Development in Africa: Emerging Influence of African Women.
Author: Ozanu Miracle Chidera
To many the prospect of bringing the African dream to life is akin to waiting for pigs to fly. From being home builders to nation builders, African women remain dauntless in their strife. Developments in the form of education, advocacy, and improved health care have in recent times felt an impact on African women. In a recent analysis, African women are on the front lines, driving great resets, rewriting history, and making transformational changes. These impacts are evident in the grassroots as well as in the diaspora. Relentlessly, even when the odds are up against them, holding still, they ride the waves, keeping their heads above water with no loss of sight of their cause. It is important to write about these milestones by these impeccable African women bringing to light the battles won, victorious stories yet to be told as well as history yet to be made. This piece of writing does justice to this cause, it dives into the roles these expendable women play in developmental schemes, obstacles they encountered and still encounter in the modern day, and how women can be set on paths that push them to greatness.
Developmental Issues in Africa
In 2021, the United Nations Development Program ranked Africa lowest on the Human Development Index (HDI). It would not need an Einstein to figure out the implications of this as they are so evident even to the blind. The modern African colonies are still plagued with issues that were the issues in times past. This speaks volumes about our growth or no growth. Unstable governments, People plunging neck deep into poverty as inflation rakes these nations, insecurity, poor quality healthcare, and depreciation in the standard of living to mention a few. One would argue that two years later after this ranking this continent would wake up but alas, the opposite is the case. Dr. Okonji Iweala underscored the need to bring along solutions to problems when they have been identified when she said ” I believe when you find problems, you should find solutions”. From all indications, Africa knows its problems but seems to be oblivious of how to solve them.
Pivoting towards the future: African women bridging gaps.
Great transformational changes and milestones have always been hit by taking one step first and then the next. Stepping out of the relegation that held their dreams and aspirations bound, African women are taking the stage to bring the changes direly needed in Africa. Getting into this role, they become trailblazers, inspiring young African women that they can dare to dream, identify a cause, and have a chance to rewrite the course of time.
Joyce Hilda Banda underscored the unmatched role of women in nation-building when she said “The seeds of success in every nation are planted in women and children”. A good analysis of the various roles of African women and the changes they brought about in record time proves truly that women are of immense and indispensable worth.
Pivotal landmarks in diverse spheres such as entrepreneurship where African women drive the economy creating jobs not just for themselves but their community.
It is notable to mention as well the growing involvement of African women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). With this inclusiveness into the business of the day, African women drive resets bridging gaps in our world where capable hands like theirs are needed.
Setbacks encountered
As expected and seen with any great venture, the strife and stride of the African woman is met with a lot of issues best described as rate limiting. Cutting largely across discrimination, family responsibilities, gender inequality, and beliefs on what roles a woman can or cannot fill.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote, “Never accept ‘Because You Are A Woman’ as a reason for doing or not doing anything”. African women are often placed in a box, usually a psychological box that almost makes them believe they cannot be more or set sail to bring alive their aspirations. The notions and ideologies governing what a woman can and cannot become impact what a large number of these women tend to achieve.
Conclusion
When African women are given chances and opportunities, they can take the stage in their numbers to drive all-round resets. Even with so little in their arsenal, they produce transductional changes. So, when we celebrate women in years to come, they are not just celebrated as they are but for all the unprecedented roles they play. Roles that cannot be swept under the carpet by times or tides.