Why Africa cannot achieve transformation without women in leadership - UNDP - Blueprint Newspapers Limited
Spread the wordThe United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, has said Africa’s transformation will remain incomplete unless women are empowered to. . .
Spread the wordThe United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, has said Africa’s transformation will remain incomplete unless women are empowered to lead across politics, business, governance and innovation. Speaking at the Women Leaders Reception in Abuja on Tuesday, Eziakonwa described African women as one of the continent’s “most underutilised development assets” and urged governments to create an enabling environment that allows women to lead. She stressed that women’s inclusion in leadership was not merely a gender issue but a development imperative, noting that countries that fail to harness the full potential of their people risk slowing their own economic and social progress. Eziakonwa also welcomed ongoing discussions in Nigeria on increasing women’s participation in politics, saying inclusive leadership strengthens institutions, improves governance and drives sustainable development. Highlighting UNDP’s commitment to advancing women leaders, she said the Africa Academy for Women in Political Leadership, launched under the African Facility for Women in Political Leadership, received more than 1,300 applications from 41 African countries, demonstrating that Africa has no shortage of women ready to lead. She called for stronger investments in education, finance, technology, mentorship and institutions that enable women and girls to realise their leadership potential, adding that Africa’s next chapter of development must be driven by inclusive leadership, innovation and partnerships. The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, called for greater investment in women’s leadership, saying Africa’s future depends on unlocking the full potential of women. Attafuah said women’s inclusion in leadership was not only a matter of equality but a strategic investment in stronger institutions, better governance and sustainable development. She also highlighted the launch of the Africa Academy for Women in Political Leadership, noting that over 1,300 women from 41 African countries, including Nigeria, applied for its inaugural programme, demonstrating that Africa has no shortage of women ready to lead. Also, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aja Iman Suleiman Ibrahim, called for greater investment in women’s leadership and stronger family values, describing women as key drivers of governance, economic growth and peacebuilding. She also stressed that strong families are essential to national development, saying they would help reduce insecurity, out-of-school children and malnutrition, while calling for deliberate efforts to ensure women are fully represented in decision-making at all levels. The First Lady of Kwara state, Ambassador Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, sought stronger collaboration with the UNDP and other development partners to deepen investments in women, youth, children and vulnerable communities across Nigeria. She said the Kwara state government has continued to tackle poverty through grants for women, support for the less privileged and other social investment programmes aimed at improving livelihoods. According to her, the administration has also prioritised women’s leadership and healthcare, noting that Kwara has recorded significant milestones in maternal and child health while increasing women’s participation in governance. Spread the word