According to a UNESCO statement, Ms Alemu was recommended by an independent international jury of media professionals in recognition of her “exceptional courage, resistance and commitment to freedom of expression.”

Alemu wrote critically about political and social issues, focusing on the root causes of poverty, and gender equality and published in many independent Medias. Reeyot Alemu was courageous, in 201o, she founded her own publishing house and a monthly magazine called Change, both of which were subsequently closed. In June 2011, while working as a regular columnist for Feteh, a national weekly newspaper, Ms Alemu was arrested. She is currently serving a five year sentence in Kality prison.

The UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was created in 1997 by UNESCO’s Executive Board. It is awarded annually during the celebration of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, which will take place this year in Costa Rica.

Reeyot Alemu was imprisoned in Ethiopia for more than a year on allegations of terrorism. According to International Women’s Media Foundation, she is one of many journalists who have been arrested, interrogated and threatened in the East African country.

“What makes Alemu exceptional are her commitment to work for independent media when the prospect of doing so became increasingly dangerous, her refusal to self-censor in a place where that practice is standard, and her unwillingness to apologize for truth-telling, even though contrition could win her freedom”, IWMF said on its website.

While in jail, Alemu was offered clemency if she agreed to testify against journalist colleagues. She refused and was sent to solitary confinement for 13 days as punishment for her failure to cooperate.

In 2012, she was honoured with the Courage in Journalism Award.

For every iconic female leader – a President Johnson-Sirleaf in Liberia, for example – there are a thousand female voices in Africa which are unheard. In individual African countries, and across the continent at large, we see a joust between success and shortcoming. Africa may lead the world in the proportion of women who sit in some if its parliaments, but it lags badly behind the rest of the world in others. Statistics report countries in which three percent of women have experienced sexual violence – a figure which is three percent too high – and those in which no less than a thirty-three percent have been confronted and affronted with such crime.

The mathematics do not make sense, when we see that women are still among Africa’s most vulnerable people. Fully two-thirds of the continent’s children out of primary school, its citizens living below the poverty line, its HIV sufferers, its disenfranchised people, are women. It is a stark fact that half of Africa’s people bear considerably more than half of its problems.

Africa’s current and unprecedented economic growth is strong – but it is flawed if it is not shared, and if it is not environmentally sustainable. Real growth has to be for women as much as for men, for younger people as for older, for rural communities as much as urban. And we know that economic growth alone does not suffice to create gender equality: it requires political and practical will to drive the gender agenda forward.

The key to that task is law: first establishing the law, and then implementing it.

On the surface at least, that may be happening. Most African countries have ratified the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, the various International Labour Organization conventions on women’s working rights, and the Maputo Protocol of 2005 which was Africa’s own stated vision of equality for its women.

But legal exceptions are widespread in national constitutions, and in the statutes governing areas like marital property, inheritance, land, and labour. Civil law sometimes has to give way to customary law, especially in rural areas. Many of the legal provisions which discriminate against women apply to them not simply as women, but as married women. In many countries, marriage changes the legal status and rights of women, often conferring legal rights and responsibilities on husbands, and removing them from wives. Some of Africa’s Family Codes limit women’s capacity to sign contracts or seek employment without the consent of their husbands. Everything has its consequences: this limits female farmers’ ability to hold secure tenure rights to land, thereby diminishing their access to credit and other goods, which in turn leads to inefficient land use and lower yields and, as research revealed last year, falls in productivity by up to 40 percent.

The last decade gives just as much evidence of a continent grappling with a serious issue. The Gambia’s Women’s Act of 2010 brought in comprehensive legislation to bring about gender equality. It promises the continued education of young girls who are victims of early marriage and teenage pregnancy, for instance, and prohibits their expulsion from school. Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, ‘recognising the aspirations of all for a government based on the essential values of human rights, equality, freedom, democracy, social justice and the rule of law’, is suffused with gains for women, for instance in their being given equal right to inheritance and unbiased access to land. Article 19 of the Moroccan constitution makes men and women equal citizens under the law, with the same social, economic, political, environmental and civil rights. Its title should be a rallying cry for us all: ‘Honour for women’.

Women’s equality and opportunity before the law is the shared responsibility of governments and peoples alike. National and international development organisations, too, must play their role. The African Development Bank makes loans and grants of tens of millions of dollars each year, to promote women’s economic empowerment. Where laws establish gender equality – in the letter, in the spirit and in the practice – we should give our utmost support.

A message from Donald Kaberuka, President of the AfDB, on the Occasion of International Women’s Day

After studying in the United States and gaining an MBA, Kah Walla returned home to Douala, Cameroon where she worked as the Marketing & Technical Director then General Manager for a small consulting firm. When mismanagement and poor financial handling sent the company into the ground, Kah took a bold step and begin her own consulting firm.

That was 18 years ago. In that time Strategies! has grown from a local consulting business to one of international repute, partnering with major international development organisations like World Bank and advising multinationals like Standard Chartered Bank and Shell, and generating over 80 percent of its turnover outside Cameroon. Kah Walla is renowned for her work both at a high level and at the grassroots. She is a board member of the World Entrepreneurship Forum and the American Chambers of Commerce and is the National President of the Cameroon People’s Party. She shares her story as an entrepreneur, community leader and politician in this exclusive interview with Ventures Africa.

VW: Let’s start with your entrepreneurial journey – why consulting? And what were some of your biggest successes and early challenges?

KW: I wouldn’t say I chose consulting, it more so chose me. I actually started working at a consulting firm in Cameroon and after a while I was called on to be the General Manager for the company. Unfortunately I hadn’t been informed about the many financial woes of the company and after just two years there the company had to close down. At this point although I had seen a lot of mismanagement and wrong things at the firm, I had also seen a lot of potential for the industry so I decided to strike out on my own. I began in my father’s dining room; that was my office. This was 1999 when there were no cell phones so my staff and I went to the pay phone down the street to call our clients! Actually (laughing) we made a deal with the guy that stayed near the phone to take messages for us when our clients called back! So the first two years were very tough but as time went on, we began to build our client base and the business began to grow. One of our biggest successes came when one of our consultants, Sophie asked why we were just working in Cameroun. She proposed going to Chad to seek out clients, a trip that would cost $3000, money we couldn’t afford to waste. We eventually agreed and it turned out to be the best decision we ever made. That same year, 10 percent of our revenue came from Chad. Since that time, we have done more and more international work so much so that over 80 percent of our business is now outside Cameroun. That was definitely one of the best decisions we made, I owe Sophie a lot.

VW: You are not only an entrepreneur but also a community organiser. How did you make that transition, were you always involved with the community?

KW: Actually I was very fortunate because my work led me to the right organisations and contacts as I consulted a lot for international development organisations. I had become heavily involved in making the business environment friendlier for people at the grassroots so I began organising community projects for my constituency. One project was improving the business environment in Sandaga Market in Douala. These women were regularly harassed and oppressed by the men and many local government officials. We were able to train more than 350 women on business management, basic sanitation, understanding the taxation system and knowing what they should expect from their city officials. Most importantly, they learned how to organise themselves to advocate for their rights. I think when the market women approach the council officials there now (laughing) they tremble a bit!

VW: You transitioned from life as a successful entrepreneur into politics; a move that most people refuse to make. Many prefer to create change from ‘outside’. Is going into politics the only way to effect change?

