Empowering African women and girls

GENDER equality remains the fulcrum for good governance and a strong foundation for economic growth. Therefore, women’s inclusion will positively enhance Africa’s political, social and economic development. We must therefore create strong institutional policies, invest in education, technology, mathematics, as well as other soft skill to create solutions for future emerging challenges.  Women have  decided to push for the inclusion of African women and girls economically, socially and politically. We should put the needs of women on the front burner by empowering women to empower society and supporting women to learn to leave a  legacy  for women leaders of the future. African women have also resolved to build synergy across platforms for knowledge sharing and  gender equality through collaborations between governments  to enhance the total wellbeing of women and girls to address key issues,  forge partnerships, hold progressive conversations and to share ideas,  drive creativity, brave challenges and  open up access to learning.

We should boost the power of association of women by breaking all barriers cutting across colour, religion, culture, celebrating our unique diversities , network with one another and boldly facing the challenges arising from our diversity. Since there is no elevator for  success, women must  define themselves, their positions and boldly push the brand of  womanity. Factors that limit women  such as culture, religion and societal norms must be legally challenged and addressed to move women and girls forward educationally and economically to push forward the women’s agenda. After a recent two-day deliberation at a Pan African convergence in Addis Ababa, African women resolved to harness the  internet and digital technology to promote gender equality while addressing infrastructural deficit to bridge the gender inequalities must be addressed. Women must be encouraged to take online courses which would enhance economic changes, nurture continuity of planning, power solutions and enhance women leadership and capacity building.

Opportunities should  be provided  for the empowerment of girls and women to ensure access, inclusiveness and respect that promote gender equality through collaboration and support for changes for women’s political inclusion by continental governments to promote an Inclusive Africa for all. Considering the stereotype on women’s progress in leadership a supportive environment that encourages women to take leadership responsibilities including: skills transfer, economic transformation, women and youth empowerment, must be provided to guarantee equal access in different sectors. Access to quality health care, family planning, and a better position to contribute to the economy must be advocated for women and girls. While respecting our various cultures, women at the grassroots must be encouraged to find themselves and break through their socialisation process which inhibits them through deliberate advocacy and sensitization as well as training in skills acquisition to unbundle their potentials to do more. For more women in  power  through a power sharing process we must push for more voices and special seats for women in parliament to participate in decision making. There must be a continuous discourse on the heterogeneity of women, opportunities for youth and women and strategies through capacity building that must be continuous .

To safeguard women from harmful widowhood practices, there must be deliberate advocacy to educate girls and women to be strong and independent and carry on without intimidation, by  empowering the girl child.  Policies must be put in place and implemented to fight all norms and sterotypes that make  women weak. Women must  be conscious of the limitless digital space  and  strive to conquer by encouraging the young and old to harness the digital space to progress in knowledge and economy. Governments must prioritise equal education and review and revise our gender policies. Governments should have initiatives to support financiers of educational initiative, collaborate on training and mentorship programmes.  Countries should look into their electoral laws and ensure the voices  of women and girls are heard. Men must see women as

partners and not competitors  and push for the inclusion of women and girls in the economy,  politics and social space.

African women at the conference, in partnership with Nollywood, resolved to carry out fundraising activities to promote the activities of the AWC and  support the needy . Starting their empowerment drive with an outreach in the Tigray region of Ethiopia right after the conference, African women resolved also to foster continental  collaboratin with Dr Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun foundation through Helpline Foundation in Nigeria to embark on a health mission for the women and vulnerable in Nigeria.

• Dr. Ahmadu is co-convener of the African Women Conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• by Jumai Ahmadu
• https://tribuneonlineng.com/empowering-african-women-and-girls/