Cross River born Favour Abatang alongside Kenya President’s wife Rachel Ruto has been decorated as one of Africa’s Girl Child Education Champions.
She was recognised for using her nonprofit organization Campus Babe Initiative (CBI) in curbing the menace of Teenage Pregnancy in Africa, as well as giving teenage mums a second chance education and creating opportunities for them to thrive.
Favour Abatang, who hails from Obanliku Local Government Area of the State, was decorated at the 4th Edition of the Africa Women Summit, 2023, held at the Century City Conference Center in Cape Town, South Africa.
This year’s event was the theme ‘Women Driving Impact for Sustainable Development in Africa’, and was critical on issues that affect young women who are driving sustainable development in Africa and explored strategies on how women across the region can form a powerful allyship to tackle these issues head-on.
The summit also brought together remarkable women from Africa and across the world who are creating positive impacts and making significant differences in their respective communities.
“Your work in this area has been truly inspiring and we recognize the immense impact it has had in the lives of women and girls in Africa. Your contribution to the advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is invaluable, and it has not gone unnoticed,” a statement from the Coalition of Women for Peace And Development in Africa – the organizers read.
“As a token of our appreciation, we are pleased to present you with this award. It is a small but heartfelt gesture that represents our gratitude for your efforts and your contribution to empowering women and girls in Africa. We hope that you will continue to be a beacon of hope and a role model for many others, and we look forward to working with you in the future,” it added.
In appreciation, Abatang expressed that she is deeply honored to have received the Africa Women Changemaker/Impact Award in the Girl Child Education Champion category.
“As I take a look at the remarkable nominees for this award, I am humbled to stand among these extraordinary women who have left an indelible mark in empowering women and girls across Africa. I must particularly acknowledge the wife of the President of Kenya, Mama Rachel Ruto for her exceptional work that was also nominated in this category.
“This award serves as a resounding call to continue empowering women and girls throughout Africa. It reminds me of our collective mission to bridge the gap of out-of-school girls on our continent, particularly by reducing the number of girls who drop out due to teenage pregnancy. We must also create more opportunities to empower teenage mothers through second-chance education,” part of her message read.
The award was presented to her by the Minister of Defence of the Maldives, Mariya Didi, South Africa.