KW: Well, I too was once guilty of that thinking. I used to say to myself back when I started my business, “anything but politics!” But it became clear to me as time went on and as I ran my business that at the end of the day, I always came up against the government. The government was always somehow a stumbling block or obstacle to running my business effectively whether in form of its policies, operations or officials. It became clear that I couldn’t make change from the outside. Today I challenge educated Africans that are looking for change and trying to affect it with their business and NGOs, “how can you change a society with a bad government? Show me one country that has been able to turn its economic situation or hardships around with a bad government in place, none!” I believe very strongly that only the state has the power, reach and legitimate authority to affect the kind of widespread change that’s needed.

VW: Tell us a bit about the ‘Time is now’ Campaign; why did you choose that title?

KW: We felt like this title was highly appropriate for the times. Experience and recent history tell us that when you have a bad, corrupt government that’s not doing its job and a highly educated young population that’s unemployed; a revolution is coming. Tunisia and Lybia have demonstrated this. There will either be an explosion with mass violence, or a young leader that emerges and uses violence to take the government down will easily find support amongst disgruntled citizens. Why wait for that to happen before change comes? I believe that any non-violent source of change is good so we’re trying to push that the democratic process is the source we need. There is no better time for this than now.

VW: Well said! You didn’t win the last time but will you run again? What would you do differently this time?

KW: The Cameroonian presidential term is 7 years, which is a long time but I would definitely run again and this time, I would raise more funds. Fundraising was certainly a big issue but what people don’t realise is that it’s not that the citizens are voting for the wrong people, they are simply not voting! During elections only 25 percent of Cameroonians voted because they believe that the elections are already rigged so what’s the point? So the reality is that we are not just campaigning for change, we also have to really engage with people on a personal level to teach them that their democratic voice does count and rebuild the trust. It is unbelievable just how expensive this process of grassroots community organising is.

VW: What would your top 3 priorities be if you became president?

KW: First, I would change the constitution, we need one that is reflective of a new democratic era; I would also work to turn the informal sector, which is currently 90 percent of the Cameroonian work force, into a dignified job market; I would also focus on the two key social systems which are health and education. These things wouldn’t necessarily be done one after the other, they would be simultaneous. Through my grassroots engagement with youths, I found that many of them were involved in the informal sectors so I would go about legitimising those jobs and making sure things like micro-insurance and social services were available to them. We also have new, innovative ideas on how to tackle the health sector. We’re looking at a situation where health centres are integrated with other social systems such as schools, market places etc. That way these centres can provide medical care as well as health education and preventive services to the people in a way that is tailored to their unique community needs.

VW: You have many great accomplishments in business and politics, well done! What aspects of your background, mentors or education, shaped your thinking about the future?

KW: I grew up surrounded by strong women and a great family. My paternal grandmother was a very strong woman, I remember her being unstoppable. She never allowed anyone to say that because she was a woman she couldn’t achieve something she wanted. She never let what society was going to think of her stop her. My maternal grandmother was also a strong woman and an entrepreneur; I grew up watching the way she ran her business. She was also a seamstress so she taught me, whatever you do, do it in style! (laughs) My mother was also a very strong woman in her own right; she was very educated and led a major international NGO for many years. My dad always saw me as his first girl and able to achieve anything I wanted. Even when people tried to remind him that I was a girl, his response was “So what? She can do anything that she wants”. So I was very blessed growing up with an extremely strong sense of love and that there was really nothing impossible for me. It has made the biggest difference for me.

VW: You have a strong relationship with Vital Voices, what have been the benefits of this partnership?

KW: We have a very strong multi-faceted relationship with them. I’ve participated in some of their programmes and I’m a part of their global leaders’ network which brings together women across Africa making a difference. On the other hand, my firm also provides services for them so they are my clients. We help them develop organisational strategies and plan for the future. We were an ideal partner for them because on engaging us they realised that the community organising work that we’ve done gave us the in-depth grassroots knowledge and reach that they needed for their activities. But we also brought to them our ability to think strategically and plan for the future. Through Vital Voices, the work we were doing also got the needed recognition. I got to shake former US President, Bill Clinton’s hand for the organising work we did with market women! It is certainly a very mutually beneficial relationship.

Like many of her heroes, Kah Walla is taking a stand for the future of African business and African politics. Her objective today: Effecting political change in Africa, to build the systems of governance that will enable the continent achieve its incredible potential.

In a live televised interview with the Dalai Lama last year, Archbishop Desmond Tutu confidently responded that the magic bullet for the issue of world peace was very simple: let women rule! Well, there are currently 17 female world leaders, with Africa boasting of 2 of them: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and Joyce Banda of Malawi. There is a tendency to be quick to compare these female leaders to their male counterparts in other African countries but a direct comparison in Africa is difficult owing to economic indicators, social issues and unique history of each country.

That notwithstanding, we must note that Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf inherited a civil war riddled country and has managed to stir it along the path of what is being described as a sustainable development path, something Charles Taylor, her predecessor was unable to do. Alongside Leymah Gbowee, President Sirleaf was also responsible through peaceful protest to foil plans of another civil war in Liberia; something that earned them both a Nobel Peace Prize.

Shortly after Joyce Banda assumed office as president of Malawi, according to Forbes, there was an immediate resumption of aid and FDI from the U.K, EU, ADB, IMF just to name a few of over $200 million with her male predecessor unable to secure such amounts. In addition to a fortified domestic account, there is her commitment to justice exemplified through her issuing of a domestic warrant for the arrest of Omar Bashir, the wanted Sudanese president who prior to her assumption into office sauntered in and out of Malawi in spite of an international arrest warrant out for him by the I.C.C.

In one of the landmark events in Africa in 2012, the first ever-female head of the African Union Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma pointed out, “African women make up 50 percent of this continent and lets not forget that they produce the other 50 percent-men.” A fact that further justifies an increased exertion on African polity by women. In the same year, we saw Fatou Bensouda, a Gambian graduate from the University of Lagos Law School rise to Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala became the finance minister for Nigeria after seeing the post of head of World Bank taken from her even after The Economist tipped a hat to her and warned of the danger of having a less qualified American choice take that office. A sentiment I am inclined to agree with. The success of her first foray into Nigerian politics under the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo saw her successfully negotiate clearing off of Nigeria’s debt to the Paris Club. These women are just a few of a growing pantheon of women visibly rising and giving female empowerment more than a voice and a face, but also wielding tremendous power. Look no further than the growing efficiency of the A.U in dealing with conflict issues such as the ongoing issues in Mali to give credence to Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s sentiments about women being more resolute in their pursuit of peace.

Whether or not one questions the efficacy of women in power in Africa compared to their male counterparts or not, the female leaders have thus far had an impressive start. Furthermore, their role in power is an effective tool in empowering women as we march towards more developed societies. The design of the Millennium Development Goals set forth by the U.N places a significant amount of emphasis on women especially when it comes to realizing those goals in Africa. One of the pillars is specific to gender equality and empowering women, while the other 3: universal primary education, child mortality and maternal health; relate by far more to women than men. The Human Development Index is a composite metric that gives a telling snap shot of the development of a country by taking into account life expectancy, knowledge attainment and standard of living. For several years, Norway has topped this list alongside other Nordic countries, Switzerland and Australia. Coincidentally or not, the Prime Minister of Denmark is a woman, the Prime Minister of Australia is a woman and these countries epitomize societies with female citizens that are very well empowered.

