Welcoming Assembly of Amujae Leaders to Liberia
ONCE AGAIN, LIBERIA’S airwaves and landscape are expected to get electrified by loud, powerful and persuasive voices of women leaders who are gathering here today not only to herald the God-given rights of women and girls but also to challenge a stubborn patriarchal society evolving realities about women’s place in leadership at all spheres of life. The first of such an assembly was held in March 2020 in Liberia at which time issues of gender equality and struggle to break the chains of inequality were brought to the fore, inspiring attendees, who were predominantly enterprising young females from across the African continent.
THE ORGANIZER IS the EJS Presidential Center for Women and Development under its flagship Amujae Initiative set up to prepare women to excel in the highest echelons of public leadership and to bring other women along. This year’s Amujae Initiative Forum held under the theme, “Building Resilience” is being attended by world leaders who are drawn from a diverse range of personal and professional backgrounds. In attendance are members of parliament, a governor, a mayor, and several government ministers from 16 countries across Africa who were selected through a rigorous application process from hundreds of applicants and they each have a track record of demonstrable achievements in public life and a drive to uplift African women and girls.
FIRSTLY, WE HAIL former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who, even after her presidential duties, and despite the enormous strides made to highlight women issues and protect and promote women rights during her tenure, still remains engaged not only with feminist issues but also with every facet of socioeconomic lives of Liberia, Africa and the rest of the world. Madam Sirleaf continues to demonstrate in concrete terms that her rise to prominence and into politics was not about self and family, but for the whole of humanity.
WE ALSO THANK and appreciate world leaders, be it those in politics or business, who have foregone other important schedules and have come to Liberia to add a voice and an idea in the overall fight for the cause of women and girls’ rights. You are all true champions of women and all disadvantaged people. History will neither forgot this forum nor you all who have come to see how those revered global instruments, such as the Beijing Declaration, the African Chapter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Declaration of Human Rights and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, amongst others, have found their expressions in the life of present-day women and girls.
THOUGH WE ARE cognizant of the dire challenges that are in wait as you fight on, reading from the deeply rooted patriarchal system on this Continent of Africa, we take solace in your combined fortitude, expertise and resilience in standing up for what you demonstrably believe is fair and just. That is why, in fact, we agree with the organization of this year’s forum who found the theme in “Building Resilience”. Resilience is all we all need in battling any intractable and complex issues confronting humanity. And certainly, with resilience adding up to the clarity of purpose with which you have come to this Forum, it would be an understatement to say success is yours.
WE HEARTEDLY JOIN the Chief Convener, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in welcoming both national and international guests to the Forum, and as she put it, “We’re excited about all you will exchange among yourselves, and we are looking forward to what will be a great three day conference. We hope you will leave more emboldened, more empowered, and more ready to take on whatever comes your way as you seek to achieve your leadership goals.”
LIBERIA APPRECIATES YOU all on this momentous occasion, and we at The Analyst join hands with all good meaning people to say, “A big welcome to this oldest black Republic which was founded as an oasis of freedom and liberty on the Continent.” Have a pleasant and rewarding stay.
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