Sirleaf Johnson, Aisha Buhari, 500 Others to Headline African Women in Leadership Conference

Sirleaf Johnson, Aisha Buhari, 500 Others to  Headline African Women in Leadership Conference

By Adedayo Adejobi

Every year African Women in Leadership Organisation (AWLO) holds its annual African Women in Leadership Conference. For the past 11 years, AWLO has delivered conferences as part of its developmental mission, hosted by countries in Africa and the Diaspora.

This year’s African Women in Leadership Conference is hosted by Rwanda in recognition of its gender development strides and registered achievements in women empowerment and leadership.

“We are proud of a HeforShe Champion, Paul Kagame, whose administration has not only brought women closer to leadership but also facilitated structures for sustainability of his impact.

“These progressive values are aligned with ours, and we are beaming the light on the country’s development through African Women in Leadership Conference,” Dr. Elisha Attai, AWLO founder said.

African Women in Leadership Conference (AWLC) is an annual meeting for strategies and capacity building to advance women’s leadership. It engages key decision makers to generate solutions, implement best practices, and build partnerships for women’s development.

Since AWLO believes that effective strategies originate from women, it engages them as its primary stakeholders to increase their leadership participation.

This year’s conference, which will be held at the Kigali Marriot Hotel Rwanda from April 4 to 5, 2019, is themed ‘Empowered for Sustainability’.

During the last Women’s Empowerment Principles Forum held by the United Nations, AWLO participated as a signatory of the UN Global Compact. At the forum, the unique essence of women’s empowerment was found to be very key in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

In view of this, ‘‘AWLC will be gathering 500+ women and stakeholders to: capture solutions and stakeholders’ opinions on sustaining women’s empowerment in politics, economy, business, workplace culturally and socially.

“It would also model case studies of enterprising African women with a focus on their strategies and competencies and collate the valued opinions of women in leadership to guide decision making processes as it affects women in all areas.

“The conference seeks to build the capacity of women to upscale skills and individual competitive advantage for Leadership and to generally, create opportunities for women through exposure to international networks, business to business networking, and showcase,” Attai enthused.

This year’s expected delegates are government officials in Rwanda, development partners , women professionals and entrepreneurs, women in public service, International NGOs, Religious Based Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, philanthropists, women associations, female youths, and other stakeholders including politicians, first ladies, heads of government agencies and diplomats.

The Keynote address will be delivered by President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson. Other Speakers include; H.E Jewel Taylor, Vice President of Liberia: Dr. Violet Arene, President of AWLO: Charles O’tudor, International Brand Strategist; D. Yvonne Rivers, Creator Of DC Shark Tank USA; Macdella Cooper, Philanthropist & Politician Liberia; Yewande Austin, USA Cultural Ambassador; Mary Akpobome, COO HBCL Investment Services Nigeria; Nathan Kwabena Anokye-Adisi, CEO EIB Network and Empire Group of Companies; and Johanita Suretha Schoeman, CEO Valunett Global.

Expected dignitaries and special guests include; Aisha Buhari, First Lady of Nigeria; Rebeca Akufo-Addo, First Lady of Ghana; Isuara Nyusi, First Lady of Mozambique; Samira Bawumia, wife of the Vice President of Ghana; Paulita Wie, Deputy Minister of Urban Affairs Liberia; Chief Dr. Opral Benson, AWLO Board of Trustees Chairperson; Caroline Mchome, wife of the Governor of Kakagame County Republic of Kenya; Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady Of Sierra Leone; Chantal Biya, First Lady of Cameroon; Isaura Nyusi, First Lady of Mozambique; Auxillia Mnangagwa, First Lady of Zimbabwe; Dominidue Ouattara, First Lady of Cote D’ivoire and Hon. Amb. Soline Nyirahabimana, Minister of Gender and Family.

The major features of African Women in Leadership Conference Rwanda 2019 are; Plenary Sessions and Presentations, Leadership Workshop, B2B Networking Events, Enterprising Female Leaders Showcase and Women in Leadership Congress.

Women leaders of African Descent are urged to take this opportunity that seeks to: set women up for outstanding leadership performance and promotion, consolidate voices to represent the interest of women across board, model enterprising African women case studies and also give over 400 female participants access to empowering networks and information. The registration for African Women in Leadership Conference is ongoing at awlo.org/awlc

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