However the question of the role women play in effective social and human development in the society would eventually be asked and explored. Until then, it is imperative that the stewardship of a nation should be left to the most capable without any group being discriminated against on grounds of sex. It is imperative that at all levels within the polity of a society the ability to innovate, lead and excel should an unalienable right open to everyone within the society irrespective of their gender. The likes of Dr. Okonji-Iweala, Fatou Benstou, Leymah Gbowee and President Sirleaf have set an impressive trend for women on the continent, leaving a trail of practical hope for the following generation.

Since launching the organisation in 2010, Rainatou, through MEWC, and the help of volunteers have been working towards promoting African Women’s Rights in the African Women’s Decade (AWD 2010-2020) to “ensure that African women and girls have a real voice in all governance institutions, from the judiciary to the civil service, as well as in the private sector and civil society, so that they can fully participate equally with men in public dialogue and decisions-making and be able to influence the decisions that will determine the future of their families, communities and countries.”

Her efforts in this sphere have been recognised over the years. Apart from featuring on CNN’s African Voices, and being named one of the “20 Youngest Power Women in Africa 2012″, Rainatou was awarded “Most Inspirational Woman” by Women4Africa in 2012, perhaps the highest award to be bestowed upon an African woman. Ventures Africa had a chat with the inspirational Rainatou Sow and here’s what she had to say:

VA: Tell us about yourself growing up

RSOW: My life was the one of an ordinary young girl; the only difference was that I was always involved in doing some community work. From teaching evening classes to young girls in my neighbourhood after school to representing my school, joining the Guinean children parliament where I used to be the Minister of children and women affairs and then working with Unicef at a very young age to promote children’s education with a focus on girl child, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), HIV/AIDS through door to door and radio/TV awareness campaign. I have always wanted to make a difference, and I took every opportunity to do so.

VA: You started African women and girl child advocacy at a very young age – 12. What inspired you to fully shift your interest to women/girl child advocacy now that you are an adult?

RSOW: In September 2009, while demonstrating against the regime in Guinea, women were raped and sexually abused in the capital – Conakry. This horrible event hunts my life every single day. There was a young woman who was at her 3^rd year at the University among the victims, she was raped and sexually abused. When I saw a picture of her being dragged half naked by two soldiers, I couldn’t sleep for nights. At that point, I decided that I couldn’t keep going on with my life knowing what has just happened without taking actions. That young woman could have been me and her crime was just to ask for democracy and peace.

The creation of the AWD (African Women’s Decade) prompted me to take control of my passion and career and thereby contribute to this landmark event. I wanted to do something that could have a positive impact on African women’s and girls’ lives – and the African Women’s Decade was the perfect opportunity.

VA: When you created “Make every woman count”, what did you hope to achieve and will you say you have been able to achieve what you initially set out to do and more?

RSOW: My vision in starting MEWC was to ensure that African women and girls have a real voice in all governance institutions, from the judiciary to the civil service, as well as in the private sector and civil society, so that they can fully participate equally with men in public dialogue and decisions-making and be able to influence the decisions that will determine the future of their families, communities and countries.

Through Make Every Woman Count, my aim is to provide a spectrum of platforms and tools for African women, grassroots, activists, international organisations and women rights groups. I feel that what has been missing from the African women’s movement is a space, a voice that comes directly from African women. Most organizations that focus on empowering and gaining the equal rights of women often neglect the voices of African women themselves.

I see a bright future of young African women who are showing themselves to be leaders in their own equal rights and through MEWC; I hope to help them find strength in their voices while raising awareness on their issues and work on the international stage.

Throughout my journey, I would like to be a role model for young African women and men, to inspire, to motivate them to stand out and make a difference in whatever they choose to do, so that young African women and African youths in general will really take over the leadership of all of our countries.

VA: What are the challenges you faced in creating a female-gender based organisation and how have you been able to manage these challenges?

RSOW: As a young woman led organisation, we have many struggles to deal with. The main one is getting funding to sustain our work.

I am not afraid of these challenges as I was expecting them. I wasn’t expecting to start my organisation and have money flowing in the first few months. Having said this; it has been very hard for us to secure funding to sustain our work.

Make Every Woman Count (MEWC) is mostly run by a team of volunteers who are using their skills and knowledge to fulfil MEWC’s mission. However, the journey is full of challenges and we try our best every day to overcome these barriers. We are competing with bigger organisation for the same funding and I can tell you that it is very though.

Instead of investing in young people ideas, most funders would rather give the money to big organisations to do the work. Young women and men have difficulties getting their own voice heard because they are young and are expected to keep quiet and “wait for their time”.

I like to believe that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and this is just another challenge we will overcome.

VA: MEWC draws inspiration from African women around the world. What is MEWC doing to make the African Union’s African Women’s Decade (AWD) a significant one?

RSOW: MEWC is working to promote and raise awareness of the African Women’s decade. We do this through our social media, publications and events. Since the first year of the African Women’s Decade, MEWC publishes a yearly report that summarises the progress made by African countries regarding women’s rights and gender equality on the continent.

MEWC will publish one report yearly throughout the 10-year duration of the African Women’s Decade.

MEWC’s Annual Review of the African Women’s Decade (AWD) aims to evaluate the progress, or lack thereof, made to include and promote the rights of women at the country, regional, and Pan-African levels. This is done by presenting each country on the continent with a background and a presentation of progress and developments made within different areas, with importance for the human rights of women and gender equality.

We evaluate each of the levels around our central gender issues, including Women, Peace and Security; Violence Against Women; Political Participation and Leadership; Economic Empowerment; HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health; and Human Rights of Women. The report is divided into sections according to regional visions of the African continent, and the countries are then presented individually.

The objective of the report is twofold: firstly, it is meant to be a reference to provide insight into the rights of women in Africa during the AWD and secondly, to provide pressure on individual countries that either failed to make any progress on women’s rights or repealed legislation protecting women.

The report is also an important tool when advocating for change, as developments regarding progress on gender issues will be made available. Furthermore, the report can function as an incentive for countries to improve their efforts in the areas of gender equality and the human rights of women.

We also organise a conference every year to mark the anniversary of the African Women’s Decade. The conference is a great opportunity to hear about the work Africans are doing to advance women’s rights during the decade – be it in the diaspora or on the continent.

VA: You do an overview annual report on 54 countries in Africa to evaluate the status and conditions of women in African countries. Since you started this report, will you say there have been improvements on these issues?

RSOW: In the past years, there has been some encouraging progress regarding gender equality in Africa.

Some states have made considerable advancements in protecting women from sexual violence as well as encouraging them to participate in politics and election. Most have gender policies or some kind of national women’s mechanism, such as a Ministry of Gender or Ministry of Women’s Affairs. There are also aspects of gender equality in many constitutions and some countries have passed other laws on different aspects of women’s rights.

There has also been some recent progress regarding women’s political in the recent years. Women’s representation in parliaments in Sub-Saharan Africa is now higher than in South Asia, the Arab states or Eastern Europe. The year 2012 has proved promising for the African woman’s status within public bodies. Women are beginning to break the political glass ceiling in many countries and finding their way in roles traditionally occupied by men. According to the 2012 data from the Inter- Parliamentary Union, women occupy 20.2 percent of parliamentary seats in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is slightly higher than the world average of 19.5 percent.

