By Chibuzo Ihegboro
The imperative of empowering women as a means to accelerate prosperity in Africa was the main point of the 6th Future Women Conference, held on Saturday, September 7, 2024.
The event, organised by Women in Africa, brought together visionary Africans from over 22 African countries to discuss the future roles of women.
The conference, themed “Women and Wealth,” was held at the EbonyLife Place Victoria Hall, Lagos and featured workshops and masterclasses as well as an award ceremony.
Delivering the keynote paper titled “Strategies for Building and Sustaining Your Business in Africa,” Dr Shani Fauzia Yusuf, a Kenyan scholar, admonished women to learn the art of delegation and to avail themselves of every opportunity to showcase their businesses.
“Entrepreneurship is not selling things only. Entrepreneurship is selling ideas. You don’t have to be buying and selling something. You can sell services; that is still entrepreneurship. We have to expand our idea of business to get out of employment mentality,” she stressed.
She further offered practical tips to women, saying: “Do not just stay at the primary level; go overboard. Brand your business. Market your business and use social media. Be consistent and persistent.”
In her remarks, HRM Queen Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, the wife of the Ooni of Ife, spoke on that need and ways the older generation of women can help shape the minds of the younger generation.
She said: “Economically empowered women drive prosperity. Women leaders transform nations; we are indeed breaking a cross. Women are breaking barriers in businesses, politics and social impact. Women are innovative, creative and inspiring. Women are rising to leadership positions but our work is not over. We must continue to change the norm, advocate for policies and changes that support women, support women, own businesses, mentor and uplift each other, and invest in girls education.”
While acknowledging that women have made some progress, the Lagos State Commissioner of Poverty Alleviation and Women Affairs, Cecilia Bolaji-Dada said there is still much to be desired.
According to her: “Our commitment to lifting women out of poverty, promoting gender equality and ensuring that every girl has access to education remains paramount. It is through collaboration, innovation and the united front that we can create a world where women not only survive, but thrive.”
She said further: “For us, the Lagos State government, we discourage women not doing anything. Make yourself the kind of wife that your husband cannot do without. Make yourself the kind of mother that your children cannot do without. What I say all the time is, if you are not invited to the table, create your own table. We will be the head of the table and you will invite whoever you want on the table. Stop waiting to be invited to the table. Be the head. I don’t like it when they say what a man can do a woman can do better, why can’t it be what a woman can do a man can do better. Whether you agree with me or not women are stronger than men.”
The high point of the conference was the awards ceremony, where Gov. Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State emerged as Africa Man of the Year while Dr. Morayo Afolabi-Brown, the MD/CEO of TVC Entertainments, clinched the Africa Woman of the Year award, with the awards presented, respectively, by Queen Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi and Mrs. Bolaji-Dada.
The founder of Women in Africa, Chief Mrs. Rachel Akem-Harumi, said the awards were a recognition of the contributions of the recipients to the betterment of women and girls in society.
She asserted that Governor Fintiri has been supportive of women in Adamawa State by empowering and creating opportunities for them.
“The remarkable progress women have made in Adamawa State under the leadership of Umaru Fintiri is unequalled and unparalleled. The achievements are truly remarkable.
“Adamawa State is probably the only state in Africa that has a female Deputy Governor, a female Chief Judge, and all 21 local government chairpersons as women. These amazing statistics and the massive infrastructural progress Governor Fintiri is making in Adamawa State makes him the best man to win the iconic Africa Man of the Year Awards,” she said.
Other distinguished men and women also honoured at the event include Omooba Omolara Aderonke, Country Director, Women in Africa; the event’s keynote speaker, Dr. Shani Fauzia Yusuf, a Strategic Management Consultant and women empowerment advocate; Simba Group and TVS King; HRM Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi; Cecilia Bolaji-Dada; and Chief Alaka Yusuf Lukman, President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Lagos State Chapter, among others.