From Thursday December 8 to 9 2022 the city of Kigali comes alive as women leaders and gender advocates from different African countries gather together to share knowledge as well as reawaken the global consciousness for the for the realization of sustainable development goals especially as it concerns women at the 5th edition of the International Forum on Women Sustainable and development under the theme of women Leadership and Gender Equity as critical component of sustainable development.
In his opening remark, Chrys Anyanwu the Founder/Executive Director of Global Advocacy for African Affairs, organizers of the forum, welcomed all distinguish guests and participants at the August meeting. In his remarks, he expressed his delights on the unrelenting commitment of women across Africa and Rwanda particularly irrespective of little or no support from Governments across Africa to deepening the International interactions on gender equity, navigating a new frontier in the onerous task of achieving women empowerment.
Chrys Anyanwu the Founder/Executive Director of Global Advocacy for African Affairs, organizers of the forum
Anyanwu told the media that the choice of Rwanda to host the 2022 forum is hinged on the succes of Rwanda in the area of gender equality and women empowerment. In his words, Rwanda is well ahead of most countries of the world including Europe and America in terms of gender equality. According to the recent Global Gender gap report released by World Economic Forum recently, Rwanda is among the first 10 countries in the world to have achieved and maintained gender equality in the past couple of years and this he maintained is very encouraging and something other African countries must emulate.
This forum was attended by women representatives from African countries including Rwanda and Nigeria
Halima Lawal who is representing the First Lady of Katsina State, Nigeria at the forum spoke of the effort of her government at empowering women, encouraging the girl child as well as ensuring women are given the pride of place to enable them fully realize their potentials in the society. She expressed her delight to have been part of the forum and looked forward to how the forum will go ahead to support their ongoing advocacy for gender equality especially on bilaterally and inter state level.
The first day of forum witnessed different sessions including:
.Presentation on the Journey of social inclusive and women empowerment in Rwanda.
.Presentation on Social- cultural factors, globalization and the 21st century woman.
Judith Katabarwa a renowned gender advocate and former staff of UN women presenting on gender inclusive
During panel discussion
CP Margaret Ochalla Nigeri Police Force, Gender Coordinator was among the attendants
Kafeel Shittu from Bank of Industry in Nigeria
Dr Ruth Ibbi Nigeria Information Development Technology Agency was a panel speaker
The Global Advocacy for African Affairs, the organizer of the forum,is a decade old organization founded by Chrys Anyanwu pursuant to the need for sustainable advocacy and solutions on issues of governance, leadership and enduring development in Africa.
Other event photos
By Theophile Bravery