Earlier on last year, Joyce Banda was appointed as the first Malawian woman president to make two female head of state in Africa, while Gambian Fatou Bensouda was elected as the first female International Criminal Court prosecutor. She is the first African to hold this post. The big highlight of the year 2012 was the appointment of the first female Chairperson of the AU Commission Dr. Dlamini-Zuma.

VA: Tell us about the solemn declaration on gender equality

RSOW: During the Third Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in July 2004, the Heads of State and Government adopted the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA).

The Declaration is an important African instrument for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment as it strengthens African ownership of the gender equality agenda and keeps the issues alive at the highest political level in Africa. Through the Solemn Declaration, Heads of State and Government commit themselves to report annually on progress towards gender equality. This was the first time a continental organisation took ownership of gender mainstreaming to the highest level – prioritizing issues such as HIV/AIDS and the recruitment of child soldiers.

According to the Evaluation of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in 2010, report findings from 18 African countries out of the 53 indicated that only 34 per cent of the member states have honoured the commitment of subsequent reporting on progress made in implementing the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) as required under article12.

VA: Will you say in this African Union decade of women voices, African women are finding their voice amongst their male counterpart?

RSOW: Despite the obstacles and challenges they face, a growing proportion of women are breaking through the glass ceiling. Today, African women are beginning to break the political glass ceiling in many countries and finding their way in roles that was traditionally occupied by men. We now have two African women out of 54 head of state and the chair of the African Union is a woman. Women who have entered into leadership positions attribute their success to factors such as access to education and work opportunities, good mentoring by both men and women, support from family, employers, supervisors, teachers and colleagues, and successful lobbying by gender activists.

VA: What will you say is unique about the African women that make it matter that their voices be heard in their community or country?

RSOW: Women represent half of the population in Africa; we simply cannot develop a continent if half of its population is left out. African governments need to tap into the talent and wisdom of women.

It is not a secret that the world’s challenges will not be effectively addressed unless the exclusion faced by women and girls is tackled across the board. We need to have more women in decision-making and leadership positions because whether the issue is food security, economic recovery, health, or peace and security; the participation and inclusion of women is needed today more than ever for more sustainable and equitable solutions.

VA: How do you think the African woman can develop herself in this generation and why must they be empowered to have more roles in decision-making and leadership positions in their society?

RSOW: Over the years, women have taken to the streets to protest against variety of issues affecting them, from rising food prices, to the lack of female political and economic participation, demand for peace negotiations, or to call for the departure of a long-time dictator. Through such actions, women have continuously demonstrated their commitment and their willingness to see their country change for the better. However, when it comes to seeing women in established positions of political power, such as parliamentarians, members of government or even as heads of state; the numbers seems to stall at merely 20.2 percent.

The participation and inclusion of African Women and girls are vital to the continent growth and development. African governments can simply no longer afford to deny the full potential of half of the population. Women and girls need to be empowered and have their developmental skills unleashed to participate in the socio-economic and political development of the continent.

We need to ensure that gains made in women’s political mobilisation, advocacy, and government representation actually reflect a substantial change in the lives of ordinary women, which is still far from a reality. By placing women at the centre of it all, African women and girls will have an opportunity to flourish and become advocates and leaders.

However, there is a need for African Governments to back up their commitments with actions. We need to empower African women and girls with the tools they need to become agents of change.

VA: What role does the government have to play in women advocacy?

RSOW: We need to ask African Governments to be accountable, and take responsibility in keeping their promises. We need to push African governments to work harder on women issues; those who have not ratified the various legal framework to ratify, those who have already ratified to put money aside for implementation with concrete action plans such as clear gender budgeting as well as allocating more funding for food security, human security and better education/health care for sustainable development.

Women’s issues and machineries charged with women’s affairs have been marginalized and under-resourced for too long, and this has led to the very slow implementation of international and regional commitments made to women’s empowerment and gender equality.

It is important to remember that the protection of citizens is up to the Government of each country and UN or International organisations, NGOs cannot act on behalf of a country. Governments and Members of Parliament have a responsibility to ensure that the necessary legislation and norms are in place. They have to allocate the resources needed to turn words into actions when it comes to ensuring the rights of half of the population (women).

I believe that we as the civil society, as well as individuals, should ask our politicians and other decision makers what they are doing to promote women’s rights and to fight the scourge of sexual violence.

While governments and the private sector have their own responsibilities; Africans themselves have a role to play in creating lasting peace and sustainable development in the continent.

VA: Where do you see African women at the end of the AWD era and how do you think such goal can be achieved?

RSOW: By the end of the AWD, I want to see the complete removal of discrimination against women, both in law and in practice, as this greatly hinders women’s economic, social and political rights, women’s land rights as well as their Sexual and reproductive health rights. I will also like to see a 50:50 ratio of women to men in government in Africa.

Political commitment is the key to ensuring women enjoy their rights. African governments need to back up their commitments with actions. Women have to know their rights, and take action to demand accountability. Many are kept in ignorance due to lack of education and information on what the constitutions of their countries say and how the systems/ institutions/laws that are supposed to run their nations should work.

In 10 years, we need to look back at the African Women’s Decade and be proud of what we have achieved as individuals and as a global community.

VA: What is “Make Every Woman Count” up to now?

RSOW: MEWC is currently working on its 2^nd annual report on Women’s political participation & Elections monitoring in Africa over 2012.

We are also organising a month long campaigning in March to invite young African Women between 15-35 years-old to enter the stage, pick up the microphone, and let their voices heard. We are asking them to share their vision for the future and tell the word “the future they want.”

MEWC is also tirelessly working to secure funding to start a leadership and technology training for young African women starting this year.

VA: You are launching a fund-raising right now, what is your organisation hoping to do with that?

RSOW: Since its launch in 2011, MEWC has been operating successfully with virtually no funding beyond the in-kind donation of services that it is already receiving for the last 2 years. While MEWC will continue to embrace volunteerism and in-kind support as a key part of its sustainability and strategic planning; we simply cannot expand our organisation, nor continue to offer the services already established without the income to cover the very real costs that we incur.

With these funds, MEWC will: monitor the status of women’s rights in all 54 African countries in 2013/2014; monitor Women’s political participation and elections throughout Africa in 2013 and 2013; provide two more years of online services, daily news update and resources through our website; launch two years of leadership and technology training workshops for young African women; and organise workshops/training for diaspora African women in UK.

VA: What advice do you have for the African women or girl child reading this?

SOW: First of all, you need to know what you want and make clear plans for your future. If you know what you want and you have the passion and motivation to do it, nothing will stand in your way. More importantly, you have to believe in yourself and stand by your decisions. Life is full of challenges and you will never overcome these challenges if you doubt yourself. Always remember that nothing is impossible if you believe in it and put some work into it, you will succeed. Like Eleanor Roosevelt said: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

VA: What are your future plans?

RSOW: I have many so many that if I start telling you all of them, I will spend the all day on it (laughs) …… but right now, my main plan is to secure enough funding to sustain the MEWC’s work and launch our training project for young African women.

Thank you for your time and keep up the good work.

