In a bid to build synergy for leadership development in Africa, the African Women Conference (AWC) has launched a leadership Development Centre for women and girls in Abuja.
In her opening address, the Convener, AWC, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, who said the centre was an initiative of the AWC to raise female community leaders in every African society who understand the importance and are committed to ensuring the sustainable development of their communities.
Dr. Ahmadu, who is also the President, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, said: “The AWC Leadership Development Centre for Women and Girls provides a platform for highly skilled international resource persons, who are driving change across various fields, to provide training and mentorship for African women and girls living in under-resourced communities thereby enabling them to aspire for excellence and leadership while helping them realize their full potential.
“The Center achieves this by running a full circle of practical and theoretical impartation which begins with a workshop that enables mentors meet physically with their mentees via group and individual training.
“During the workshop, resource persons will work with the mentees to develop individual work plans that will be implemented over a six-month period in the mentees’ communities. Both parties remain in touch via online and physical platforms during this period,” she said.
The convener, who was represented by Mrs Rita Eghujovho, said it was imperative for young girls and women to be mentored by older ones, noting that the leadership development programme was fashioned to bridge the gap and encourage women to be mentors to the girl-child and serve as role models to them, assisting them through their chosen careers or business enterprises.
Also speaking at the workshop, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Chapter, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche, decried absence of mentorship among women, noting that it was responsible women not having expected representation in all tiers of government 59 years after Nigeria became an independent nation.
According to him, “Women hold the key to unlocking the potential of Nigeria. Nigeria is still in transition because we don’t have the required number of women to change the statusquo.
“How do we ensure that the girl-child realises her potential? It is when women who have made significant progress in life helps others through mentoring. Women must come together, encourage each other, support each other, through platforms that help them achieve their set goals.
“You need to think of cooperatives because when two, three or more women come together they will achieve greater heights. It may see difficult but has to be done.”
He charged them to adopt the ideology of “One for all and all for one” to realise the potential which God endowed women with as custodians of the homes and society as well as redress societal ills.
Highpoint of the event was the speech by popular Nollywood actress, Tonto Dike, who charged the women and girls to represented the change the Centre was set up to achieve.
She urged them to always be bold and firm in following their dream, even as she assured of her commitment women related issues.
