Tag: leadership

One of the issues raised time and time again by AWDF’s grantee partners during a recent monitoring visit to Nigeria was the need to prepare for the 2015 general elections. In the context of insecurity and domestic terrorism, women’s rights organisations working in the areas of governance, political participation and leadership stressed the importance of encouraging women to enter the formal party political spaces, and to participate fully in political leadership positions. AWDF’s partners are adamant that women’s political participation is necessary not just on the basis of equity, but also a requirement for a change in ‘the old boys system of politicking’.

Women Environmental Programme (WEP) is one of AWDF’s grantee partners working to increase women’s participation in politics. An update in WEP’s recent newsletter provided this update below:

To be part of decision making on critical issues that affect them, women must come out to participate in political processes such as registering and voting in elections and vying for political positions. Participation of women in politics is the way through which the voices of women can be enhanced and their inputs captured for development purposes.

Due to religious, cultural and other factors, the women in Zamfara State, North Western Nigeria do not participate fully in electoral processes. In 2011 general elections out of a total of 2088 candidates that contested within the North West region only 49 were women representing 2.3% and out of this number, only 3 women contested from Zamfara State.

Unimpressed with the low level of participation of women in political processes in Zamfara State, Women Environmental Programme (WEP) initiated an action on Capacity Building for Women in Electoral Process and Political Participation in the Build Up to 2015 Elections in Zamfara State, North West Nigeria.

This action supported by African Women Development Fund (AWDF) has the overall objective of increasing the level of women participation in politics and democratic governance in Zamfara State through awareness creation.

WEP has started raising awareness in the three (3) senatorial districts of the State on the need for women to participate in political processes. WEP targets men, women and the traditional leaders to talk them into allowing women come out to participate in electoral processes. WEP has also launched media campaigns on radio in the state to call for women participation in politics in Hausa language for easy communication. With this WEP anticipates an improvement in the turnout of women come 2015 general elections in Zamfara State.

 

 

 

The Executive Board of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is pleased to announce that in January 2013 Professor Sesae Mpuchane will take over as Chair of the Executive Board of AWDF. This follows the completion of two terms in office as Board Chair by Dr. Hilda Tadria, co founder of AWDF. The Board and staff of AWDF offer their sincere thanks to Dr Tadria for her six years of exemplary leadership in that role, and look forward to benefitting from her expertise as an ongoing member of our Executive Board.

 

Professor Sesae Mpuchane has been a member of AWDF’s Executive Board for 3 years, bringing her considerable experience in academia, science and fundraising to the work that AWDF does. She sees her work with AWDF as “an opportunity to be part of a network or movement that is committed to the full empowerment of women through the creation of an enabling environment for positive change” and cites AWDF as “one of the few organisations that scouts or explores for value in women, at all levels, brings that value to the fore and helps to make it grow and flourish. A caring organisation such as the AWDF can bring about much needed change to society”

 

Theo Sowa says, “ It has been my priviledge to work with a committed Executive Board under the leadership of Dr Hilda Tadria. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Dr Tadria and all of AWDF’s Executive Board for their service to the organisation. I am pleased that Professor Sesae Mpuchane has accepted the nomination of her peers to take office as Board Chair. The whole AWDF team look forward to working with her in the service and achievement of African women’s rights”.

 

Click to read Professor Sesae’s bio

 

At a hotel in Entebbe this week, I was subjected to an experience that I would not wish upon my worst enemy. I am a recently retired (but not tired) almost 70 year old married mother of two and grandmother of seven. For many years, I have trained and mentored young people in leadership skills and the art of advocacy, particularly in connection with the subjects of Gender and Human Rights. On Tuesday I was invited to facilitate a session on leadership, using the Four Frames of Leadership to a group of sexual minorities. Another facilitator at the meeting was Hope Chigudu. Like me, Hope is a law-abiding married mother of senior citizenship. A few hours into my session, the Hon. Rev. Simon Lokodo—Minister of Ethics and Integrity—walked into the room.

 

The Minister introduced himself and proceeded to give a lecture on ethics and morality. In addition, he accused the gathering of being an illegal assembly ‘recruiting’ people into homosexuality, even insinuating that we were having sex in the meeting room. Then, in a strange twist of events, the Minister declared the meeting disbanded. Everybody was just told to go home. Kasha Nabagesera, activist and conference Convenor was threatened with arrest, while one of the participants who came from Sweden was challenged to explain how she had even entered the country. Soon after closing the meeting, the Minister was heard telling somebody over the telephone, “Yes, I have just disbanded them.”

 

Prior to his entry into the meeting, the Minister sent a message to the conference Convenor requesting details of the meeting. The program and all the training materials relating to the conference were sent to him, and the Minister asked to sit in on the proceedings. There being nothing to hide, the Convenor invited him to attend the meeting. Little did we know that the Minister would flare up in anger, make baseless accusations about the gathering and order the meeting closed. I was personally shocked by the action of the Minister, and the level of violent infuriation and intolerance he displayed. For a man of God, I saw no compassion, a great deal of prejudice and an utter unwillingness to listen. The Minister was too angry to hear good sense and simply failed to respond to any pleas for reason, ignoring both myself and Hope.

