Nigerian, Mrs Merit Gordon Obua, is among other notable women from other parts of the continent who were recognised recently in Atlanta Georgia with an Honourary Citizens Award. This was during the just-concluded African Women Leadership Conference. She was honoured along with the First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique, Her Excellency, Dr Maria Da Luz Dai Guebuza.

The conference was attended by women from various African countries, and those in the Diaspora like the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States of America, spanning the spectrum of all sectors as legal, economic, political, social, cultural, technological, and other spheres of life.
This year's conference hosted by one of the most influential female law maker in the United States, Senator Donzella James is remarkable because, not only does it portrays the industry of the Nigerian woman, it also projected her positively especially in the current face of insecurity in the country.

Senator James, while noting with pride the role of women, stated that women were synonymous with the neck in the human anatomy. She, however, noted that even though the neck is not a prominent anatomical feature, it steers the head towards the correct path. This, according to her is the reason why women need to be celebrated.

Almas Jiwani, the UN Women President, who was the keynote speaker, went memory lane to remind participants that despite the progress that had already been made for the protection of women's rights, local and international barriers still exist capable of hindering women's ability to grow in all spheres. These barriers, she said, include fear, lack of finance, discrimination, lack of confidence, and education. In spite of all these, women, she said were able, in many ways, to raise their heads on the continent of Africa. She, therefore, entreated the continent to continue to pursue gender equality since, according to her, "Equality for women means progress for all".

In his opening remarks, the CEO and founder of AWLC, Elisha Attai, reminded delegates and participants that the driving force behind AWLC is to help create an enabling environment through which African women would be exposed to the premier opportunity of meeting, interfacing, sharing experiences and ideas with other women from Africa and the rest of the world. This, he said, involved the development of business ideas, networking, and exploring vast opportunities for partnering and expanding the frontiers of their vision and aspirations.
The Mozambican first lady, Her Excellency, Dr Maria Da Luz Dai Guebuza who was the chairperson at the conference charged her fellow women folks that: "As women, the seeds have been sown. It should now be multiplied and spread to generate positive changes in our continent and to contribute towards the empowerment of women all over the world".

Other speakers at the conference included, Eveline Pierre, Mrs Eka Okpok, representative Dee Dawkins-Haigler, Mrs Josephine Anunobi, Chief (Mrs) Oprah Benson, and Chidi Jacobs. Famous artists like Jennifer Eliogu, Mish, Jemiriye, and Belinda Brady graced the occasion and captivated the audience with their artistries.

Congratulations!!

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