At China-Africa Summit: First Lady, Chantal Biya, recommits to women empowerment, education.

This was during her fruitful sojourn in Beijing, China, for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, FOCAC.

While accompanying her husband, President Paul Biya to China, Chantal Biya attended a conference on the importance of empowering women as a development tool.

The programme was organised on the sidelines of the Summit by her counterpart, wife of the President of the People’s Republic of China, Peng Liyuan, for all the African First Ladies present.

It was on the theme: “China and Africa hand in hand for the education and empowerment of women”.

During the one-hour event, Cameroon’s First Lady, who is also UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Social Inclusion, played an active role in examining ways through which women in Africa and China can be empowered for a better future. 

Through discussions, the First Ladies present explored avenues through which they could pull their strength from all sides to promote full development of women.

In her opening remarks, Peng Liyuan pointed out that China and Africa belong to a community of shared future.

“Chinese and African women have written remarkable chapters of unity, cooperation and progress through their hard work, wisdom and dedication. By advancing women’s education and moving towards a brighter future, China and Africa are aligned in their goals,” she noted.

According to her, reducing inequalities between men and women in the field of education, while ensuring women’s empowerment is primordial. Such objectives, Peng Liyuan noted cannot be achieved without a very high level of leadership involvement, both on the African continent and in the rest of the world.

As a solution, she recommended that girls be encouraged to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM subjects for greater impact. Peng Liyuan encouraged those who were already taking initiatives to stay the course, and others to get started.

First Lady Chantal Biya renewed her commitment to this cause by adding her signature to the dedicated wall of images. It is worth mentioning that Chantal Biya has made remarkable contributions and commitment to education. 

Amongst them are the construction of modern elementary schools across the country, the restoration and rehabilitation of several schools in the hinterlands and numerous donations of school supplies and teaching aids to needy pupils and schools.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3227 of Thursday September 12, 2024