Known as a “serial innovator”, Aletha is known for founding, nurturing and selling ventures in various industries. She has over thirty years of experience in the IT industry and a wealth of expertise in technology, sales, marketing and management. For years she built a successful career at IBM and after leading the company’s Software Business, she left in 1993 to pursue her passion for entrepreneurship. Ling, together with Anne Czerner, started a company, the incredibly successful Software Futures. So successful was she that she grew the business to a 300-person software and services company in under 3 years, and capitalising on the dot.com boom, she sold the company to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed company, Computer Configurations Holdings (CCH). In 1999, she was named the Computer Society IT Personality of the Year.

CCH however ran into financial trouble and in a highly controversial decision, the company was acquired by MGX, another South African IT group. Despite allegations of widespread mismanagement and accounting fraud, Ling was able to walk away from the now defunct business relatively unmarked. Her story, like every other successful entrepreneur, is no fairy tale. In retrospect, the lessons learned from the experience prepared her even more for successful business. “Selling Software Futures was not the right way to grow the business”, she says. “You no longer have control over your future.” And as if to recapture some of what was lost, Ling took a sabbatical in 2004 during which she sailed her yacht from Cape Town to the Caribbean with her husband.

It is clear however that past failures have not dampened her enthusiasm for technology innovation and entrepreneurship. True to her nature of serial innovation, Aletha also started Futureworld, a global business and technology think tank, where she served as futurist and CEO. She continues today as an associate of the organisation and member of the World Futures Society. She joined Fundamo in early 2006 when she saw the opportunities for the development of mobile payment and banking solutions. Speaking about the reasons why mobile money is becoming increasingly important, she said; “cash is very expensive for the economy generally, it is also very dangerous to be carried around and it does not lend itself to entrepreneurship and innovation. There’s very little to innovate around payment or financial services in a cash economy”. Although a cashless economy using debit cards has been heavily promoted in emerging markets, Ling is now a firm advocate for a cashless economy facilitated by mobile devices. According to her, now is a good time for mobile money. She reasons that the technology is more available to more people than ever before; there is a drive from governments towards financial inclusion of all segments of the population and regulations are being relaxed to encourage that. Finally the appetite of mobile network operators and financial institutions is growing as they seek to differentiate themselves and mobile money services provide a ready avenue for differentiation.

When asked in 2006 about Fundamo being a target for acquisition, the gun-shy Ling answered “Not again! First we want to deliver on the potential of this business.” Their business has indeed delivered on its potential with clients across many developing countries including Kenya, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. Fundamo was acquired in 2011 by Visa Inc, a bold move that is seeing the company extend its services even further. A successful writer and speaker, Aletha Ling made one thing clear as she spoke on Nigerian business radio programme, Talk Business: Mobile Money is a powerful driver of innovation and it is here to stay.

So the next time you think of carrying cash, think Fundamo — a better way.

PlanIt Ghana’s roots go back to the hills of Scotland in the United Kingdom. The indigenous firm began in Scotland in 2006, when Yankson and her husband, both Public Relations Professionals, began dreaming of starting their own Event Strategy and Brand Communications firm. After much thought, they finally laid out a plan and spent the next three years steadily preparing for the technical and business aspects of running a firm. Yankson recalls spending as much time as she could every day after work, reading everything she could find on professional event planning. “Our shelves filled up with books and magazines on the subject in no time.” Three years of preparation and one additional business partner later, PlanIt Ghana was born, deriving its name from the services they provided – all things ‘planning’.

The firm began officially in Ghana in 2009, fulfilling a long-held dream of ‘returning home’ for Yankson and her family. In the short time since arriving in Ghana, Gloria has earned herself the Young Creative Star of the Year Award in the Annual Global Professional Achievers (GPA) Gala 2011, beating out some of Ghana’s most renowned CEOs and Entrepreneurs. Again in 2012, Yankson and PlanIt Ghana were awarded the Efie Ne Efie (Home is Home) prize by the Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) Awards, a prestigious annual awards ceremony recognising excellence and achievement in the British Ghanaian community and contributions to Ghanaians at home and abroad. Gloria’s journey to this stage has been one of extreme personal determination and zeal.

After studying at St. Rose’s Secondary School, Yankson obtained qualifications in public relations from the Ghana Insittute of Journalism, The London School of Public Relations and a Masters’ Degree in Public Relations from the University of Stirling in Scotland. For her, the experience she gained working in the industry for 8 years before starting PlanIt, was invaluable. Gloria spent time working with multinational brand such as Sky TV and Hilton Plc where she gained hands-on experience in event planning and design. She then spent close to four years in the Marketing Communications Team for Morgan Stanley, a job she thoroughly loved. “I don’t think you can get that kind of training and experience from sitting in any classroom”, she says.

Before joining PlanIt Ghana full-time, Gloria spent time working at Ghanaian real estate firm, DEVTRACO Limited, as the Director of Corporate Affairs and Marketing. In this position, Yankson truly made her mark. Just 27 years old at the time, she was the only female Director in the company’s top management team and acted as the voice of the company, spearheading the company’s marketing campaigns. Together with her team, they turned DEVTRACO into a household name and in the process bagged six awards, including the prestigious CNBC International Property Award – the premier real estate award globally. DEVTRACO is the first and only Ghanaian real estate company to win this award. Despite her incredible success, she stepped down in 2010 to focus on building the PlanIt brand.

For her, the corporate world was no longer challenging enough: “I felt restrained. And as the passion grew into an obsession, I felt more and more like my ideas were being locked up in a box. Not being able to build new and exciting ideas isn’t really my thing. So inadvertently, I suppose it was really about breaking free from the limitations.” Now, she is living her dream.

PlanIt is a full-service Event Production and Brand Communication services company that specialises in planning and producing Corporate and Social events with a specialty in weddings. The organisation also provides brand communications strategy services for corporate clients looking to launch a new product or service.

Speaking on her plans for PlanIt’s future, she says,

“At the moment, apart from Ghana, we have clients from South Africa, Europe and the USA. It is our hope, as a team, that one day our clientele will be dotted across the world. We’re working towards building PlanIt into a global brand. In a few years we want to look back at how far we’ve come as a Brand Communications & Event Planning Firm; pat ourselves on the back and take a worldwide cruise. That day will soon come.”

Although Yankson does not believe the current Ghanaian economic climate welcomes entrepreneurship, she believes that this shouldn’t stop women from trying. Her advice to young African women: “I am a strong advocate for women in the Ghanaian business world occupying key decision making positions. Women should believe in themselves more. If you can dream it, you can achieve it so go for it girl!”

Ms Bah Diallo, now 71 years old, obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Pennsylvania State University in the United States and a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from Conakry University, Guinea. She eventually moved from the sciences into education when she began her career as a secondary school teacher. She was later appointed principal and worked as a university lecturer. Having received a stellar education herself, Ms. Aicha sought to use her growing profile to provide for others. “Women who have high profiles need to participate in helping others to access quality education. We have to give back what we have received”, she said. Leaving her post as the director of Conakry high school in 1984, she was appointed National Director for External Relations and Projects at the Guinean Ministry of Social Affairs and Women Promotion. She held this post until 1986 when she became the Chief of Cabinet at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (1986-1989). In 1989, Ms. Bah Diallo became Guinea’s Minister of Education, a position she held for seven years.

Speaking about her biggest challenges as Minister of Education, Bah Diallo shares the problem of low enrolment of girls. “When I was a minister in Guinea, there were not many girls in schools… when you want to have girls in schools you have address gender inequality, and then you also have to address the environment where people learn”. By lowering the barriers of access to education for female children, such as poverty, distance from schools and safety of the girls, Bah Diallio successfully increased the enrolment of girls from 113,000 to 233,000 – a number still abysmally low for the country of millions. For Ms. Aicha, there was more work to do.

