AFRICAN WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION AT THE ANGOLAN EMBASSY ON AUGUST 2, 2024
On 2 August 2024 in Berlin, the Angolan Embassy in Germany, in the presence of numerous African Ambassadors accredited in Germany and several German and African guests, organised a colourful ceremony to celebrate African Women’s Day.
The Cameroonian delegation present at this ceremony was led by His Excellency Mr. Victor NDOCKI, Ambassador of Cameroon to Germany. He was accompanied by his collaborators, notably Mr. Didier SEING, First Secretary, and Professor Maryse NSANGOU, Cultural Advisor, as well as Mr. Bertrand Yves NDJANA, Prefect of the Moungo Division, who was visiting Berlin.
H.E Ms. DIAS DA SILVA spoke of the origin and establishment of the African Women’s Day in Tanzania 62 years ago. She reiterated the theme of the conference and the challenges faced by Women and girls in Africa, such as child marriage, early poverty and lack of basic sanitation. She recalled the various charters and treaties that point to every female’s right to Education. She went on to reinforce that education is a required tool for the economy, leadership, integration in society and rights of all humans. She ended her speech with her poem dedicated to women and mothers who struggle to raise their children despite their marginalised state in society.
After the Ambassador’s speech, a panel comprising Ms Winnie CHIBESAKUNDA, Zambia’s Ambassador to Germany, Ms ANDJABA, an economist, Ms NDATIRWA, a financial expert, and Ms MOUDOUMBOU, President of the Pan-African Organisation for the Emancipation and Liberation of Women (PAWLO), took over to address various issues.
Ms. CHIBESAKUNDA gave a speech pointing to Education as an equaliser and tool that allows anyone to reduce poverty and foster economic growth. She underscored that skilled women and girls are essential for the present skilled market. To tackle the educational challenge, the African governments should make education free and accessible to young people in order to reduce the female illiteracy rate.
Ms. ANDJABA spoke on critical challenges faced by women in Africa where about 50 million girls are not in schools and continue to face issues of menstruation, child marriage, and domestic and social violence. She pointed out the importance of women and girls in society, with studies showing that educated girls are more useful in public development.
Ms. NDATIRWA began sharing the success story of Rwanda’s struggle to educate its girls. After the horrific genocide, the government, through the UN and subsidiaries, went ahead to create several national development programs, among which was the education and development of girls in a country where 52% are females. It was made possible principally by legislative actions among which women banks and microfinance were created, primary school fees were abolished, and women were enfranchised to own properties, revising several national gender policies.
Ms. MOUDOUMBOU began her speech by stating that Africa must unite as the United States of America to deal effectively with the challenge of women and girls in Africa endowed with rich potential. She pointed to Africa as a place of diversity, an asset that must be promoted. She ended her speech on the challenges faced by women and girls in small communities and areas of conflict which need to be tackled by African Governments.
After their speeches there was an opportunity for questions to the panel from the congregation. The question focused on dealing with the challenges of providing education for every individual woman.
The conference ended with a Traditional Fashion show from various African countries and the presentation of the diversity of African culinary cultures.
