Just a few weeks after being appointed NEPAD Agency Goodwill Ambassador, Yvonne Chaka Chaka joins the Honorary Committee of the Crans Montana African Women’s Forum.
Yvonne Chaka Chaka, famous South African Songstress & Founder of the Princess of Africa Foundation actively participated to the 2017 Forum on Africa & South-South Cooperation in Dakhla(Morocco).
On this occasion, she received the Forum’s Gold Medal and accepted to close the Official Award Ceremony with two of her iconic songs « Amazing Man » and « Pardon Me ».
We are delighted to add her name to the list of prominent personalities who are already part of the Honorary Committee, chaired by Mrs. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO (2009-2017).
Yvonne Chaka Chaka is a champion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the United Nations MDG Envoy for Africa, and the Goodwill Ambassador for the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. She was chosen by Nelson Mandela as the first ambassador for his children's fund, and has also established her own charity, the Princess of Africa Foundation, a partner of the ACTION global health advocacy partnership.
The Crans Montana Forum is very pleased to announce that Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Senior Economic Advisor at Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI), has accepted to join the African Women’s Forum Honorary Committee.
Former Vice President of the World Bank Africa and Federal Minister of Education in her Country, Nigeria, Dr. Oby co-founded Transparency International and took part in the international mobilization following the kidnapping of 276 girls from Chibok’s High School (Nigeria), creating the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.
The Crans Montana Forum has kept fond memories of her active participation during the 2018 Forum on Africa & South-South Cooperation in Dakhla(Morocco), where she made a moving intervention during the African Women’s Forum special Programme and received the Forum’s Gold Medal for her actions and exceptional career path.
A few months later, the Crans Montana Forum offered her to join the Honorary Committee of the Crans Montana African Women’s Forum.
Her personal life-long commitment towards Women is a strong signal and inspiration for all of them. We have no doubt that she will provide valuable support to our Initiative.
Dans le cadre de la 20ème session annuelle du Homeland & Global Security Forum, la réunion exceptionnelle de l’African Women’s Forum se tiendra le vendredi 26 octobre, au sein de l'Office des Nations Unies à Genève.
Femmes Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement, Premières Dames, Ministres, Parlementaires, Femmes d’affaires, Militantes et Responsables d’organisations internationales venues du Monde entier sont invitées à cette occasion.
Ce sera-là l’occasion d’engager une grande réflexion sur les Femmes africaines, au coeur du développement économique et social du Continent.
Ce Programme spécial mettra notamment l’accent sur :
Femmes Africaines & Sécurité Globale
Le Rôle des Femmes rurales pour une Agriculture durable et solidaire
Yvonne Chaka Chaka, singer and Founder of Princess of Africa Foundation, attended the 2016 Crans Montana Forum on Africa & South-South Cooperation in Dakhla, where she received the Forum's Gold Medal for her actions in favor of Public Health and Women's Rights.
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SONGSTRESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST YVONNE CHAKA CHAKA APPOINTED NEPAD GOODWILL AMBASSADOR
Legendary and internationally-renowned South African singer and humanitarian Yvonne Chaka Chaka, has been appointed as the NEPAD Agency’s Goodwill Ambassador for TB and nutrition.
AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI
Considered a role model throughout the African continent, Yvonne has demonstrated compassion for others throughout her career. She has promoted literacy, women and children’s rights, and is also a champion in the fight against malaria, a statement from NEPAD states.
As the implementing body of the African Union, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency’s strategic impact areas are industrialisation and wealth-creation; shared prosperity and transformed livelihoods; human capital development and transformed institutions; and environmental sustainability. Given Yvonne’s strong commitment to the values and principles of the NEPAD Agency, she will be an excellent and eloquent advocate of the continent’s development agenda, it added with Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, NEPAD Agency’s CEO stated adding:
“I am pleased to confirm your appointment as NEPAD Agency Goodwill Ambassador with effect from 1 August 2018. Your commitment to supporting the NEPAD Agency through advocacy and communicating to a broad public will undoubtedly raise the profile of our continental projects,”
Yvonne established the Princess of Africa Foundation in 2006 to complement her humanitarian work. Through this non-profit organisation, she has continued to advocate for various causes and mobilise resources towards projects for people in need.
As Goodwill Ambassador for the NEPAD Agency, Yvonne Chaka Chaka’s public policy advocacy focus will especially be the promotion of food security and good nutrition as key response components in the fight against TB, as well as public awareness on the challenges and solutions to ending TB in Africa.
Nollywood star actress, Mrs. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde is this year's Best Actress in a Drama/TV Series at the 2018 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Omotola Ekeinde won the coveted award for her lead role in the movie 'Alter Ego'. This marks the first time she is winning an AMVCA in her long and illustrious career.
Omotola Ekeinde attended the Crans Montanan Forum on Africa & South-South Cooperation in Dakhla (Morocco) in 2017 & 2018.
We extend our warmest congratulations to her for this prestigious and most deserved award !
Mrs. Aisha Babangida, Chair of the Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman, attended the last meeting of the African Women's Forum held at the European Parliament on the occasion ofthe 29th Annual Session of the Crans Montana, last June in Brussels.
She gives her impressions of the Forum in an article published on Medium.