Working with a strong team of managers, Ms. Bah Diallo set out to transform the education sector. Her administration redeployed nearly a third of the country’s teachers from urban to rural schools as well as from secondary to primary schools and from administrative to teaching positions. She became known as the leader of education reform in Guinea.

In 1996 she joined UNESCO and for nearly ten years, she worked as a senior education leader promoting education for African children. She served as the Director for Basic Education, Deputy Assistant Director-General for Education and as Assistant Director-General for Education in the international organisation. She was also the Africa adviser to the Director-General of UNESCO. A true reformist at heart, Ms. Bah Diallo transformed the working culture of UNESCO’s Education department. She found that the different divisions of the unit were not working together, primary, secondary, technical, vocational, etc., and that the Educational and Cultural units were working in isolation. She asked herself two questions: “How can I get them to work together as a team instead of working on their own? How can they work in education without taking into account the cultural aspects of the community?” Tackling these problems head-on, Ms Bah Diallo succeeded in establishing greater harmony in the organisation and thus better support for governments’ education programmes. Many African countries have experience significant growth in female enrolment and literacy.

Education of the girl child has undoubtedly become a higher priority both for governments and individuals in Africa and a significant portion of the credit goes to the work of Ms Aicha Bah Diallo. She has received many distinctions for her work and today continues to promote the cause that is dearest to her heart. She is the current Chairperson for the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) and the Network for Education for All in Africa (REPTA). She is a also member of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Prize Committee for Good Governance and Leadership in Africa.

Education forms the best foundation for the success of entrepreneurs and businesswomen because it not only provides knowledge and discipline but it also safeguards against poverty and disease – the continent’s biggest destroyers of potential. In the words of Aicha Bah Diallo,

“When you have access to education then you will be able to develop your potential… That is why I am fighting for education for all – through life, from womb to tomb.”

VENTURES AFRICA – 10 years ago, Alima Atta sat in a room in her mother’s office and began Sesema PR, a public relations and marketing communications consultancy that provides services to its West Africa clientele. 10 years later, Alima is a successful PR professional with two awards from Lagos State University, Nigeria and an impressive portfolio of clients. Despite Nigeria’s challenging business environment and the influx of untrained public relations practitioners in the industry, Alima Atta has held her own.

A detail-oriented strategic thinker, Alima has great plans for 2013. Sesema PR will be holding a free training for young people with an interest in the PR industry in the first quarter of the year as well as managing a new musical accappella group – Digable Underground. Alima herself is looking forward to expanding into more production work and television. With a clear vision towards the future, Alima shares how she began and her journey as an entrepreneur so far with Ventures Woman.

VW: Tell us a bit about yourself and how you ended up in PR.

AA: I’m the 3rd child of my parents; I have a brother and two sisters. My father Abdul-Aziz Atta, was head of civil service and a permanent secretary in the Nnamdi Azikwe administration. He died in 1972. My mother Iyabo Atta runs the family property business. My sister Sefi Atta is a writer. I studied French and Sociology in University of London and always wanted to be a translator or a diplomat because I loved the language. I later decided to enter marketing and did a postgraduate diploma. I spent two years in the United States and when I returned to England I got a job in conference production in telecoms. While there I learned a lot of skills – event management, marketing, sponsorship recruitment and creative thinking. It was fun but exhausting. I decided to try something else so I went to see a recruitment consultant. She looked at my skills and suggested I go into PR. This was funny because I have two good friends in PR and I’d always seen PR as a fluffy field where you meet celebrities and have parties; I had no idea how much work it was! I decided to try it and went for an interview and I got a job at an agency and that’s how I started in it.

VW: Can you tell us about the LASU award?

AA: Lagos State University (LASU) has actually given me two awards and they have followed my progress since I started 10 years ago which is nice. I came up with a scholarship idea which was to take two students who were the top of their class and sponsor them through their course and then they come into my company to get practical training in the field. It’s a rewarding experience for me but also on a selfish level I want to help my industry by developing the manpower because the biggest complaint remains that students coming out into the workforce do not have the skills and knowledge you as a company needs.

VW: What has been your experience since starting up Sesema PR 10 years ago?

AA: Its been good and bad, times with many clients and times with none but it’s been fulfilling. When I started I was really lucky because my first client was Cisco Systems which a friend of my set up and this was helpful in getting other clients. The downside is when clients don’t recognise the value of what your agency brings and it creates conflict. Also the relationship with media is challenging because it’s not as fully developed compared with other parts of the world.

VW: Can you demystify the relationship between marketing, media, corporate communications and PR?

AA: All those fields are under the umbrella of communications and marketing is the umbrella under which PR, advertising and direct marketing fall. They are all about communicating the value of a product or a service. Corporate communications is very specific, it’s about communicating a company’s brand and also involves internal communications. As a PR agency, we would work with the corporate communications person in an organisation and handle areas they don’t such as media relations, market research etc. The media are the avenues we use to communicate our message so all of these fields work together.

VW: So why is there this conflict between media and PR agencies in Nigeria?

AA: I believe it is a lack of understanding. PR from putting a press release in a paper is not supposed to be paid for, so if you must give someone 10,000 naira to do it, it takes away from the essence of the event of being newsworthy, you might as well call it advertising. This is what happens in Nigeria. Also our industry is not as well paid as, for example, advertising. Even though we have come a long way in the last 5 years in Nigeria, because we provide a service, something intangible, people still struggle to quantify it. Many would rather take out a full page of advertising in a newspaper for one day than pay that amount for a month and have three people working to produce engaging communications about the company’s activities. These factors combined strain the relationship with media.

VW: Why is it so much more developed in other countries?

AA: Unfortunately, we have a lot of factors that devalue the industry in Nigeria. The country’s PR market is flooded with practitioners, many of whom are not professionally trained. So if a professional submits a proposal that costs a million naira and another practitioner submits one of two hundred thousand naira, we know who many would go with. Also paying journalists to put your releases in the paper devalues the newsworthiness. Everywhere else in the world PR is paid for on an hourly basis per level of the PR professional. Very few clients can grasp that method. Generally, appreciation of the value of PR in other countries is higher.

VW: If you had the power to change things what would you do?

AA: Definitely, create more unity in the industry which we are now doing with PRCAN. You have to have scaled certain hurdles to get into the association so if we can collectively build up the value of the industry we can get to the point where a journalist isn’t the PR person for an organisation because he/she has knowledge of media relations. As PR agencies need to show that there is more to PR.

VW: What’s been your most exciting campaign?

AA: We launched Beauty Concerns, a spa in Lagos, a few years ago. We saw the whole process from building the spa till the final launch which was very exciting. We also came up with the concept and ran the pilot for the Indomie Fan Club and it’s really exciting to see it become the biggest children’s fan club in Africa. It was the success of this initiative that led to us handling PR for Indomie.

VW: How do you balance life as an entrepreneur with other demands?

AA: Well I get holidays and time with family but I confess I do work a lot throughout except maybe at Christmas when everyone has shut down (laughs). I would say also, surround yourself with good people because you will have critics and issues. There are issues if you are a woman, if you are young, if you are new. You need people you can cry with and then laugh with. Also keep it fresh, have a place you go to get ideas and keep track of them. I also love reading, traveling and music to relax.

