The Africa Women Conference (AWC) has announced a strengthened collaboration with Nasarawa State University to promote leadership and mentorship opportunities.
A delegation from AWC recently visited the newly appointed Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sa’adatu Liman, in Keffi, Nasarawa State, to discuss the partnership.
Jumai Ahmadu, the leader of the delegation and Co-convener of the Conference, congratulated Prof. Liman on her appointment and highlighted the existing partnership between the two organisations.
The collaboration involves running an online leadership program for women and girls in the University’s Gender Department. This program, which originated from resolutions made during the 2021 Rwanda edition of the conference, recently graduated its first batch of students.
The programme aims to empower women and girls who are unable to attend higher education institutions by providing them with a platform for online learning. Participants can acquire valuable skills and knowledge, culminating in a certificate upon completion.
Ahmadu, who is also the President of the Abuja-based Helpline Social Support Initiative, explained that the Africa Women Conference was formed in response to the need for an Africa-centered event addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by African women.
The AWC has been organizing annual conferences in various African countries, including Namibia, Morocco, Rwanda, Gambia, and Addis Ababa. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a virtual edition was held in 2020 during the lockdown. The 8th edition of the conference is scheduled to take place in Zambia in November this year.
Liman expressed her appreciation for the visit and commended the initiatives of the AWC. She emphasized the importance of sustaining such programs, particularly in the current political climate where women are underrepresented in leadership positions.
She encouraged the AWC to continue collaborating with institutions to bring about Africa-centered change and suggested expanding their focus beyond diploma and certificate programs. She urged the conference to delve into research projects to gain 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 advocate for these policies through legislation. She assured the delegation that the University, along with herself, would continue to support the AWC programmes.
