Under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima, the General Women’s Union organizes the “UAE–African Women Leaders Conference” in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The conference’s scientific agenda featured three specialized sessions. The first session, titled “Women and Shaping the Future,” was moderated by Anoud Yousif from the General Women’s Union.
The session highlighted the role of governments in leveraging women’s participation as a fundamental element in shaping visions and policies, and in achieving economic and social sustainability. Participants included Engineer Ghalia Ali Al Manaei; Felicia Dlamini-Kunene, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of the Kingdom of Eswatini; and Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Director General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development in Abuja, Nigeria.
In a related track, the second session, held under the title “Women and Leading Digital Transformation,” was moderated by Sylvia Paul, Senior Adviser for Gender and Youth Affairs at the International Telecommunication Union Secretariat. The session explored the role of women leaders in shaping digital transformation policies and technological innovation, as well as strengthening women’s presence in the digital economy. Speakers included Her Excellency Minister Savannah Maziya, Minister of Information, Communications and Information Technology in the Kingdom of Eswatini; Irene Kaggwa, Head of the Giga Program at the International Telecommunication Union; Manal Al Affad, Director of the Digital Adoption and Enablement Department at the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority; and Dr. Fatima Zara Bello, an expert in digital transformation strategies and AI governance from Nigeria.
The third session was titled “Women and Entrepreneurship” and was moderated by Alia Ahmed from the Ministry of Economy. It showcased inspiring success stories of women entrepreneurs in international markets and examined opportunities for economic cooperation and joint investment between the UAE and African countries. Speakers included Her Excellency Badriya Yousif Al Meidour, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism; Khethiwe Mlanga, CEO of the Small Enterprises Development Company in the Kingdom of Eswatini; Surriya Ahmed, an investment and entrepreneurship leader and co-founder of Sabo Capital in Nigeria; and Jokasta Joaquim Samuel, Policy and Innovation Specialist at the Girl Move Academy in Mozambique.
The conference concluded with a number of recommendations and shared visions focused on strengthening the legislative and digital environment that supports women, and expanding the horizons of strategic partnership between the UAE and African nations.
At the conclusion of the conference, participants praised the pioneering and historic role of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Nation,” in supporting women’s empowerment at both the regional and international levels. They affirmed that this conference represents a cornerstone for sustainable cooperation that will effectively contribute to shaping a more balanced and prosperous global future.