The Africa Women Conference (AWC) has strengthened collaboration with Nasarawa State University in leadership and mentorship.
This was disclosed when a delegation of the AWC recently paid a courtesy call to the newly appointed Vice Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Prof. Sa’adatu Liman, in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Leader of the delegation and Co-convener of the Conference, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu congratulated Prof. Liman on her appointment and intimated her of an already existing partnership between the two organizations, urging a strengthening of ties for empowerment of women and girls in Nigeria.
She disclosed that the partnership entailed the running of the AWC’s online programme on leadership for women and girls in the University’s Gender Department.
According to her, this academic programme, which was a product of resolutions from the 2021 Rwanda edition, recently graduated its first batch of students.
She continued: “The programme is designed to empower women and girls who cannot attend higher education institutions. It offers an online learning platform where participants can gain skills and knowledge, culminating in a certificate upon completion.”
Ahmadu who is also President of the Abuja-based Helpline Social Support Initiative, further revealed that a group of African women, during the CSW 2018 in New York, underscored the imperative for “an Africa-centered event to address the unique challenges and opportunities for African women” hence the formation of the Africa Women Conference.
Since then, the Africa Women Conference has held its annual conferences in Namibia, Morocco, Rwanda, Gambia and Addis Ababa, including a virtual edition held during the 2020 lockdown occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic.
She disclosed that the AWC has scheduled this year’s edition, which is the 8th, for November in Zambia.
In her response, Prof. Liman expressed appreciation for the visit and lauded the AWC’s initiatives.
The Vice-Chancellor emphasized the importance of sustaining such programmes, particularly in today’s political climate where women are underrepresented in leadership positions.
She encouraged the AWC to continue collaborating with institutions to bring about Africa-centered change to the continent, urging the Conference to go beyond the diploma and certificate programmes, and also delve into research projects for deeper insights into African issues, and design policies to address them.
The VC also advised the AWC to “maintain collaboration with women in leadership positions and political partners who can help push these policies through legislation”, assuring that the University, along with herself, would continue supporting the AWC programmes.
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