 

Reflecting on what happened on Tuesday, it is quite clear to me that the Minister over-stepped all boundaries of rational behavior. But more importantly, he blatantly violated the Law. In the first instance, every Ugandan has the right to assemble, speak freely and to have an education. This was a workshop convened to conduct training in skills that every citizen is entitled to. Secondly, although the Minister even went so far as to make the laughable claim that the gathering could have been planning a military coup or was plotting to disrupt national security, there is not an iota of evidence to support either claim. But I was most shocked that the Minister asserted that the government had all the right and the power to stop any kind of gathering that was taking place anywhere in the country; what a statement of arrogance and unbridled power! I find this wholly unacceptable and unsupported by any provision in the law. It is well known that if a gathering is to be stopped, there must be reasonable grounds to do so accompanied by the relevant legal documents, such as a court instruction or a Police order. The Hon. Minister was in possession of neither.

 

Tuesday’s actions by the Hon. Minister do not have any support in the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, or in any law known to me. Indeed, as I look ahead to the future Uganda that I want my grandchildren to live and thrive in, it is not the one I witnessed on Tuesday. Impunity comes in many guises; while the fascist actions of that day focused on a small group of activists, there is no telling who the target will be tomorrow. Autocratic government officials like the Rev. Simon Lokodo belong to an era I thought we had left far behind.

By: Dr Hilda Tadria

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

The Board of the African Women’s Development Fund announces the resignation of Ms. Bisi Adeleye Fayemi from the post of AWDF Executive Director, with effect from January 2011. The former ED, and co founder of AWDF, who is renowned for her commitment to women’s rights and her dedication to advancing philanthropic activity in Africa, has brought vision, commitment and passion to her role and has been key to AWDF’s success over the past ten years.[1]

Ms Adeleye Fayemi returns to Nigeria, where, despite attempts through election malpractice to subvert his hard fought and overwhelming election victories of 2007 and 2009, her husband, his Excellency Dr.Kayode Fayemi, was sworn in as the new Governor of Ekiti State at the end of 2010. AWDF is delighted that its former Executive Director will bring to her new role as First Lady of Ekiti state, the same dedication in promoting the realization of women’s human rights, and in accelerating positive change in the lives of families and communities in Nigeria, in Africa and internationally.

The Board of AWDF has had an executive transition plan in place, which is now taking effect. Ms Adeleye Fayemi will remain on the Board of AWDF and steps into the newly created position of President, which will enable her to remain actively engaged with AWDF and offer increased levels of support to the Board and incoming CEO of AWDF.

Ms Theo Sowa CBE, an internationally recognised woman and child rights activist and social development specialist,[2] has been appointed as interim CEO at AWDF, to manage a smooth executive transition, maintain AWDF’s momentum and support the Board in its search for the new CEO to be appointed during 2011.

The Board and staff of AWDF hope that its friends and stakeholders will continue to give their support to the organization, its staff, its new President and its new CEO.

ENDS

Press Enquiries

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah (Programme Officer for Communications)

Tel: +233 302 521 257

Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf

Website: www.africlub.net/awdf

---

[1] Please refer to attached bio

[2] Please refer to attached bio

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi’s Bio

Theo Sowa’s Bio

[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE

Pour diffusion immédiate

Le conseil du Fonds Africain de Développement de la Femme annonce la démission de Mme Bisi Adeleye Fayemi du poste de directeur exécutif d’AWDF, avec effet à partir de Janvier 2011. L’ancien ED, et co-fondateur de AWDF, qui est reconnue pour son engagement envers les droits des femmes et son dévouement à l’avancement des activités philanthropiques en Afrique, a apporté la vision, l’engagement et la passion de son rôle et a été la clé du succès de AWDF au cours des dix dernières années. [1]

Mme Adeleye Fayemi retourne au Nigeria, où, malgré les tentatives par l’élection faute pour subvertir ses dures victoires électorales écrasantes et disputées de 2007 et 2009, son mari, son Excellence Dr.Kayode Fayemi, a été assermenté comme nouveau gouverneur de l’État d’Ekiti fin 2010. AWDF se réjouit que son ancien directeur exécutif apportera à son nouveau rôle de Première Dame de l’Etat d’Ekiti, le même dévouement dans la promotion de la réalisation des droits humains des femmes, et dans l’accélération des changements positifs dans la vie des familles et des communautés du Nigéria, en Afrique et au niveau international.

Le Conseil d’AWDF a un plan de transition de direction en place, qui est en train de prendre effet. Mme Adeleye Fayemi restera au conseil d’AWDF mais pas dans le poste nouvellement créé de président, ce qui lui permettra de rester activement engagé avec AWDF et offrir des niveaux accrus de soutien au conseil d’administration et chef de la direction d’arrivée de AWDF.

