Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development

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The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development, also known as the EJS Center, is an organization to encourage and develop women in leadership roles in Africa. Founded by the former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2018, the organization aims "to be a catalyst for change across Africa, by helping unleash its most abundant untapped power – its women". [1]

Contents

Ophelia Weeks, ex-President of the University of Liberia, was appointed as the center's first executive director. [2]

Amujae Initiative

The center launched its flagship program, the Amujae Initiative, at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County on International Women's Day in March 2020. [3] 'Amujae' means "we are going up" in Liberian dialect, and the initiative aims to prepare women for promotion to leadership positions across Africa. [4]

In 2020, Joyce Banda of Malawi and Catherine Samba-Panza of Central African Republic helped Johnson Sirleaf with the Amaujae Initiative, 15 women were chosen as the inaugural cohort of participants to receive mentorship. [4] They were: [5]

  1. Flag of Ghana.svg Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, MP, doctor and activist
  2. Flag of Rwanda.svg Clare Akamanzi, CEO, Cabinet minister and lawyer
  3. Flag of Sierra Leone.svg Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, mayor of Freetown
  4. Flag of Nigeria.svg Hadiza Bala Usman, managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority
  5. Flag of The Gambia.svg Oley Dibba-Wadda, president and CEO of the Gam Africa Institute for Leadership (GAIL)
  6. Flag of Liberia.svg Kula Fofana, president of People's Foundation Africa
  7. Flag of Ghana.svg Yawa Hansen-Quao, executive director and social entrepreneur
  8. Flag of Guinea.svg Malado Kaba, Guinea's first female finance minister
  9. Flag of Liberia.svg Cornelia Kruah-Togba, NGO founder, public servant and women's advocate
  10. Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Fadzayi Mahere, lawyer, advocate, lecturer and political leader
  11. Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Aida Alassane N'Diaye-Riddick, development expert and public servant
  12. Flag of Nigeria.svg Angela Nwaka, nurse, consultant, legislator and NGO director
  13. Flag of Nigeria.svg Jumoke Oduwole, academic, government advisor, and advocate
  14. Flag of Tanzania.svg Upendo Duraha Penza, MP and advocate
  15. Flag of Ethiopia.svg Blen Sahilu, human rights lawyer and gender expert

In 2021, 15 women across 11 African countries were chosen: [6]

  1. Flag of Nigeria.svg Teju Abisoye, development expert, lawyer and youth advocate
  2. Flag of Ghana.svg Farida Bedwei, tech entrepreneur and disability rights advocate
  3. Flag of Ethiopia.svg Dagmawit Moges Bekele, Minister of Transport and Member of House of People's Representatives
  4. Flag of South Sudan.svg Susan Grace Duku, activist and refugee advocate
  5. Flag of Sierra Leone.svg Dr. Yakama Manty Jones, economist, lecturer, entrepreneur and philanthropist
  6. Flag of Sierra Leone.svg Isata Kabia, social entrepreneur, former MP and Minister
  7. Flag of Botswana.svg Bogolo Kenewendo, economist, former Minister and gender and youth activist
  8. Flag of Egypt.svg Ghada Labib, Deputy Minister and communications & IT expert
  9. Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Angèle Makombo, political advisor and party leader
  10. Flag of The Gambia.svg Fatoumatta Njai, Parliamentarian, Women's Leadership Advocate
  11. Flag of Nigeria.svg Ifeyinwa Maureen Okafor, government advisor and corporate director
  12. Flag of Kenya.svg Umra Omar, humanitarian, community development strategist and gubernatorial candidate
  13. Flag of Nigeria.svg Dr. Adaeze Oreh, Doctor, healthcare advocate and author
  14. Flag of Liberia.svg Telia Urey, businesswoman, politician and activist
  15. Flag of Kenya.svg Anne Waiguru, economist and governor of Kirinyaga County. [7]

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References

  1. "Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Launches Women's Center as Change Catalyst". AllAfrica.com. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  2. "EJS Center to raise waves of women leaders". The New Dawn. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  3. David A. Yates (6 March 2020). "Liberia: EJS Launches Center for Women and Development". Daily Observer.
  4. 1 2 Nellie Peyton (6 March 2020). "Africa's first elected female president to train 'wave' of women leaders". Thomson Reuters Foundation. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  5. "Amujae Leaders 2020" . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  6. "Teju Abisoye for Ex-President Johnson Sirleaf's leadership initiative". The Nation. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  7. Kevin Muraya (16 January 2021). "Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center honours Goveror Waiguru". KBC. Retrieved 30 January 2021.