For far too long African women have carried a burden. But that is changing with the coming of the African Women on Board (AWB). Founded by Dr Nkiru Balonwu, the AWB is an independent nonprofit dedicated to advancing narratives and improving realities for African women and girls globally. Dr Balonwu, who chairs the nonprofit, addressed a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 to announce programmes and activities in the lead up to AWB’s global launch on September 26 at the United Nations General Assembly (AWB@UNGA).
A Trustee of the AWB, Prof Chioma Agomo, and two fellows of the nonprofit, Gbemi Abudu and Olu Arowolo Verhejien, were also at the media briefing where Dr Balonwu declared that the organisation is made up of female and male change-makers from around the world, who share the common goal of fast-tracking the trajectory of African women into leadership positions.
“We started in 2017 as a network of women working together to advance the economic, social and political rights of African women. We looked at solutions to getting women into senior management, C-suit and board positions,” said Dr Balonwu.
She said the AWB recognised from experience and data-backed findings that when women are at the table and part of the decision-making process, teams are strengthened and more solution-orientated.
Women the world over, she added, are having a moment in history with their stories and experiences being brought to the global consciousness.
“Unfortunately, the unique perspectives and narratives of African women have been left out of this conversation almost entirely. AWB is saying that it is time for African women to be included in these conversations and have our say in the development and growth of this continent,” she said.
Prof Agomo, who is a professor of law at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and was the first woman to be elected by her peers to lead them as dean of law knows what she is talking about when she speaks on the subject of African women being left behind. She said she was at the gathering to testify to the importance of the work of the AWB.
“What attracted me was the understanding from the leadership, to the programming staff, to the council and communities of allies that gender diversity is not a women’s issue, but an economic issue, which concerns us all. The creation of opportunities for women directly correlates with heightened potentials for growth for everyone around them,” said Prof Agomo, whose specialty course is in gender and the law.
She pointed out that data consistently shows that investments put in the hands of women, lifts up their communities.
“We do need men as allies to champion women as the natural conduits that can feed success for all. I join AWB in welcoming everyone to the conversations we are having next week at AWB@UNGA and to this larger movement to make African women’s voices mainstream,” she said.
The AWB is not sitting on its arms on the journey it has embarked on with the African woman wherever she may live or work. Already, it held the Real Women Series London on September 5 in the United Kingdom, The Making African Women’s Voices Mainstream event in Lagos on September 18 the same day it held a press conference.
The Women Among Us (TWAU) sneak preview will take place on September 23 in New York, USA and three days after on September 26 will be for the AWB@UNGA.
The official launch of the AWB will take place on this day, which is also the UN General Assembly’s Seventh Annual High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development.
There will be a breakfast meeting with the Brazilian diaspora on September 28, also in New York. The TWAU exhibition will take place in October in Lagos, while Accra, Ghana will host the AWB’s Remarkable African Women Summit early next year. By which time the nonprofit would have brought 100,000 African women on board. Now, more than ever before, no African woman will be left behind to carry a burden that lifts no one.
