Awlo President, Elisha Attai Talks About His Vision That Gives Women Equal Opportunities

Elisha Attai Is Well Known When It Comes To Women Empowerment In Africa. He Is The Founder Of African Women In Leadership Organisation (AWLO), One Of The Biggest Umbrella Organisations For Women On The Continent. With AWLO’s 3rd Global Conference Due To Take Place From August 17 To 21, In Washington DC, He Told EBERE AMEH How It All Started And Where He Hopes To See AWLO By 2020 And Much More.

AWLO is a big organisation by all standards. What informed its formation?
Having worked with a lot of African women across the continent, I discovered that if women could come together to enhance, support and exchange ideas, they would do much better as leaders. I saw the untapped potential among them and the need to create a structure for mentorship.

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I felt that the more experienced ones should pass across their experience to the younger generations and also exchange ideas among themselves. The organisation is unique in that it filled an existing void. There was no other cross-continent platform that brought women leaders from across all sectors together.

As a man, an African man at that, many would think you would start an organisation to better the lot of your fellow men, not women. Why such interest in the advancement of women?

I have been asked this question many times and my answer is always why not? For me, I believe it is a combination of destiny and a sense of purpose. I strongly believe I am doing what God wants me to do. I am so passionate about the ability of women and being a good organiser, I leverage my strength and passion.

I see women as better managers, and given the influence of some great women around me for years now especially my own mother, I know that if we leverage their potential, we can do better across board. Women have great influence and can change lives beginning from the home. Take for example, the issues of corruption and insecurity, if women are better equipped and em-powered, they can address these issues beginning at home.

One of the objectives of AWLO is to harness the leadership potential of women in leadership and channelling them towards the unity and development of the region. How far have you gone in achieving that?

If you have followed us closely you will agree with me that AWLO has done much in this regard. The objective is to enhance leadership qualities among our women across board. And how do we do that? It’s by bringing people that have knowledge, that are advanced in what they do; bringing everybody together and exchanging views and seeing how we can educate and empower one another. We have made steady progress.

Every year since 2009 when we started, through our annual conferences, we have created a platform for women leaders across Africa. Our conferences highlight their issues and help them to structure and function well as leaders whether in politics, business, or other spheres of influence. Other organisations have also emerged as a result of our initiatives.

We have consistently created opportunities for them to network, receive training and get access to business opportunities both at home and abroad. Last two years, in collaboration with the Black Caucus in the State of Georgia with the help of Senator Donzella James and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson, we brought them together with US lawmakers and women leaders in Atlanta, Georgia and Houston, Texas.

From August 17 to 21 in Washington DC there will be another gathering of African women of note at the Ritz Carlton, Pentagon City, Virginia, for another powerful session of raising the next generation of African female leaders globally.

You are about to have your Global Conference. Why in the United States?

We started the global conference two years ago after loads of calls, emails, and enquiries from African women in diaspora especially in the US on the need to carry them along each time we finish our conferences across African continent. So we finally agreed in 2014 after a progressive meeting with Senator Donzella James and members of the black caucus in the state of Georgia senate to collaborate and establish chapters across the US to enable Africans, African Americans and African descents like the Carribeans, Jamaicans etc. who see themselves as Africans to be part of this great vision.

So, in 2014 it was held in Atlanta and last year in Houston, Texas. It is taking place in Washington DC this year. We do two conferences every year- one in Africa and one in the US.

What is the rationale for selecting a venue, and where and when would the next one take place?

A venue must be conducive enough with a proper conference setting; with easy logistics access and enough rooms for our delegates. The next one will be from August 17 to 21 at the Ritz Carlton in Washington DC.

What are we expecting from this year’s conference?

At this year’s global conference, among other things, we would be having for the first time in our conferences a special youth summit tagged “Raising the next generation of female leaders” which would be chaired by our youth matron Dr. Violet Arene and it promises to be very, very educating

Recently, the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill suffered a setback when it was presented at the Senate. How is AWLO addressing gender inequality in Africa and Nigeria in particular?

Please permit me to state here that gender parity is not an agitation for women to stand head to head with men. It is a cry to give women and girls equal opportunities and access to education, jobs, wages, health and in other areas. According to the World Economic Forum prediction in 2015, parity will not be attained before 2133 mainly because the world is moving at a very slow pace in closing the yawning gender gap. AWLO acknowledges the efforts made so far by the United Nations, countries/ states, international organisations and NGOs in attaining gender equality.

However, evidence exists to show that we are yet to reach Uhuru. AWLO therefore commits to continuing its advocacy, sensitisation and campaigns. We pledge to put pressure on governments at all levels to involve women in governance and in key policy making institutions. This is because parity cannot be achieved except women are engaged and made part of nation building.

We commit to empowering women by providing a platform where they can access first class resources and mentors, who will help them achieve their potential. AWLO firmly states, that we have zero tolerance for gender discrimination and inequality. We say NO to violence and abuse against women and girls!

Could you tell us about the One Mother, One Child and the iLead initiatives of AWLO?

It is estimated that 30 million children remain out of school in Africa and in many areas; the girl-child is still denied access to education. Since it is self-evident that education is the passport out of poverty and many other vices that plague women and children in Africa, AWLO’s flagship #1mother1child programme is positioned to integrate the instinct, culture, and passion of motherhood into meeting the needs of these children who are left out. Under this programme, women leaders AWLO are guided and supported to adopt and nurture a mother/child relationship with 1girl or boy child per time outside their immediate families.

Through mentorship, coaching, and material support, each mother shall be responsible to ensure that her child completes their education successfully. AWLO also recently launched its iLEAD project towards raising the next generation of leaders.

The inaugural event launched in the Akwa Ibom Chapter of AWLO was tagged “Raising The Next Generation Of Female Leaders”. It brought together 336 school prefects from the six senato- r i a l districts including the param i l i t a r y, cadet and p r i v a t e s c h o o l s .

Also in attendance were key decision- makers ranging from leadership to media and people at the forefront of education, economy and technology to discuss education and leadership, with a particular focus on Africa, its generation of female leaders and the youth.

The mission of iLEAD is to “Equip Africa’s Next Generation of leaders with knowledge and skills in education and leadership, making them more competent and confident while at the same time increasing their opportunities for leading healthy and productive lifestyles in harmony with nature and with concern for social values, gender equity and cultural diversity potential to drive transformative change on the continent.

How successful has the One Mother One Child Initiative been?

It’s been very successful by the grace of God; 65 indigent children have been incorporated into the programme for the purpose of completing their education. Some of these children are in primary school while others are in Junior Secondary School, Dutse Sagwari, Abuja.

Also the first lady of Akwa Ibom State flagged off this project by adopting 165 children under 1mother1child. This project is directly headed by AWLO Africa Regional President, Mrs. Alayingi Sylva and she has done a great job with her team, The AWLO ICT Training centre at the IDP Camp Abuja, is one of the milestones of the #1MotherChild Project also. So far, we have reached over 250 children.

By the year 2020, four years from now, where do you hope to see AWLO?
I want to see AWLO bringing out the true meaning of An African woman: being that an African woman is a special creature of God with sound moral values that define the true meaning of a woman being a helper, a home builder and a nation builder. And also my vision is to see a continent that gives women equal opportunities.