-Named amongst Africa’s 100 Most Influential Women 2024
By Jerromie S. Walters
Prominent Liberian woman, and now Political Advisor to Liberia’s President Joseph Nyuma Boakai MacDella Cooper, is being venerated continentally as she enjoys her deserving inclusion among Africa’s 100 Most Influential Women, after being nominated and selected by the Jury upon fitting the criteria.
As one of the 100 winners, an award will be conferred on Madam Cooper at a five-star gala awards conferment ceremony scheduled for 26th November 2024, to be held in Addis Ababa – Ethiopia. African Women Awards is an initiative of the Diversity Advancement Network, a leadership platform to showcase and mentor outstanding females worldwide.
As the African Women Awards acknowledges, Madam Cooper’s works have spread across a multiplicity of spectrums, and sealed for her countless titles including Founder, Activist, Philanthropist, and Politician. “We wish to extend our sincerest compliments to you for being selected as one of the 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN AFRICA for the 3rd Edition of The African Women Awards to be hosted in Ethiopia,” a communication from the Board members and conveners of THE AFRICAN WOMEN AWARDS to Madam Cooper reads.
It continues: “This prestigious international award which indelibly confirms your status as a member of an elite group of African Top Female icons (SHE ACHIEVERS NETWORK) also provides you with a unique platform to translate that capacity into new solid business relationships. The award will be in the form of a plaque and a certificate at a crème de la crème red carpet gala awards night scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the HYATT REGENCY Addis Ababa on 26TH November 2024.”
This awards scheme, being one of the most competitive corporate events, shortlists some of Africa’s biggest icons and will be attended by Top-most female dignitaries; heads of state, ambassadors, some chieftains, and other selected members. The Diversity Advancement Network is a global initiative that celebrates, unites, and empowers all people for the good of society. At DAN, we create unique philanthropic opportunities to celebrate success stories while providing solutions to common issues in marginalized communities through workshops and mentorship programs.
The African Women Awards are being organized by the Business Executive Media Group and aim to identify and publicly recognize women from all across Africa who have been outstanding in their professional activities and personal conduct, who have chalked up extraordinary achievements, and who have made indelible positive impacts on their respective communities, societies and/or economies either within the respective jurisdictions within which they operate or across regions of Africa or the entire continent. This is in line with wider efforts aimed at affirmative action to empower women and support and facilitate greater contributions by the female gender to Africa’s renaissance and improved quality of life within the continent.
Madam MacDella Cooper was born in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, and lived there until the outbreak of the First Liberian Civil War. The war forced Madam Cooper into exile in neighboring Côte d’Ivoire, where she spent her early teenage years as a refugee until 1993 when she was reunited with her family in the United States.
On October 17, 2016, MacDella Cooper publicly announced her candidacy for President of Liberia in the 2017 elections. She was also The Movement for One Liberia’s candidate for the Montserrado County Senatorial elections held on July 2, 2020. In 2022, MacDella Cooper announced her intention to run for President in the 2023 Liberian Presidential election. On May 26, 2023, Cooper publicly endorsed President Joseph Boakai’s bid for the Presidency, citing a desire to consolidate efforts to bring unity to Liberians.
Madam MacDella Cooper is the current Political Leader of the Movement for One Liberia (MOL), the political party that was founded in 2019 and accredited in 2020. The Movement for One Liberia provides women, youth, and people living with disabilities the opportunity to participate in public office. She began her professional career in fashion marketing and public relations and later branched out into corporate planning, consulting for global organizations like Citi Group, DucaSartoria, and Starwood, among others. She has also held several leadership, advisory, and board positions in the United States, Liberia, and other countries, including representation with humanitarian organizations.
In 2003, Madam Cooper founded the MacDella Cooper Foundation, a 501c3 international charitable organization whose mission is to educate, train, and motivate Africa’s most vulnerable children, disadvantaged youth, and marginalized women, helping them to become productive contributors to their nation’s economic, social and political development. In December 2010, the MacDella Cooper Foundation opened the first school in Liberia to offer free tuition that includes room and board.