Mme Theo Sowa CBE, une militante reconnue internationalement pour les femmes et les droits des enfants et spécialiste du développement social [2], a été nommée directeur général par intérim à AWDF, pour gérer une transition exécutive lisse, et maintenir l’élan de AWDF et soutenir le Conseil dans sa recherche de la nouvelle chef de la direction d’être nommé en 2011.

Le Conseil et le personnel de AWDF espèrent que ses amis et les parties prenantes continueront à apporter leur soutien à l’organisation, son personnel, son nouveau président et son nouveau directeur général.

ENDS

Questions presse:

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah (Chargé de programme pour les communications)

Tel: +233 302 521 257

Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf

Site Web: www.africlub.net/awdf

[1] S’il vous plaît se référer à la bio-jointe

[2] S’il vous plaît se référer à la bio-jointe

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi’s Bio

Theo Sowa’s Bio

 

When a friend suggested to Blessing Dickson, 17 years then that she accompanies her to an educational session at the offices of Girls Power Initiative (GPI) she was very reluctant. Not only was the meeting place a bus ride away, which she could not afford but also she really did not understand the essence of an after school educational session.

But the persistence of her friend and the encouragement of her brother led to her first attendance at the Girls’ Power Initiative educational session for young women after almost a year of persuasion, and since then she has never looked back. Blessing who is presently in the second year of the GPI programme is now a strong advocate of the Girls’ Power Initiative young women’s programme and has been convincing other friends to join the programme.

The GPI young women’s programme seeks to equip girls aged from 10 to 18 with human rights, and comprehensive sexuality education. The GPI young women’s programme is structured in such a way that everybody feels comfortable and safe. The entry level, level 1 is divided into 4 different groups based on age. The first group “shining stars” is for ages 10 and 11; second group “precious group” is for those 12 and 13 years old. The third group named “Silver” is for girls 14 and 15 years while the fourth group is for the older entrees aged 16 years and named “Pearls”.

To maintain the comfort of girls and young women within similar age groups the second level of the programme is divided into the older and younger girls. The younger girls are grouped together in the “Alpha” class while the older girls get into the “Bosoms” class. At the final level, which is level girl there is the “Damsels” who are younger and the “Seeders” who are the older group. The different classifications within the same level is to ensure that people feel free and are able to connect to and with people within their age group. The classification also ensures privacy and confidentiality. It takes 3 years to graduate from the GPI and an examination is taken at the end of each year before one is promoted to the next class. After the 3 years the graduate joins the GPI Alumni Association (GAA).

A wide range of topics are covered weekly including issues around women’s sexual health and rights; skills building activities including income generation skills, building of self esteem, imbibing a sense of responsibility and ability to think critically about issues. The girls are also taught to be firm in their convictions and to be able to withstand all the pressures of being a teenager.

GPI provides transportation to and from from the venue of the programme,, this ensures that the unavailability of a bus fare does not hinder any of the girls from attending the weekly classes/meetings.

Blessing who is now 19 years says, “Before joining GPI I could not stick to decisions, I was always wavering in my decisions and resolves but GPI taught me to stick to my decisions and to have a sense of responsibilities”. According to Blessing, the GPI lessons has helped her to shun all sexual activities as well as other negative social behaviours that teenagers usually indulge in. She has also learnt to respect the diversity of culture and tradition as well as to make responsible choices. She now can speak firmly but politely, is very assertive and has a high sense of self esteem.

Blessing is presently working as a fashion designer whilst saving money to continue her education. One of the key lessons Blessing has taken away from her training at GPI is the ability to readily apologise when she is in the wrong. This has brought about a lot of peace and tranquility within her relationships at home and amongst her friends.

She finds a lot of peace and comfort in the GPI family for she is able to confide in her facilitators especially in relation to issues around her sexual health, something she is unable to do with her mother. “The facilitators are friendly, they are like mothers to me. They listen to me, when I have problems even at home I tell them and they counsel me and support me and this makes me strong”.

GPI has helped Blessing to unearth her creative talents in poetry and song writing. She has presently written 4 songs that the GPI has adopted for the girls. Without the GPI most of these talents would have died within her. Blessing is planning to go to the medical school or to become a medical lab scientist, she plans on enrolling in a tertiary institution in 2011.

The GPI counseling programme is structured to involve parents and to engage with teachers when the need arises. Parents know that GPI is a safe space for their children, they have witnessed the changes that has occurred within their children and the diverse strength that has been displayed by daughters who have benefitted from the GPI programme. Teachers sometimes consult the notes of beneficiaries of GPI during lessons on sexual and reproductive health. Students approach students of the GPI programme for counseling, encouragement and support.

With the ever increasing numbers of girls attending the young women’s programme at the GPI there is the need to have a bigger facility that can comfortably accommodate all these girls. For this reason, AWDF is supporting the building of a new complex for the GPI.

By: Beatrice Boake-Yiadom

Grants Manager, AWDF