VW: You are a regular presenter on Smooth FM 98.1, Talk Business, can you tell us about that?

AA: Yes, I came up with that idea because I thought about how a few agencies have magazines. I didn’t want that because it’s expensive so I said why not a radio show? I’d already developed a medical radio show on Classic FM ‘Doctors on Air’ before so it made sense. The idea started as a marketing show but when I took it to VISA, who sponsors the programme, they wanted a broader business focus and since then we’ve hosted many great business leaders.

VW: Any final words of advice for young women that want to own their own business?

AA: Yes, never use your gender negatively; women have a key role to play in society and it’s important to think of yourself as a role model from the start. Focus on what it is you want to do early on, try different things but don’t get stuck without knowing where you want to go. Read a lot, it broadens your mind and that’s important for success.

Thank you Alima! Follow @VenturesAfrica on Twitter

Yetunde, who sits on several boards aimed at alleviating many of the social and economic issues in various African countries owns a consulting company, Yetunde Global Consulting LLC and a mentorship organisation, Young Women’s Guide which helps connect girls with women leaders and groups that can best help them pursue their quest for social change.

In this interview, Yetunde speaks about her personal and professional life as well as her plan for the coming year – she says “life is all about going to the next level and she says it takes consistency to do that!”

Please tell us about yourself growing up

I was born and raised in New Jersey USA to very loving and supportive Nigerian family. My parents always made sure that my brother (Abiodun) who is 3 years older than I were always a priority. We both attended private schools from a very early age – all the way until attending college. My parents never told me what I should study or who I should become, they would always says, “Yetunde, whatever you want to study- be the best and whatever you want to become -be the best.” And that constant reassurance gave me the confidence to always excel far beyond my peers. Also, I believe because my parents were so hands on; that truly made a difference. My parents put me in ballet at a young age and my father would take and drop me at the ballet school. In high school, I was the President of my high school, Student Ambassador, Captain of the Varsity Cheerleading team, Founder of the poetry club and most importantly – a consistent honour roll student. I was a very young lady active in and out of school and that had a lot to do with my personality and confidence as well as having supportive parents.

As a young girl growing up my aspirations were always larger than life. I always envisioned myself being the President of a country or Ambassador. I wanted to be a doctor, a neurosurgeon – to be specific like Ben Carson – or a journalist that could travel around the world to shed light on global, political and social issues like Oprah or Barbara Walters. I always had grand ideas for my life and I still do. Now at 25, the great thing is that I am living the reality of my dreams and working to see those visions as a little girl come into fruition. I am still active but on a different level. My passion to be of service, the confidence to always rise to the occasion in various leadership capacities and my ability to turn a vision into reality is something that was formulated at a young age and has developed into a stronger presence, as I grew older.

Today, you are regarded as one of the youngest and most influential leaders of a new generation in the African Diaspora; how did you attain this feat and what will you say is the motivating factor behind your success?

It is wonderful to be considered and regarded as one of the youngest and most influential leaders of my generation in the African Diaspora. I believe that being authentic, focused and passionate has truly served me well. I always knew what business venture would be right for me or what academic discipline reflected best my professional and personal goals and I believe the only way I was able to do that is by being authentic and understanding who I am. Two major motivating factors for me is to live my life with passion and the other is to make use of the God-given talents and skills given to me to serve a larger purpose other than myself.

Your formal leadership experience started when you were elected as the President of Student Government and Student Ambassador of your high school, how has the journey been from then till now?

The journey has been absolutely wonderful and worthwhile. Although the road was not easy at times, it took a lot of hard work, dedication and prioritisation. Today, as I reflect back I see that life is all about going to the next level. It is all about finishing one chapter in your life and going forward to write the next…and it takes consistency to do that.

What has been the challenges you had to overcome to get to where you are today?

I would not even call it challenges; I would call it life lessons. Sometimes when God places you in a certain place in your life – at times He has to move people in order for you to progress, and I understand that. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals and making a conscious effort to surround yourself with positive people is extremely important. Also, I learned early to pick and choose wisely which career or profession speaks to me. And I learned that it is important to have a well-rounded life to be fulfilled in every aspect.

It is a known fact that you are passionate about issues such as women and girl development, youth empowerment, human and social welfare and social entrepreneurship. What drives you to follow these paths? Did your childhood dream have a qualitative factor to what you are today?

As a child, I always knew that I was meant to do something almost like a servant…but a global one. I had this innate passion from beginning to make sure that people regardless of color, position, location or disposition had the same rights and opportunities to live a fulfilled life. I had this immense weight or calling that I could not ignore. I guess God had and still has a bigger plan for me that I could dream for myself. And I thank my parents for taking me back and forth to Nigeria during my school vacations because from that experience – I learned a lot about various social issues and was able to see it and understand it in person.

You are a young lady with enviable achievements and a flourishing company, how do you manage your staffs being that some of them might be older than you are?

Sometimes that may be a challenge because if people do know your age, they try to understand on the how’s and why’s instead of the job at hand. But it all depends on the way you carry yourself. When you carry yourself with integrity, class and grace; people have no choice but to respect you and what your business stands for. Today, age should not be such a hot topic. We have very young people who are multimillionaire entrepreneurs, professors, doctors, social entrepreneurs and more.

You sit on various boards that are aimed at alleviating many of the social and economic issues in various African countries; how much have you achieved with this and how much more do you plan to do?

To be on a board essentially means that you are in a position to take that organisation or foundation – no matter how big – to the next level through the use of your networks, financial ability and the ability to create or introduce strategic partners. You must be in a leadership or power capacity to do so. I am satisfied with the initiatives, foundations and non-profits that I support because I am able to make changes that I am truly satisfied with on a global scale. I still plan to continue supporting initiatives that are close to my heart to make sure that I develop and take my own organisation (Young Woman’s Guide) into the stage where it creates lasting and effective change.

You are currently working on your dissertation in Global Political Economy at Rutgers University-Division of Global Affairs as a Ph.D Candidate (ABD) focusing on political corruption and its effect on governmental performance and social services being delivered by local and state government; how viable do you think this is to what you do and how can you use to this to achieve the change you want to see in others?

Corruption affects the lives of many globally. It affects the manner in which decisions are made in all levels of government, as it manipulates political institutions, rules of procedure, and distorts the institutions of government. And most importantly it infringes on the human rights of people. The political and economic decay caused by corruption is most visible in areas where the government neglects to provide adequate healthcare, education, human security, good governance, government accountability, and basic infrastructure to support the development and vitality of the country. Some major issues of corruption on a macro level that result into micro or lower level problems breeds’ social, economic and political unrest. It presents itself as an obstacle to reducing poverty and has a direct negative impact on basic citizen needs while neglecting and abusing the human rights of many and disproportionally affecting all. I believe that my work currently is a reflection of my academic pursuits and interests and still see myself in the future to continue to work in both senior level positions and consultancy positions to think tanks, nations states, NGOs, IGOs and counter-corruption agencies globally in order to address such issues at hand.

It is often said in countries suffering the bane of corruption that the problems are with the leaders of the country. Do you think the problem of corruption is one-sided?

