Source: AfriqueJet
There is no excuse for women in Africa to continue bearing the disproportionate burden of poverty, Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete said here Tuesday.

"Our women are not empowered to control the wealth they create, girls are denied equal opportunities with boys in education, they have problems of accessing health care and a lot of other injustices. There is no excuse for this to continue," President Kikwete said in a brief address at the opening of the African First Ladies Summit, being held under the theme ''Investing in Women: Strengthening Africa."

"We have to invest more in the education of girls, in reproductive health and give them the right to choose, empower them to produce more wealth and make them architects of their own future and that of society," he said.

According to the Tanzanian leader, investing in women to become good mothers benefits children and their nation.

"In their multiple roles, women make an invaluable contribution to the well-being of families and the growth of nations. Women are the backbone of the family, society and nations and, therefore, investing in women is not an optional matter," President Kikwete added.

The President expressed gratitude to former US President George W. Bush for organising and supporting the summit and for his efforts to save lives of people affected by HIV in Africa since his days in the White House.

After the presidency, George and Laura Bush established the Bush Centre in Dallas, Texas, which is home to a presidential museum and library and the George W. Bush Institute, a public policy organisation that focuses on economic growth, education reform, global health, and human freedom.

PANA reports that seven African First Ladies are attending the meeting. They are from Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

The conference, also attended by representatives of various governments in Africa, policy makers, private sector partners, international and grassroots organisations, highlights the critical role First Ladies play as advocates for women and girls and discusses public-private partnerships that can lead to sustainable results.