By Ebi Kesiena
As women in Africa continue to push for equity and inclusiveness, Leading women all over Africa and in diaspora have converged in Tanzania to advocate for gender equity and socio-economic development.
With the theme, Promoting Gender Equity For Socio- Econmoic Development in Africa, the African Women in Leadership Organisation, AWLO, conference 2023, seeks to elicit a robust discourse to eliminate barriers constraining women in Africa from achieving their full potential.
Holding from 5th-8th of July, the conference opened with an appeal for increased investment on women and girls.
Speaking on the rationale behind the conference, Dr Elisha Attai, Founder, AWLO, said the gathering was inspired by a need to eliminate barriers holding African women back from fufiling their potentials.
According to Dr Attai, for the African continent to progress, it has to place much emphasis on gender equality and the empowerment of its female populace.
He added that the conference which is a convergence of phenomenal leaders will actively promote equality for the development of the African continent.
“Africa is a continent blessed with diverse resources and opportunities but growth and development have been stunted due to prevailing gender inequality.
“African women are held back from fulfilling their potentials by many constraints, whether as leaders in public life, in the boardroom, or in growing their businesses. This, in turn, holds back the potential of the continent’s economy.”
Among issues to be addressed at the conference are women in politics and lawmaking; the role of leadership in building equitable institutions; HeforShe-led conversations; women in business networking; and socio-economic development for gender equality, intergenerational dialogues.
Attai added that a panel tagged “Women in Leadership Show and Tell: Where are the Leading Women?”, will showcase women in leadership role models and changemakers, who will be sharing valuable experience, expertise, and inspiration to bolster representation and confidence in women’s leadership.
Panel speakers include, first female Vice President of Liberia, Dr Jewel Howard-Taylor, International Speaker and TV personality, Rasheedah Omolade- Sule,Prof PLO Lumumba, Professor of Public law with Lumumba and Lumumba Advocates, Amb Mulamula, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United republic of Tanzania, Dorothy Oesphoro Gwajima, Cabinet member since 2020 and Minister of Community Development and Gender, Prof Engobo Emeseh, Prof of Law and Head School of Law, University of Bradford (In 2020, she was recognized as one of the few female black professors in the UK under Phenomenal Women).
Also, on the list is Chief Dele Momodu, Publisher, Ovation International, Professor Uduakobong Archibong, Professor of Diversity & Pro Vice Chancellor, Center for Diversity & Inclusion, University of Bradford, Mr. Moses Siloko Siasia, Chairman/CEO, Mosilo Group and Heritage Times HT, a Pan- African online news platform that highlights the true African story, Dr. Eunice Erdoo Ortom, Founder, Eunice Spring of Life Foundation & Former First Lady, Benue State.
Article 3 of the Protocol on Amendments of the Constitutive Act of the African Union recognizes the critical role of women in promoting inclusive development and calls for the AU “to ensure the effective participation of women in decision-making, particularly in the political, economic and socio-cultural areas.”
The AU recognizes that that gender equality is a fundamental human right and an integral part of regional integration, economic growth and social development and has developed the AU’s strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) to ensure the inclusion of women in Africa’s development agenda.
