By Glory Ohagwu
The 2025 Africa Women Conference (AWC) had commenced in Accra, Ghana, featuring strong advocacy for structural reforms aimed at enhancing women’s political participation, promoting inclusive leadership, and advancing gender-responsive development throughout the continent.
Declaring the conference open on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, urged African women to unite for shared progress.
Dr Lartey said the theme, “Legacy Meets Innovation: Women Forging New Pathways for Africa’s Sustainable Development,” captures the urgency of women’s empowerment as a continental priority.
She noted that despite women forming more than half of Africa’s population, many remain excluded due to “illiteracy and harmful cultural practices,” calling for a “unified front for women to speak up.”
Highlighting Ghana’s gender milestones, she referenced the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121), and the Presidential approval of a Women’s Development Bank to support women entrepreneurs.
Urging continental emulation, she added: “Through his commitment and visionary leadership, we have the first female Vice President of the Republic, giving hope to the aspirations of women and girls in Ghana.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, speaking, called for continental solidarity and prayers for the safe return of recently abducted school girls in Nigeria.
Represented by the Director, Gender Studies, Nasarawa State University, Professor Hauwa Mainoma, conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, affirming his commitment to gender equality and inclusive development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted Nigeria’s alignment with global and continental frameworks, including the Beijing Platform for Action at 30, the AU Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality, the Maputo Protocol, and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda at 25.
The Minister spotlighted the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention Programme (RH-SII 774), driven by nine strategic pillars covering girls’ education, economic empowerment, child protection, climate action, nutrition, and governance.
She said the programme is already strengthening Women’s Collectives, expanding access to finance at 5% interest, and supporting agricultural value chains through the Women Agro Value Expansion (WAVE) initiative.
She added that Nigerian women currently own 43% of MSMEs, noting that “when women and boys alike are included, communities flourish and social cohesion strengthens.”
Also speaking, Dr Hanna Louisa Bisiw-Kotei, Administrator of Ghana’s Minerals Development Fund and National Women’s Organiser of the NDC, described the AWC as “a movement, not a conference.”
She noted that African women are merging traditional wisdom with modern creativity across sectors and urged African presidential candidates to emulate Ghana’s example by selecting qualified women as running mates.
The Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Dayo Adeoye, commended the AWC for sustaining high-level advocacy, reaffirming Nigeria’s support for policies that advance women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, peacebuilding, and digital inclusion.
“When women thrive, nations prosper,” he said.
Former Nigerian Minister of State for FCT, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, delivered a strong reflection on women’s resilience and the need for sustained mentorship, stressing that “there is nothing women have today except what we have demanded and worked for.”
Co-convener, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, said the AWC has served as a “lighthouse of hope, dialogue and action,” adding that this edition prioritises mental health, climate resilience, digital innovation and intergenerational mentorship.
The conference continues with high-level dialogues, innovation showcases, and policy sessions expected to advance cross-border solutions for sustainable development.