Flays xenophobia in South Africa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has advocated for greater inclusion and opportunities for women in governance and leadership positions across Africa.

Diri contended that the continent’s progress would accelerate when women with potential and vision were integrated into critical decision-making spheres.

The Bayelsa governor spoke during the formal presentation of a book, magazine and documentary in honour of the first female Mayor of the City of Banjul, Mrs Rohey Malick Lowe, at the Dawda Jawara International Conference Centre in The Gambia on Wednesday.

Governor Diri eulogised Lowe, the country’s popular advocate for women’s rights and empowerment, describing her as a woman whose accomplishments stood as evidence of purposeful leadership.

He said: “May I use this platform to encourage leaders across our continent to deliberately create opportunities for women to contribute at the highest levels of governance and public service.

“The progress of our nations will be accelerated when leadership is inclusive and when merit, competence, and vision are allowed to flourish irrespective of gender.

“Indeed, one is compelled to ask whether some of the developmental challenges confronting our continent stem from our failure to sufficiently integrate women into governance and other critical spheres of decision-making. Africa cannot afford to leave half of its human capital on the sidelines while seeking solutions to complex social, economic, and political challenges.”

According to the Bayelsa helmsman, who was the special guest at the event, cultural practices that inhibit women in leadership should be discarded so they can unleash their full potential.

Diri described the Mayor’s success story, as attested to by many of the speakers, as a strong case for empowering women everywhere.

On the ongoing xenophobic incidents against fellow Africans in South Africa, Diri expressed concern that such developments would destroy the fabric of the continent’s unity.

“Such acts wound the fabric of Pan-African brotherhood that our forebears like Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, the independence leader of The Gambia, fought to build. When one nation suffers, our response must be guided by compassion, solidarity, and pragmatic support.”

Lowe presented a key to the City of Banjul and other awards to the governor in recognition of his support for women’s empowerment.

Earlier, the keynote speaker and former Mayor of the City of Leeds, United Kingdom, Mrs Abigail Marshal-Katung, described Lowe as a “living legend, who has taken the name of her city and country across oceans and continents, and into the highest chambers of global power.”