A Recap After the Crans Montana Forum
This past June, I joined the Crans Montana Forum and European Parliament to address a subject very close to my heart. People frequently frame Africa in negative light or diminish the promise of the continent by only discussing the problems, when in fact, like every area, with its problems, Africa also holds a wealth of potential. As a Nigerian, I know the potential my friends, family, neighbors and community members hold. Even still, some of that potential still goes unused or wasted. I think it’s important for everyone to begin to focus on how we tap into that untapped potential.
To overcome the social, economic and political problems that plague areas all over Africa, I think we need to reconfigure the way we approach problem-solving so that rural Africans in particular, can also benefit from this new wave of progress. The simple solution, the key to the puzzle for me, has always been empowering women and rural women in particular.
As many know, my late mother Dr. Maryam Babangida began our NGO the Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman because she saw the untapped there. She wanted to enable these women to actively participate in their local economies, speak up on social and political issues and help them soar to these unsaw heights. Her vision and inspiration is what now inspires me today as the Chairman of the Better Life Program.
If we can develop these women’s capacity and opportunity in their communities through education initiatives, skills training and cottage industry development, we all benefit. If they improve themselves, they will also improve the lives of those around them, and their nation as a whole. I am privileged to be able to see this transformation take place on a regular basis. With help and support from businesses and policymakers alike, we have been able to bring about a new generation of empowered women through access to education, health services, and an introduction into the agriculture industry.
Our programs build the capacity contained in each of these women and help foster a sense of independence. Strong, independent women support a strong sustainable economy. While our efforts may seem modest, we are pioneering a new approach to problem-solving, a new economic model based on holistic development. In creating a system where empowered women are the foundation rather than the exception, I think we will see a shift and sustainable change.
The fact of the matter is, our old model of government-led aid was not effective at developing an independent society, because I believe they were too far removed from the issue. I myself spend a lot of time speaking at events about rural women knowing full-well that neither I, nor those in the crowd, can truly understand the issues unless they have seen them firsthand. For us to make informed and effective decisions in developing a strong development model, we need to turn our attention toward those on the ground that have an in-depth understanding of what we want to achieve and how to achieve it. Together we can support them in becoming agents of their own betterment.
Governments need to actively support female empowerment, especially in rural communities where many women are more vulnerable, by supporting increased legislation that guarantee women education, pensions, land and property rights. In writing history, the government has the power to stimulate great change or prolonged inactivity. We need to push for progress rather than languish in waiting.
Businesses can stimulate change by providing support and inclusion for women in the workplace and mentoring female entrepreneurs. Eliminate occupational segregation that prevents women from working in fields previously dominated by men and honing their technical skills. At the end of the day — companies should want the best person for the job, unbiased by gender stereotypes.
Community members can support empowerment and development by supporting local cottage industries spearheaded by women who are able to open their own businesses through financial inclusion programs like microfinance banks. Prove our dedication to a prosperous future with our actions and not just our words.
The ‘Africa problem’ can often feel like it is a step removed from the rest of the world, but the Crans Montana Forum reinforced the idea that Africa’s main concerns are the world’s main concerns. In order to achieve our goals for 2030, as cliche as it may sound, it needs to be a team effort. If Africa is struggling to overcome the obstacles before them, the world struggles. That being said, the effort Africa puts forth to overcome those struggles is compounded by the world’s efforts to support Africa in overcoming.
About Aisha Babangida: Aisha Babangida lives in Nigeria where she works to better the African Community, specifically the lives of rural women and children. She believes in the power of education and financial inclusion as exhibited by her work with the Better Life Program and the Egwafin Microfinance Bank. You can hear more from Aisha on her blog.
On the occasion of its African Women's Forum meeting, the Crans Montana Forum will pay tribute to a Man of Peace, the late Secretary-General of the United Nations on Friday October 26, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. at the United Nations Office of Geneva. Mr. Kofi Annan recently left us. The world has lost an inspiring Leader and a great advocate of universal human values. He was awarded with Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for his outstanding commitment and actions towards a fairer and more peaceful world. He devoted all his energy to the promotion of human rights as the cornerstone of international legitimacy and multilateralism.
During the last African Women's Forum meeting, held on June 29 at the European Parliament, the Crans Montana TV interviewed prominent personalities who attended the meeting.
Among them :
Mrs. Maria Consuelo Nguema Oyana
Minister of Social Affairs and Gender Equality Equatorial Guinea
Mrs. Aisha Babangida Chairperson, Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman Nigeria
Mrs. Maha El Khalil Chalabi UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador President, Tyre Foundation
Mrs. Yvoire de Rosen Founder Mwanamke - Collectif Afroféministe Belge
Mrs. Marjorie Esomowei President & Founder Wisdom for Women International United Kingdom
The Crans Montana Club of Ports welcomes in its Strategic Committee, Mrs. Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou, President of Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA).
WISTA is an International Organisation which gathers Women with high level management position in the Maritime Transport industry. The Organisation provides them with a decisive support and implement actions to make this industry more attractive for Women.
Mrs. Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou is the second Woman to join the Club of Ports' Strategic Committee, after Mrs. Nozipho Mdawe, Secretary General of Port Management Association of Eastern & Southern Africa (PMAESA).
