AWLA celebrates the African woman and salute their courage, resilience and Tenacity.
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE AFRICAN WOMAN!
JULY 31, is the day set aside by the African Union as a day to celebrate African women and put the spotlight on their achievements and challenges and proffer solutions as well as spur actions to ameliorate their sufferings and actions to stop the menace, set targets for the year and beyond.
The theme for 2023 is PRESS FOR PARITY, EMPOWERMENT AND JUSTICE: PANACEAS FOR GBV, INDIGNITY, INJUSTICE AND EXECUTIVE IMPUNITY
The commemoration On Monday July 31, 2023, is dedicated to gender equality and women empowerment while acknowledging the Foremothers of Africa who fought for the liberation and development of the continent and women who dared to break and shattered the glass ceilings to rule their world and has continued to inspire others:
FUNMILAYO RANSOME-KUTI (1900 - 1978)
Was an activist, teacher, political campaigner, and founder of the Nigerian Women’s Union. She went all out to fight for women’s rights and the first woman to drive a car in Nigeria.
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MARGARET EKPO (1914–2006)
She is Nigeria’s first female political activist credited with helping women assert themselves to make it into the First Republic
KOFO ADEMOLA (1913 - 2002)
She is the first Nigerian woman and the first black woman to get graduate from Oxford University.
ELIZABETH ABIMBOLA AWOLIYI (1910 - 1971)
Awoliyi is the first female physician to practise in Nigeria. She is also the first West African woman to earn a license of Royal Surgeon in Dublin.
GENERAL ADERONKE KALE Kale (1959-)
She is the first female army major-general in Nigeria. She enlisted in the army after becoming a medical doctor
LADI DOSEI KWALI (1925–1984)
She is the pioneer of modern pottery in Nigeria. She is also the first and only Nigerian woman to appear on a currency note. (N20 Note)
FLORENCE NWANZURUAHU NKIRU NWAPA (1931 - 1993)
She is the first female writer in the country. She is also Africa’s first female novelist to have an internationally published work in the English language
VIRGINIA ETIABA (1942 - )
commercial pilot in She is the first female governor in Nigeria’s history. She ruled from November 2006 to February 2007
GRACE ALELE WILLIAMS (1932 - )
commercial pilot in was one of the first Nigerian women to obtain a PhD in Mathematics. And also the first female vice-chancellor in Nigeria
ADETOWUN OGUNSHEYE (1926 - )
commercial pilot She is Nigeria’s first female professor and the first female dean of faculty
ADETOWUN OGUNSHEYE
SLYVIE KININGI
The first female President in Africa was Slyvie Kiningi. She was the Prime Minister of Burundi from February 10, 1993 to October 7, 1994.
QUEEN AMINA OF ZARIA
She was the first female warrior in Nigeria and was known as the warrior Queen. She was the first woman to become the Sarauniya (queen) in a male dominated society during her reign in 1576 to 1610 she expanded the territory of the Hausa people of North Africa to its largest borders in history
ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf served as president of Liberia (2006–18), being the first woman elected head of state of an African country. As president, she secured millions of dollars of foreign investment and established a Truth and Reconciliation Committee to probe corruption and heal ethnic tensions
JOYCE HILDA BANDA
President of Malawi (April 2012 -May 2014)
The first Female President in Malawi, who contributed tremendously to the growth and development of Malawi. She took office as President following the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. The founder and leader of the People’s Party, an educatorand Grassroots women’s rights activists, the minister of foreign affairs from 2p06 to 2009 and Vice President of Malawi from May 2009 to April 2012
VIRGINIA ETIABA (1942 - )
She was the first female governor in Nigeria’s history. She ruled from November 2006 to February 2007
GRACE ALELE WILLIAMS (1932 - )
February 2007 She was one of the first Nigerian women to obtain a PhD in Mathematics. And also the first female Vice- chancellor in Nigeria
SARAH NNADZWA JIBRIL (1945 -)
She is Nigeria’s first female presidential candidate both at the primaries and main elections. She contested to be the president on 4 occasions. She servedas Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on ethics and moral values..
FOLAKE SOLANKE (1932 - )
The first woman to be confered with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). It will interest you to know that 4 decades later, women make up only about 6% of the Silks..
ADETOWUN OGUNSHEYE
Prof Adetowun Ogunsheye is the first female professor of library science in Nigeria She is believed to be the first female to attend Yaba Higher school now Yaba College of technology
CAPTAIN CHINYERE ONYENAUCHEYA (1970 - )
February 2007 She is Nigeria’s first female Pilot. She is also the first female commercial pilot in Nigeria.
SANDRA AGUEBOR- EKPERUOH (the 1970s - )
Ekperuoh is first female mechanic in Nigeria. She is empowering sexually abused and underprivileged women with her non-profit organization- The Lady Mechanic Initiative of Nigeria
IRE ADERINOKUN (1991 - )
commercial pilot in is the self-taught UI/UX Designer and Front-End Developer and the first Nigerian woman to become a Google development expert
DR. NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA
Dr Ngozi is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization.
