Engaging African Women of Worth
Yinka Olatubosun reports that the recent Africa Women Leadership Conference in Lagos focused on how women can overcome seemingly difficult challenges to reach their goals and attain their potential
Wife of Nigeria’s VicePresident-elect, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo was preparing to give a speech at the 7th edition of the African Women in Leadership Organisation Conference (AWLOC) at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, when an incredible thing happened.
The soft copy of the speech which was meant to declare the conference open could not be accessed on her hand-held device. Mrs. Osinbajo, who represented the wife of the President-elect, Mrs. Aisha Mohammadu Buhari, quickly went to the podium, craved the audience’s indulgence and spoke straight from the heart.
The rousing standing ovation that followed was overwhelming. What a way to open a conference with the theme, ‘African Women Transcending the Globe, Breaking Barriers’!
That little challenge could have disoriented anyone. It turned out to be the first practical demonstration of how African women in leadership are poised to overcome seemingly difficult challenges to reach their goals and achieve their potential.
The conference hall was populated by over 300 delegates, mostly women, drawn from several African countries. The last time Nigeria hosted the conference was in 2010 in Abuja. Ghana has played host twice in 2009 and 2011. In 2012, the venue was moved to Banjul, Gambia.
Despite the change in the geographical preferences for the venue each year, what has remained unchangeable is the conference’s rich repertoire of speakers.
The deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Victoria Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire acknowledged this while delivering the welcome address at the conference. She saluted the courage and perseverance in women as they fulfill their responsibilities as wives, mothers and excelling professionals in various fields.
“The woman is a treasure in the home, a role model, a home keeper and a preserver of lives. In the African continent, we have countless women who have made us proud. I believe in the notion that what a man can do, a woman can do better, but today, I want to say that what a woman cannot do, cannot be done by anybody,” she said.
If the men in the audience had a contrary opinion, they kept it to themselves, giving room for the opening remarks by AWLO, Regional President, Mrs. Alanyingi Sylva. She pointed out some of the objectives of the gathering, including discussing the common challenges women face across Africa and charting a new course towards maximising their innate abilities.
“We require a good dose of encouragement to perform the role of elixir for development. We cannot throw our hands up in the air in despair. We must find a way around these challenges. We can make our country greater,” she said with optimism.
The keynote speaker for the conference was Dr. Salma Abbasi, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of e-Worldwide Group, an international consultancy company. With over 30 years’ experience in the field of technology, Abassi is understandably a fast-paced speaker.
Needless to say, her profile is very impressive. She has a first degree in Civil Engineering and an MSc in Electrical Engineering. Her PhD was obtained in Information Communication Technologies (ICT).
An eloquent speaker, Abbasi’s career life has spanned many fields including engineering, manufacturing, quality assurance and reliability as well as customer satisfaction. The result has been a wealth of knowledge steeped in multiple cultures and understanding of global issues. Right from the beginning of her address, she made it clear that women with ambition are not men-haters.
“We should be proud that our men work with us and they are not the only barriers we have to overcome. The founder of AWLO is a man and he encouraged me to come here today to share my knowledge,” she said.
After the applause, she continued by stating that the importance of digital literacy in women cannot be overemphasised. A keen observer, Abbasi took a swipe at the use of technology by women in Africa starting with the young women at the back of the hall.
“How many people here are on YouTube? Yes, you like music and you upload videos. I don’t know how to do those. But I know how to find sites with ICT experts. Look around, everyone looks so glamorous and fashionable. You know the latest styles. Do you know the latest application?
“Education is key. Money comes and goes. Husband comes and goes, but knowledge remains. Most of us have smartphones. Our young participants at the back have been listening and fiddling with their phones. Yes, that is one of the gifts we have as women, we multitask and it is in our DNA.
“But what is more important is to use these devices to access information. Many of us are on Facebook and Instagram. We take selfies with our smartphones. These devices can be used to store data that will be valuable to us,” said Abbasi in a delivery that was first punctuated by applause and later, respectful silence.
She observed that given the available statistics, Africans are the youngest people in the world, a fact that has advantages and disadvantages. The