Esther Omam clinches another int’l peace promoter award.

She was declared winner of the prestigious Africa Women’s Award, AWA, in the ‘Woman of Impact and Exception for the Promotion of Peace’ category. 

The distinction was conferred on the unassuming peace advocate by organisers of the African Women Awards, Saturday April 27.

The crowd pulling ceremony, which brought together continental female movers and shakers from different walks of life, took place at the Yaounde Conference Centre. 

The African Women Awards, it should be said, is an initiative of the Diversity Advancement Network, a leadership platform that showcases and mentors outstanding females worldwide.

Organisers of AWA told guests that Omam was singled out for her dedicated initiatives and actions that have enormously impacted the peace process in the North West and South West Regions in particular. 

They lauded her key role as one of the main organisers of the first-ever Cameroon National Women’s Convention for Peace in Cameroon, which brought together over 1,200 women from across the national triangle, to appeal for an end to violence against women and girls. 

They described the multiple international award-winning Esther Omam, as a woman of impact and a woman of exceptional peace qualities, who has spent nearly three decades fostering the culture of peace in Cameroon and beyond. 

Expresses gratitude to organisers

In her acceptance speech after clinching the award, Esther Omam, expressed gratitude to organisers of Africa Women’s Awards.

“AWA, once more thank you for supporting other women in their efforts. It is often said that when women support women, they move forward, and the world moves with them,” she said. 

She said it was with the “greatest humility and gratitude” that she was accepting the recognition on her person. 

“I feel elated to stand among the giants who have paved the way and enlightened my path with their numerous achievements in the field of peacebuilding,” she said. 

Esther Omam said her thoughts, as at the time of receiving the award, went to the “millions of peace-loving Africans, especially women, who bear the brunt of conflicts”, the “millions living in pains and those who have paid the ultimate prize while seeking pathways to peace,” as well as those who have lost their lives in conflicts across Africa. 

Dedicates award to women working for peace 

Omam dedicated the award to African women working tirelessly in various fields to stabilise families and communities, as well as grassroots champions whose silent actions go unrecognised. 

“Women all over Africa are building peace, piece by piece. They are making African leaders understand that if we must achieve sustainable peace, we must learn to talk with those we consider our enemies and not with friends because those we need to convince about our intentions are those considered as enemies,” she said. 

She said the diverse perspectives of all and sundry on the Women Peace and Security Agenda, are fundamental to the shared mission of building resilient and peaceful communities in their diversity and in respect of our fundamental rights. 

While appealing for unity among women, Omam also seized the opportunity to applaud the efforts of all those who support women's efforts in the promotion of peace in their countries and communities. 

“As African women, we must understand that what unites us is greater than what divides us…we must together to support the continent to stand tall in the face of fragility,” she noted.