Phil Okose, Onitsha
The 4th Biennial International Conference and General Meeting of Soroptimists International, Africa Federation (SIAF) has ended with a call on the critical need for government and national development planners to include Soroptimists International in sustainable development plans to empower women play healthy leadership roles in society.
In a press release to newsmen in Onitsha, the event which held from 25th till 27th September, 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, themed, “Leading the Way to Empowerment and Sustainability in Africa and beyond” with the sub-theme, “Lighting the Path: Unlocking Africa’s Transformative Power Through Women’s Leadership, Resilience, and Solidarity,” attracted the International President of the Soroptimists International of Great Britain and Islands, SIGBI, Renata Trottmann Probst, while the Nigerian Soroptimists President, Dr. Adaku Aniebue led the Nigerian delegation.
President, SIAF, Mary Muia explained that the organization was created out of SIGBI to enable Africans contribute in giving a voice to women and the girl child by educating and empowering them to not only be useful to themselves, but to become champions of Healthier people, healthier planet, rights and social justice.
“We recognize that the well-being of women and girls is inextricably linked to the health of our environment, the protection of our fundamental rights, and the pursuit of inclusive equity’, she opined, noting that African women are stepping up as the architects of climate resilience, maternal and child health advocates, and fearless defenders of social justice.
In her paper titled: “Systemic Power Dynamics as Prerequisite for Women and Girls Leadership for a Healthier, Safer, and Empowered Future” presented by the President, Soroptimists International, Onitsha Nigeria, Dr. Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi called for a healthier future that translates voice into well-being, safer future that translates authority into protection, and a more economically empowered future that converts power into prosperity as the catalyst to building leadership pipelines for women through political quotas assigned to women and a clear mentorship ecosystem where current African women leaders can train, and mentor upcoming women and girls to dismantle structural barriers to institutional leadership.
Nwadinobi, former Executive Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Awka, an Associate Professor in the Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, appealed to the conferees to redefine the Soroptimists triad of ‘educate, enable and empower women and girls’ through a systematic lens, by moving from literacy to social power; from survival capacity to economic authority; and from aid beneficiaries to institutional leaders that can transform their world.
Highlights were the panel discussion on the conference theme, Annual General Meeting, the SIAF Best Practices Recognitions across Health & Wellbeing, Healthier Planet, Economic Empowerment, and Next Generation Leadership and presentation of certificates, among other presentations.
For a better society
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