African Power girls launched

Group CEO of RED | For Africa, Adebola Williams, has launched his book, African Power Girls. The event that attracted students from Blooming Green Schools, Yaba, Lagos, and Girls Senior Academy, Lagos Island, on Friday, November 19, 2021, aimed at helping young women to know that they are from lineage of strong women.

The book is centred on stories of different African women, who have made impact and caused change in Africa and other parts of the world. The booktreatslegends like Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Queen Amina, Bisoye Tejuoso and Nike Davies.

Speaking on the book, Williams revealed that African Power Girls was written to inspire and empower a generation of ‘African Power Girls’.

He said that for so long, the narrative of great women has been swept under the carpet, making younger women believe that they couldn’t aspire to be great.

“When you read these books and hear these stories, do not imagine that they happened at a time, which you cannot recreate the magic,” Williams said.

The social commentator and rights activist said that he noticed there were no books on African women and wanted to write one to share the stories with his goddaughters.

He said: “ I was trying to inspire them with souls of good women. I wanted to tell them these stories while they were young, before their minds were formed, on all the stereotypes and boxes that the world throws at young girls, but I couldn’t find anyone on African women.

“I found one on Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, and co, but I wanted one about the women in Nyanya, the women in Komrobite in Ghana or Kibera in Kenya.

“So, I said, if I couldn’t find it, I would write it. This book was inspired by my desire to fill the gaps in the life of my goddaughters. From deciding to write it as a book at home and stapling it to give them, I thought why not make it a book and give it to girls around the continent.”

The entrepreneur said stories of strong women in Africa needed to be told to the younger generation to shape their minds in purpose and instil in them, the feeling that there was nothing they couldn’t achieve.

Williams urged women to challenge traditions and norms imposed on young girls and teach them to never be quiet.

“I encourage our women and mums that are here today that rather than teaching children to be quiet, be patient to answer their questions. Rather than watching people foster derogatory traditions and norms on young girls, you see someone telling a young girl to behave like a woman; don’t keep quiet, challenge it. Those are the ways that we would help our girls find their voice,” he stated.

He further revealed that the book tour would continue in several states and countries like Abuja, Kaduna and Ogun states, Ghana and Kenya, while Volume 2 and 3 would be released next year.

On incorporating the book into the academic system, the writer disclosed that his team is talking with the Lagos State government on ways to incorporate it into the curriculum.

The well-attended book launch had Lagos State Commissioner of Education, Folashade Adefisayo in attendance. Also present were the journalist Kadaria Ahmed, Chairman of Access Bank, Dr. (Mrs.) Ajoritsedere Awosika; Founder of Today’s Woman, Adesuwa Onyenokwe; Group Executive Director Rainoil Ltd., Mrs. Godfrey Ogbechie and fashion designer Deola Sagoe.

Other celebrities in attendance include, Eku Edewor, Nse-Ikpe Etim, Chioma Akpotha, Chi Gurl and more. These women collectively read excerpts from the book and advised the young women in the crowd on being “African Power Girls.”

Williams charged everyone, despite their busy schedules to tell stories that they think would impact the world and Africa.