On the margins of the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the 29th Ordinary General Assembly of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) was held at the African Union Commission (AUC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The assembly, held under the theme “Building on Beijing: First Ladies Championing Women’s Leadership and Rights Through African Heritage”, brought together African leaders to address critical challenges and opportunities facing the continent.
During the assembly, First ladies of Africa discussed on a range of key issues related to women’s empowerment and their contributions and achievements to societal development, particularly in the implementation of the #WeAreEqualInAction campaign.
According to a report from the Office of the First Lady, quoting First Lady Zinash Tayachew’s welcoming remarks at the OAFLAD General Assembly, the First Lady said that, as the theme of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development indicates, African First ladies should strive to empower women to the highest level of leadership by providing the required support in every area, and developing African values.
In this regard, Ethiopia is ramping up its initiatives to empower women. The government has been rolling out various programs to enhance women’s involvement in both politics and the economy.
As part of these efforts, the First Lady Office is working persistently in empowering women in the economy, launching three key national projects,
“Let us all, as First Ladies, unite in providing exceptional leadership, strengthening our African values, and ensuring that women attain leadership positions. May the Creator guide us in fulfilling our responsibilities,” Zinash remarked.
First Lady of Nigeria also expressed her commitment to advocacy, resource mobilization and fostering partnerships to close the gender gap and boost women and youth empowerment in Nigeria.
As This Day (Lagos) reported referring to a statement issued by her media assistant, the First Lady said that as a positive force for change on the African continent, the Organization of African First Ladies for Development must continue to improve the lot of women by building partnerships that can fast track the implementation of its 2025-2030 Strategic framework.
“As we progress with #WeAre EqualInAction, I am committed to advocacy; resource mobilization and fostering partnerships to close the gender gap and boost women and youth empowerment in Nigeria.
“I want to assure this gathering that I will do more for Nigerian girls, women and the youth in line with OAFLAD’s strategic framework (2025-2030). I believe 2025 is the year for our continent and we must all do our part in our various countries to make us a formidable force among the comity of nations.
“We must remember that Africa’s true prosperity will be built upon the foundation of our rich history, vibrant cultures, and the strength of our people, with women and youth playing a pivotal role in shaping our future”.
According to her, the theme for this year’s General Assembly, ‘Building on Beijing: First Ladies Championing Women’s Leadership and Rights through African Heritage,’ is a call to reflect on Africa’s values and how they can impact a new vision for women on the continent.
She said: “This year marks three decades since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration. The impact of this declaration is evident in the remarkable progress Nigerian women have made, emerging from our villages to big cities and even the world stage. Their contributions span across diverse fields, from education, to health, science, technology, politics, music, the fashion industry, business and finance, amongst others.
“Despite this progress, we still have a lot of challenges, especially when it comes to the rights of women and children. We are still facing issues on Health, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Child Marriage, Gender-Based Violence and Girl Child Education.
The First Lady of Kenya, Rachel Ruto on her part shared her country’s efforts in promoting the rights of children through her X page.
According to her, Kenya has made significant strides in addressing child hunger to ensuring access to education for all children. Notably, 2.5 million learners already benefitting from school meals. “We are working joining hands with both government and non-governmental organizations to implement sustainable school feeding programs through food production on school grounds,” she said.
Meanwhile, OAFLAD has elected new leadership for 2025-2027 to spearhead the implementation of the new OAFLAD Strategic Framework 2025-2030.
In her X page, the newly elected President of OAFLAD, First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Maada reaffirmed commitment to follow suit and bring about impactful contributions, advocate for women’s leadership, advancing gender equality, promoting women rights, and ensuring healthcare, social development across the African continent.
Expressing her sincere appreciation, she stated, “I want to assure you that, together with the Vice President and the newly appointed steering committee members, we will devote our time and efforts to building on the remarkable work of the outgoing leadership and all those who have paved the way before us. Together, we can continue to drive our mission forward and create a lasting impact across Africa. As First Ladies, we remain committed to advocating for women’s leadership and rights, ensuring that African heritage continues to shape a more inclusive and equitable future for all,” she said.
While talking about the outgoing officials, she said that their leadership has set a strong foundation for continued progress in championing the rights and well-being of women and children. “As we move forward, I am committed to building on the legacy of my predecessors by fostering collaboration, innovation, and sustainable solutions for the challenges facing our communities. Through OAFLAD, we will strengthen our collective efforts to amplify the voices of women, enhance access to quality healthcare, and drive meaningful policy reforms. Together, we will continue to champion a future where African women and children thrive, ensuring that no one is left behind in our pursuit of sustainable development,” she reaffirmed.
The Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) is an advocacy organization uniting African First Ladies to champion health accessibility and empowerment initiatives for women and youth. OAFLAD’s assembly is used as a key platform to build awareness and excitement around the Organization’s achievements and inspire action towards its goal of social change.
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THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2025