She served as Managing Director with the World Bank.
Forces as the most powerful Nigerian Woman
A former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance.
DR. OBIAGELI EZEKWESILI
Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili is an economic policy expert. An humanitarian and activist. A former Vice President of the World Bank (Africa region
ALOMA MARIAM MUKHTAR (1944 –
Is a Nigerian Judge who rose to become a Chief Justice of Nigeria from July 2012 – November 2014. She was called to the English Bar in November 1966 and to Nigerian Bar in 1967.
GEORGIA THEODPRA WOOD JSC ( 1947 —)
She is a Ghanian and a former Police Prosecutor . She was Ghanian first Female Chief Justice.
MARTHA KARAMBU KOOME (born 3 June 1960)
is a Kenyan advocate who is currently serving as the Chief Justice of Kenya, and she is the first woman to occupy the post.
PASTOR BIMBO ODUKOYA (1960 –
The Co- Senior Pastor of the Fountain of Life Church, who inspired many Nigerian women to be purpose driven, confident and assertive daring the seemingly impossible and building happy homes.
Permit me to stop here, as we still have thousands of women breaking and shattering the class ceilings daily the likes of Folorubsho Alakija, Hon. Justice Ayotunde Philips, Dame Priscila Kuye, Mo Abudu, Chiamanda Adichie, Blessing Awosika, Aisha Yesufu, Amina Mohammed UN Deputy Secretary General, Abike Arewa Dabiri, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Funke Adekoya SAN, Hon. Justice Amina Augie JSC, Olori Olufunmilayo Oluyede, Dr. Abiola Afolabi, Titilola Okanlanwo SAN and many others.
Arising from the above, it is crystal clear that African women have contributed immensely to the development of Africa, one only need to imagine the level of development Africa would have attained if women were given level playing ground with the men. This has been the missing link in the development of the continent
African Women Lawyers Association is a professional/non governmental organisation of women lawyers in Africa and African women lawyers in diaspora poised to end indignity to women and children.
We protect and promote the rights, interest and welfare of women, youths and Children.
We mentor, help and encourage them to reach their full potentials, and live their lives free from violence, discrimination and indignity. We encourage them to participate in decision making, exercise their socio- economic rights and contribute meaningfully to nation building and the world at large.
We at AWLA join the world to PRESS FOR PARITY as we agree with the UN Secretary-General that:
Achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls is the unfinished business of our time, and the greatest human rights challenge in our world.
Mr. Antonio Guterres
UN Secretary-General
Gender disparity is the zenith of injustice. It is the height of diplomacy shrouded in secrecy under the guise of culture, tradition and religion which should and must be resisted.
Are you still comfortable with the status quo? We at AWLA are not, we are feeling wounded and are resolute to stop this relegation and injustice to the African woman.
Imagine in the 21st century leaders elected to represent us dared women to say they don’t want to hear equality. What an affront?
There is a dire need and urgent one at that to press for parity and take deliberate and concrete steps to ensure inclusiveness of the overwhelming majority of the population in order to bring about a change in mindsets to strengthen democracy and enthrone equality, peace and justice as JUSTICE CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE OBTAINED IN THE FACE OF INEQUALITIES.
This year, AWLA is going the extra mile giving the African woman Platforms to showcase their abilities, capabilities and capacities in leadership and the Professions. Catching them young and creating a critical mass of women with formidable force to influence policies affecting women and children as well as give individual and collective support to women in Politics, women seeking elective and appointive offices through door to door sensitization, community Sensitization, Traditional Rulers Sensitization, Youth Organisations, Radio and TV giggles and Drama series, Print Media and digital media Sensitization and awareness creation.
This is a clarion call to spur you to action. Be reminded that not until you become uncomfortable with a situation would you take decisive action to change the situation.
Are you comfortable with the level of degradation of African Women?
Are you comfortable with the height of violence and discrimination against women?
Are you comfortable with non inclusiveness in elective and appointive offices?
Are you comfortable with the terror unleashed on the girl child by paedophiles and the depraved men?
Are you comfortable with the non monetization of your domestic and maternal duties?
Are you comfortable with the hopelessness and joblessness of the youths?
Are you comfortable with non provision of basic amenities such as portable drinking water, Shelter, food, good tarred roads, electricity, clothing etc six decades after independence ?
Are you comfortable with the impunity at which the political class spend tax payers money on themselves with recklessness ?
Are you comfortable with the affront of the political class on Nigerians?
Are you comfortable with the flawed elections?
Are you comfortable with the lawlessness and gangsterism in our polity
Are you comfortable with the insensitive hikes without adequate palliative but impoverishment and complete relegation of citizens to the level of N8,000 Monthly Palliatives for 6 months?
Are you comfortable with the forced “jakpa” on Nigerian Youths. Turning our youths to Aliens ?
Are you comfortable with the level of insecurity of lives and properties?
Are you comfortable with the Children sitting at home for months due to incessant strikes?
Are you comfortable with the deplorable state and neglect of the public Schools?
