of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative. She holds a Doctorate degree in medicine from Tufts University, a Master’s degree in International Public Health from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology from Lehigh University. She also has diplomas in non-profit management and non-profit leadership from Duke University and she has done post graduate studies at the University of London and the London Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Anyanwu Ikemba is the recipient of two 2012 Stevie Awards: Female Social Entrepreneur of the year and Female Innovator of the year respectively.
Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Friends Africa, a pan- African organization that fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria using the capacity of African governments, African businesses and African community-based organizations. Anyanwu Ikemba serves on the Board of Roll Back Malaria and Nigerian arm of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). She is also a member of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative and the Vice-President of her alumni class at the Harvard School of public Health. Anyanwu Ikemba holds a PhD in Medicine from Tufts University, an MA in International Public Health from Harvard University and a BSc in Molecular Biology from Lehigh University. She has two diplomas in non-profit management and leadership from Duke University and has done post-graduate studies at the University of London and the London Hospital for Tropical Diseases. She has received multiple awards in leadership and academia.
![40 Nigerians Under 40: Micheal Ajereh Don Jazzy [30]](https://businesscabal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/don-jazzy-75x75.jpg "40 Nigerians Under 40: Micheal Ajereh Don Jazzy [30] 5")