I do believe that the government does play a crucial role in the existence of corruption especially political corruption – which happens at the governmental level. Citizens are looking to the leaders of their countries to be a role model of a positive example but when you have “kleptocratic” individuals in the highest position in government; not only does it distort rule of law and undermines democracy – it says to the people of that country that in order for you to be successful or to even survive you must operate in the same manner. Corruption has many faces, many factors, and many causes and yes the leaders play a significant role but until the “culture of corruption” is addressed from the local to the national level…it will become difficult to reduce its effects.

How do you think Africa can further improve its brand as the next world economic hub?

Africa is already regarded as the next economic hub with promising outlooks for more investments and future growth. With all of the natural resources, foreign direct investment and business ventures in Africa there should be no reason why many of our countries are on the Failed Index list. We must address the serious issues or poverty, corruption, political instability and terrorist acts in various countries in order for the continent to claim its power and legitimacy on the global stage. We also have to ensure that governments are creating a space where agriculture, technology, scientific innovation, and the rehabilitation of our educational system to compete on world-class standards – come to fruition.

Your company: Yetunde Global Consulting specialises in Leadership development and training. What, in your opinion, makes a great leader?

Great leaders are those who understand the importance of ethics and integrity in their profession and personal lives. Great leaders also have mastered the art of communication skills and strategies, knowing how to reach people who come from different walks of life, cultures, religions and more. Another quality of a great leader is being able to be decisive, solve problems and be personable–being able to relate as well as motivate people. Also great leaders are often visionaries; they think outside the box and are often times able to execute their vision. Another great quality of a leader is that they are authentic. Last but not least, one does not have to be in charge to be a great leader. A great leader can motivate its constituents regardless of position.

Tell us about your company, Yetunde Global Consulting (YCG) and what motivates you to create the company?

Yetunde Global Consulting (YGC) is a management consulting firm that specialise in leadership development and training, organizational management and global business strategy for companies, firms, organizations and professionals. Its practical approach to effective leadership development inspires action and achieves results by developing leadership competencies, effective communication strategies and productivity.

At Yetunde Global Consulting, our vision is to raise the bar of excellence. Successful entrepreneurs, leaders, professionals and individuals know the importance of investing in leadership development. Our specialised and innovative coaching and consulting services represent a valuable investment in initiating changes today and realising achievements tomorrow. They are designed for leaders and organisations with aggressive visions and ambitious goals. Universities, organisations, career services and professional associations constantly tap into Yetunde Global Consulting expertise to develop their students, employees and professionals into more competitive and articulate leaders.

Yetunde Global Consulting offers valuable insight on how to develop and leverage strategic partnerships globally as well as provide branding techniques to help your business and organisation grow and reach its full potential. It identifies key players in their client’s field to create partnerships and collaborations to achieve results. Yetunde Global Consulting also provides performance management and measurement review for organizations and non-profits seeking to excel and boost their organisational goals.

It’s all about leadership development on all levels, as a leader and entrepreneur; I know the importance of having the right skills and management to achieve your goals.

You named your company after yourself, why is this and what will you say is in a name that affects the brand of an organisation?

I consulted with other people in business – especially my colleagues who are lawyers to gain their insight on my decision to name my company after myself. At first I thought about it long and hard but for me I wanted to brand my company and myself simultaneously. If Oprah can name everything after herself, why can’t Yetunde?

Tell us about your humanitarian and public speaking activities. What was your maiden experience like and what did you gain from that experience that makes you not to look back?

One thing for sure is that public speaking is what I also love to do. I can speak to a small group of 10 people to over 500 people and do it with ease. I also have extensive training in communication strategies and public speaking. I have mastered seven categories of public speaking and have worked on creating various conferences, lectures and symposiums on women empowerment and leadership development and training. I am comfortable and confident in my public speaking ability and most importantly being able to connect and empower others through my talks.

You are a passionate feminist as most of your works have been on women leadership, empowerment and resources, is there anything in your background that sparked your interest in this sphere?

As a woman, I have a natural desire to see other women succeed especially young women. This may be unique for me but I do believe that it is essential to uplift other women to realise their full potential. I believe there is room for every woman at the table. I had a lot of mentors throughout the years, who uplifted me, showed me the way, guided and advised me. They took the time out of their busy schedules to see me succeed and it is my turn to put it forward.

Tell us about “Putting Your Best Self Forward” and the “Young Woman’s Guide”

Young Woman’s Guide was founded in order to provide young women with the tips, tools and resources to live a meaningful, purposeful and impactful life. Our goal is to spread passion, raise awareness and offer solutions to and for young women. Young Woman’s Guide provides mentorship opportunities, women empowerment conferences and opportunities to give back and get involved with various philanthropic and humanitarian initiatives geared toward women and girls development.

What are the factors you think are militating against youngsters in achieving their full potentials and what advise will you give young/aspiring leaders out there?

My advice to all young people is to believe in yourself. No matter what circumstances you face, your destiny is bigger than your situation. Always surround yourself with positive people, people you admire and those who can uplift you. There is a great quote that I love to share with young people by Marianna Williamson and she says, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

How will you appraise youth leadership potential in Nigeria (or in any other African nation)?

There are so many youths in Nigeria who wants to make a difference but because of many factors they are not given the opportunity to do so. I have been interviewed by NTA in Abuja and I spoke about the responsibility of our government to ensure that our youth are employed with deserving job upon their graduation and that more opportunities of leadership must be created so that they too have a say in the development of Nigeria. I have always spoke to over 400 students at the University of Ibadan on leadership and gave them words of empowerment to make sure that they don’t loose hope and to continue to stand out and be a beacon of hope and change. I have also met with various leaders in government from the 1st Lady of Lagos State Hon. Mrs. Fashola, Minister of Women Affairs Iyom Josephine, to Dame Patience Jonathan in Abuja and other leaders about this issue. And I humbly and greatly appreciate their time, support and willingness to see our youth succeed.

You co-authored a published book titled, “A Call to Serve: Quotes on Public Service”, what is the book centred on and what do you think will inspire people to read the book?

The book was published in order to foster a spirit of service and civic engagement and to encourage more people to public service.

Who or what inspires you and how have this (these) influence you to become the Yetunde we know today?

I’ve been inspired by so many people, so many of my mentors far and near. I am inspired by President Barack Obama for his fortitude and inspiring life story, Oprah for her philanthropic endeavors, Pres. Bill Clinton for being so personable and able to achieve so much through his Clinton Foundation and Clinton Global Initiative, I am inspired by my mother’s class, grace and hard work that has molded me into the woman that I am today.

If Yetunde is not all she is today (professionally), what will you be and why?

I can’t quite answer that question because I do not think I could have been anything else that God has created me to be today. And I am more than content with what He has given me and who I have become.

You are an international public speaker, author, humanitarian, TV/Radio Personality and entrepreneur –all roll in one, how do you juggle all these and have fun (relax) at the same time?

I love what I do and if God give you that opportunity to do it all, why not do your best? I can say I have a well-rounded life and that took effort on my own part to create. Also when you are passionate about the things you do you in your life, it doesn’t feel like work.

What are your plans for the future?

To continue to excel, make a lasting difference, continue to stay humble and well rounded and to be a good example of using your God given gifts.

The holiday season is here, how are you celebrating this season and how will this reflect on your future plans?

My hopes and plan for the year 2013 is to do everything bigger, better and wiser and to be the best woman that I can be and see continuous success in my business and professional endeavors. And I wish everyone peace, love and God’s blessing.