The International SHEROES Foundation of Africa has described Liberia as a star of the upcoming SHEROES Forum because the country has produced a female president and vice president on two political parties.
According to the foundation, Liberia is hosting this year’s forum to encourage women to continue their great achievement in advancing to national leadership positions.
The forum is a three day event that will begin from October 17-19 under the theme, “Advancing Women’s Participation in Leadership,” at the Monrovia city hall.
The international SHEROES Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to draw women together to connect, educate, inspire and empower one another to assume new and expanded roles in the workforce and communities.
The SHEROES Foundation is an international non-governmental organization that was established in Nigeria in 2013 to bring women together to discuss issues affecting them and how they can be able to move forward in leadership.
The foundation aims to ensure that 50% of women are represented and involved in the social, political and governmental decision-making process that promotes the growth and development society.
Flossy Tachie-Menson, Co-Founder of SHEROES Foundation, told a news conference in Monrovia yesterday, October 15, that women across Africa need to make their voices heard by getting more involved in leadership because they make up 50% of the population.
“If 50% of the populations in Africa are women, why don’t we have female presidents or more women in leadership? We are looking for gender equality,” she noted.
Tachie-Menson said SHEROES strongly believe that women have leadership abilities and, as such, they must be given the chance to bring their idea to the table.
The international forum brings women together to celebrate achievement, and discuss the opportunities and challenges they face while trying to get into leadership.
“Liberia is a great ground for leadership because it is the first place where we actually had the first elected woman president in Africa,” Tachie-Menson said. “There is no better place to celebrate women than Liberia. Liberian women are doing great things. In order to reach forward, the world is a global village — everything does not happen in a country but globally. Let’s come together and see how best we can push ourselves forward,” Tachie-Men said.
“For the Liberian women, I am hoping that they get network connections, businesses, talk about issue that is affecting them with other women in Ghana and other countries to come up with solutions that will work for all,” she added.
Tachie-Menson said it is very important for women to understand and believe that they are capable of being in the driver’s seat.
The first day of the SHEROES Forum will focus on the journey of female visionaries and Pioneers in leadership, women who broke through the political “Glass Ceiling” and why female representation in political leadership in Africa is reducing. Discussions will also highlight the supportive roles men have played in promoting a safe space for girls and women to achieve their highest potentials.
Day two will also highlight the future of women’s political leadership in Africa, what women can do to increase the number of women in leadership and how they negotiated culture, religion and tradition to get to the top. The discussion will extend to the role of women in the private sector, via entrepreneurship and examine opportunities and challenges for female executives. The day will climax with the launch of the Jewel Starfish Foundation and Dinner that evening.
The third and final day of the conference will examine the balance that women in leadership strive to achieve between professional and family life and sharing about health and wellness. There will also be a session on being “My Sister’s Keeper” and how women can get involved and vested in helping each other.
The forum is headlined by several eminent African women leaders, include First Lady of Liberia, Clar Weah; former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; former President of Malawi and chairperson of the SHEROES Forum, Dr. Joyce Banda; former Vice President of Zimbabwe, Joice Mujuru; with Vice President of Liberia Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor as host.
Jewel Cianeh Howard Taylor is a Liberian politician and the current Vice President of Liberia. She was married to former President Charles Taylor and was First Lady of Liberia during his presidency. In 2005, Jewel Taylor was elected to the Senate of Liberia in Bong County as a member of the National Patriotic Party.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a Liberian politician who served as the 24th President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. Sirleaf was the first elected female head of state in Africa and a graduate of the Harvard University in the USA. She is also one of Liberia’s first two Nobel Peace Laureates.
Clar Weah, who was born in Jamaica to Jamaican parents, migrated to Fort Lauderdale in the United States where she runs a thriving Caribbean restaurant and grocery store. Clar is the wife of Liberia’s president George M. Weah.
Joyce Hilda Banda is a Malawian politician who was the President of Malawi from 7 April 2012 to 31 May 2014. She is the founder and leader of the People’s Party, created in 2011. Banda took office as President following the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. She was Malawi’s fourth president and its first female president. Before becoming president, she served as the country’s first female vice-president.
Joice Mujuru is a Zimbabwean politician who served as Vice-President of Zimbabwe from 2004 to 2014. Previously she had served as a government minister. She also served as Vice-President of ZANU-PF.
Also expected to attend the SHEROES Forum is Dr. Cindy Trimm is a sought-after empowerment specialist, revolutionary thinker, and transformational leader. As an author, Dr. Trimm has repeatedly topped bestsellers lists with what have become renown classics, such as: commanding your morning, the 40 Day Soul Fast, the Rules of Engagement for overcoming your past prevail and discover your strength in hard places.
Source: https://www.liberianobserver.com
