Women in Africa Conference: Origins

Africa is filled with a lot of investment opportunities, as a result of the rapid growth in the middle-class of several countries. This can be attributed the blossoming free market in many of these countries, and to their governments getting more transparent.
But….
There were few women actively involved.
It was time for a wake-up call.

The maiden edition of the Women in Africa Conference, took place in Nairobi, Kenya, October 17th-18th, 2012. “TIME TO INVEST” was the theme for the women of Africa to get up and tap into the great untapped resources and opportunities available. The main objectives were:

• To bring together current and future entrepreneurs and leaders.
• To emphasize to them that the time to invest in women is now, more than ever.
• To sit down and brainstorm, network, mentor and forge a way forward.
• To change their perspectives that business was not just for men and destroy the mentality that women cannot make it in business.
• In the midst of ‘nothing’ that there is something there exceptional just waiting to happen.

Great women with brilliant minds who had gotten the ‘wake-up’ call earlier on, graced the occasion as speakers to motivate women around the continent to take charge. Among the speakers were:

1. Ms. Letty Chiwara, Chief of Africa, UN Women.
2. Mrs. Ida Odinga, Patron of the Ida Odinga Trust.
3. Mrs. Nneka Okekearu, Deputy Director, Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Pan Atlantic University, Nigeria.
4. Comfort Avunze Sakona, CEO, Avunze Media Ltd &  Publisher, Poize Nigeria Ltd.
5. Njeri Rionge, Kenya’s Most Successful Female Entrepreneur-Forbes 2011.
6. Eva Muraya, Vital Voices Global Partner & Director of Color Creations.
7. Joanne Mwangi, East Africa’s Top 100 Mid-sized Company Crown Winner 2010.
8. Sue Omanga, CEO & Owner, Exclamations Marketing Ltd.
9. Caroline Mutoko, Program Controller & Group Head, Marketing for Radio Africa.
10. Modest Lilian Mahinga, Tanzania’s Women Achievement, Winner 2010.
11. Lillian Andre, Entrepreneur & Founder of Wamama Center.
12. Mugo Kibati, Director General, Kenya Vision 2013.

Njeri Rionge
Named one of Africa’s most successful women by Forbes in 2011.  She is one of Kenya’s most successful entrepreneurs, a serial company co-founder, a strong believer in Africa being the next economic frontier and as Africans, we must build up indigenous organizations that will support the growth.
 With this drive and passion in her talk to the women, she inspired them to ignite their potentials for personal and organizational effectiveness.

Caroline Mutoko
Program Controller and Group Head, Marketing for Radio Africa.
She is the Queen of Kenyan Airwaves, hosts the “The Big Breakfast Show” on Kiss FM and also writes for The Star Newspaper both of Radio Africa. She is also involved in various projects and is an active advocate for civil rights.
Her topic titled, “Break the Mould - I dare you” was challenging and stunning. Every participant of WIA2012 felt motivated to tap into their passion and strength to change their world as great women!

Mugo Kibati
Mr Mugo Kibati, Director General, Kenyan Vision 2030, gave the impression that the men of Africa were in support of the wake-up call for women to take their place in the African Business World.

Participants left with a greater sense of empowerment, through established links, relationship and enhanced key skills required to step forward in their chosen careers and businesses with confidence and make outstanding impacts.

And now, its time for another sit-chat with other stakeholders interested in encouraging Women in Africa to take their place beside their men!
Women in Africa Conference 2013 will hold in Lagos, Nigeria, on July 10 and 11, 2013 at Pan Atlantic University, Ajah. Read all about it here.

SOURCES
- Women in Africa 2012, Time to Invest
- Africa: Women meet at WIA 2012