Are you comfortable with the huge number of out of school children rooming the streets thus breeding future monsters?
Are you comfortable with the minimum wage of N30,000 which we term poverty wage in the prevailing economic downturn?
Are you comfortable with the bad roads and poor infrastructures?
Are you comfortable with the poor power supply for decades upon decades?
Are you comfortable with the poorly equipped public hospitals with no drugs?
Are you comfortable with the inhuman and degrading condition and treatment in the IDP Camps?
Are you comfortable with the pitiable alimony granted at the men’s mercy in divorce cases?
Are you comfortable with the spate of reckless killings, banditry ‘areaboyism’ and landgrabbism?
The list is inexhaustible….
In the midst of all these insecurity of lives and properties, women and children are at the receiving end – vulnerable and worst hit victims of a failed society.
Choose to challenge the barriers against women. AWLA is calling on all and sundry to join us to break and shatter these seemingly insurmountable barriers.
It is time to use our GOD given power to unsettle the settled. We have power with the over 49.6% of Women population in Nigeria, Ghana 49.1 and the world 49.5%
In any democracy, majority wins the vote except when manipulated.
Women are the missing link in the project Africa
Get involved, it is time to speak parity, Act parity and Live parity
We ain’t begging for parity, we demand parity – it is our right not a privilege, the panacea for rapid growth and development.
It’s Time to Unite and Press for Parity!!!
Let’s plan early, start early and pull resources
The time is NOW!
We are poised for parity!
Hop into the parity train as its set to take off.
Don’t be left behind!!!
Mandy Demechi-Asagba
President
African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA)
30/7/2023
FEMALE PRESIDENTS IN AFRICA
Slyvie Kiningi, Acting President of Burundi (February – October 1993)
She was the first female President in Africa . She was Prime Minister of Burundi from February 10, 1993 to October 7, 1994. During this period, she served as the acting President of the country from October 27, 1993 to February 5, 1994 when the incumbent President Melchior Ndadaye was shot together with 6 of his officials. After his death, Kiningi gathered 15 ministers to continue to govern the country. Thus, technically making her the first female president on the continent.
Ivy Matsepe-Cassaburi, Acting President of South Africa (September 2005)
She also served temporarily as the acting President of South Africa when the President and his vice were out of the country for four days in September of 2005. She was also selected by the cabinet to serve as the constitutional and official head of state for an interim period of 14 hours on September 25, 2008. This was the period between the resignation of the current President Thabo Mbeki and the taking of office by the Kgalema Motlanthe.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia ( January 2006 – January 2018)
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa’s first elected President who served two consecutive terms after winning the 2005 and 2011 Presidential elections. She had initially run for Presidential office in 1997 against Charles Taylor, but she lost. During her tenure she was also elected Chair of the Economic Community of West African States in June of 2016.
Rose Francine Rogombe, Interim President of Gabon (June 2009 – October 2009)
Rose Francine Rogombe served as interim President of Gabon from June 2009 to October 2009 after the death of President of Omar Bongo. As President of the Senate at that time, she automatically became the Head of State because she was constitutionally the first in line for presidential succession.
Agnes Monique Ohsan Bellepeau, Acting President of Mauritius (March – July 2012 and May – June 2015)
Agnes Monique Ohsan Bellepeau was the Acting President of Mauritius from March 31, 2012 – July 21, 2012. This was the transition period between the resignation of the current President Anerood Jugnauth to the inauguration of the new President Kailash Purryag. She served again as Acting President between the resignation of Purryag and the inauguration of the new President, Ameenah Gurib from May 29, 2015 – June 5, 2015.
Joyce Hilda Banda, President of Malawi (April 2012 – May 2014)
Joyce Hilda Banda served as President of Malawi from April 7, 2012 to May 31, 2014 following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. She was the country’s fourth President. She was also the country’s first female Vice President (May 2009 to April 2012). In 2014, Forbes named President Banda as the 40th most powerful woman in the world and the most powerful woman in Africa.
Catherine Samba, Acting President of Central African Republic (January 2014 – March 2016)
Catherine Samba Panza was the Acting Head of State of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016. She became interim President when rebel leader Michael Djotodia resigned from his self appointed Presidency
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of Mauritius (June 2015 – March 2018)
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim was the first female President of Mauritius from 2015 to 2018. She was selected to be a Presidential candidate in 2014 following the resignation of then President Kailash Purryag. She was unanimously elected President by the National Assembly.
Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia (October 2018 – Present)
Sahle-Work Zewde is the first elected female President of Ethiopia and currently the only female out of the 54 Presidents in Africa. She took office on October 25, 2018 after being unanimously elected by members of the National Parliamentary Assembly. Prior to her election as President, she worked as Special Representative of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union.
Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania (March 2021 – Present)
Samia Suluhu Hassan is the first acting female President of Tanzania and joins the ranks of Sahle-work Zewde as the only other current female President on the continent. She was sworn into office on March 19, 2019 after the sudden passing of the former Tanzanian President, John Magufuli
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