General
A book that seeks to pave the way for fertile answers in stories of struggles, victories and convictions was on Thursday launched in Accra.
The book titled, “Women leading Africa”, is a collection of conservation and interviews of 18 inspirational African women leaders from Eastern, Western and Southern Africa. It was launched by the Africa Women Development Fund (AWDF).
Mrs Adeleye-Fameyi, First Lady of Ekiti State in Nigeria and Co-Founder of AWDF, said the book is a grant making foundation that supports local, national and regional women’s organizations working towards the empowerment of African women and the promotion and realization of their rights.
She said the AWDF aims at increasing the participation of women in decision making in governance such as parliament and the judiciary.
Mrs Fameyi said it was important that women were recognized in every step in society as they formed the foundation for the growth of children, who would grow to become future leaders.
The AWDF advocates for women to live in a world where there is social justice, equity and respect for their human rights.
Mrs Fameyi said AWDF mobilises financial, human and material resources to support African women and the work of the African women’s movement to advance women’s rights and gender equality in Africa.
She believes that if women and women’s organizations were empowered with skills, information, sustainable livelihood, opportunities to fulfill their potentials and the capacity and space to make transformatory choices, “We will have vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities.”
Mrs Fameyi said since the AWDF starts in 2001, it had provided about 17 million United States dollars in grants to about 800 women organization in 42 African countries, adding “The grant making processes are uniquely designed to meet the needs of African women and include the provision of small grants from 1000 to 5000 United States dollars to community-based organizations.”
Nana Nyarko Boateng, a women’s rights advocate, who reviewed the book, said it projects a sense of community that exists on the continent and avails support to those who might feel lost or alone in the struggle for gender equality.
The 178-page book is authored by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah.