The Africa Women Conference, AWC, said it’s strengthening its collaboration with the Nasarawa State University in the area of leadership and mentorship for empowerment of women and girls in Nigeria.
This was disclosed recently when a high power delegation of the AWC paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Vice Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Prof. Sa’adatu Liman, in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Leader of the delegation and Co-convener of the Conference, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, while congratulating Prof. Liman on her appointment, intimated her of the existing partnership between the two organizations.
She explained that the partnership entailed the running of the AWC’s online programme on leadership for women and girls in the University’s Gender Department.
According to Dr. Jumai, this academic programme, which was a product of resolutions from the 2021 Rwanda edition, recently graduated its first batch of students.
“The programme is designed to empower women and girls who cannot attend higher institutions. It offers an online learning platform where participants can gain skills and knowledge, culminating in a certificate upon completion.”
Ahmadu who is also President of the Abuja-based Helpline Social Support Initiative, further revealed that a group of African women, during the CSW 2018 in New York, underscored the imperative for “an Africa-centered event to address the unique challenges and opportunities for African women” hence formation of the Africa Women Conference.
Since then, the Africa Women Conference has held its annual conferences in Namibia, Morocco, Rwanda, Gambia and Addis Ababa, including a virtual edition held during the 2020 lockdown occasioned by Coronavirus pandemic.
She disclosed that the AWC has scheduled this year’s edition, which is the 8th, for November in Zambia.
In her response, the Vice Chancellor expressed appreciation for the visit and lauded the AWC’s initiatives.
Dr. Liman emphasized the importance of sustaining such programmes, particularly in today’s political climate where women are underrepresented in leadership positions.
The university don encouraged AWC to continue collaborating with institutions to bring about Africa-centered change to the continent, urging the Conference to go beyond the diploma and certificate programmes, and also delve into research projects for deeper insights into African issues, and design policies to address them.
The VC also advised the AWC to “maintain collaboration with women in leadership positions and political partners who can help push these policies through legislation”, assuring that the University, along with herself, would continue supporting the AWC programmes.
