African First Ladies Summit African First Ladies forges a united force for Girl-Child education

The Nigerian First Lady recently played host to African First Ladies and international dignitaries in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.


The event was a summit for African First Ladies which was held on the 13th of May, 2024 at the State House Conference Center, Abuja. It was a program called “We are Equal campaign", a continental initiative, by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), meant to address gender inequality in Africa in the sectors of health, education and economy.

The "We are Equal Campaign" was also launched in November last year, by Her Excellency Amai Mnangagwa, ahead of the 22nd edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) where she hosted a high-level meeting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The campaign under the theme "Education as a powerful tool for Change: No Girl Should Be Left Behind", was launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The campaign was designed to see the reintroduction of the alternative high school for girls which aims at providing another opportunity to young girls who drop out of school for various reasons.

The campaign also shares similarity to the Stay in School programme spearheaded by Dr Mnangagwa, where children are encouraged to focus on their studies with scholarships awarded through her Angel of Hope Foundation to those who excel. Mr. President during his address, noted that the focus of the campaign in Nigeria Education as a Powerful Tool for Change is critical for Africa’s development. He urged African countries to promote a society where everyone has the same opportunities, regardless of who they are, because doing that leads to a stronger and more peaceful society for all.

Furthermore, President Tinubu commended the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) for its efforts to empower and create better opportunities for the girl child through the Campaign. He made emphasis on education being the bedrock of national development, adding that when girls are empowered to pursue their dreams, communities thrive, economies prosper, and nations succeed.

“This campaign holds significant importance for us in Africa. I therefore congratulate you all. The focus of this campaign is critical for Africa’s development, if we are to attain gender equity and ensure equal opportunities for all. “We are who we are as Africans. Believing in ourselves will definitely help us to walk together in unity. I want to say again that I am firmly committed to ensuring that the girl child is exposed to quality education that prepares women and girls to lead and bring positive changes to our communities”, he said. In addition, he urged the First Ladies to continue spearheading the campaign and narrowing the gender gap in opportunities and appointments across the continent. He also wished them well as they carry on with the work.

“Let us carry forward this campaign which promises to give an educated girl child, the potential to bring the necessary change and transformation in African communities for the better. No one can do this better than you gathered here today, the First Ladies. “We thank you First Ladies for being together to navigate the future of the girl child. African First Ladies, keep moving, leading, believing and working hard, we will follow. I wish you all fruitful deliberations”, he said. In her solidarity remarks, Dr Mnangagwa said that what Nigeria had done truly resonates with the theme of the 28th OAFLAD General Assembly which was held in Addis Ababa in February: “Educate her and transform Africa: Enhancing access to health and education for the 21st century’s African women and girls”.

“I recognise and appreciate Your Excellency as the event demonstrates your full support and commitment to OAFLAD’s continental #We are Equal campaign and rallying behind the call to close the gender gap in Africa. I see that you are going full steam ahead and supporting the education and welfare of the girl child. Too many times on the continent, a girl child is not in school because of poverty, teenage pregnancy, early marriages, not being considered valuable by the culture of that society and preference for the boy child to receive an education,” she said. According to her, Educating the girl child has immense potential to reduce poverty on the African continent and improve the health and well-being of women and girls, their children and their families everywhere.

“I am of the belief that we owe it to our girls and to future generations to close the gender gap in Africa. Enhancing access to health and education is truly the way to go if we are to achieve gender equality and gender parity. “Your Excellency First Lady of the Republic of Nigeria Madam Senator Oluremi Tinubu, recognising all these challenges and bottlenecks to girl child education, you have come up with this innovative approach to empowering the girl child. I am impressed by the alternative high school for girls’ initiative that you have been implementing here in Nigeria. Our girls deserve better on the African continent,” she said. Meanwhile, the host First Lady, Senator Tinubu established her reason for choosing education as the driving point of the campaign, as she welcomed her colleagues from the region.

“The campaign is focused on four pillars to end gender-based violence, education, and economic empowerment. To rally stakeholders and call for action around each of these key issues. To promote the #We are Equal campaign in Nigeria, I have decided to use education as a tool while also not neglecting other pillars of the campaign, many of which are also being championed under the scope of the renewed hope initiative which is led by my office,” she said. Without being left out, Ghanaian First Lady, Her Excellency, Rebecca Akufo Addo stated two reasons why she was glad to be part of the function. “The first is that promoting gender equality is critical for the development of Africa. There is a need for total engagement on the skills for both men and women to drive Africa’s Development Agenda. The second reason is that I identify completely with the theme of this event. Education is a powerful tool for change.

“No girl should be left behind. Congratulations Mrs Tinubu on your vision to ensure that no girl is left behind with the reintroduction of an alternative high school for girls. I believe that given the opportunity, girls and women have a lot to offer to our development. If we keep these girls marginalised, we are only perpetuating a cycle of gender inequality,” she said. Also, Kenyan First Lady, Mrs Rachel Ruto spoke along the same line, saying that the campaign was a unifying factor.

“Together as members of OAFLAD we stand united as we launch the unified campaign which focuses on four key pillars including education. This is significant because education is the pillar that connects the other three pillars which are health, economic empowerment and gender-based violence.

“Education enables an understanding of the importance of good health. Education contributes to economic empowerment and financial freedom and finally education empowers people, minimising the occurrence of gender-based violence,” she said. On the other hand, the OAFLAD Executive Secretary, Dr Nardos Berhanu praised the First Ladies for their commitment to improving the welfare of the girl child and young women. “As we gaze towards the future, let us reaffirm our dedication to the noble wish of OAFLAD and join hands in forging ahead in having a more prosperous Africa for generations to come,” she said.