Groups move to improve mental well-being of black women in Africa

*Inspires women to leadership positions

Women Groups, Women Empowering the Nations (WEN) and Cantu Beauty West Africa, are partnering to improve the mental well-being of black women across the African continent.

The initiative is also to inspire women into leadership positions.

The groups, at a ‘Global Give-Back Day’ held in Abuja, brought together black women from across African countries, an event held simultaneously in Nigeria and Ghana to inspire women to leadership positions.

The initiative specifically provided a platform for women to ease off their stress and give them opportunities to keep their mental health in check through Afrocentric painting and jam for the enhancement of women’s mental health.

According to the organisers, the month of July was chosen because it is marked as Black Mental Health Month.

The coordinators of the groups, Diwura Williams, Blessing Ahmodu, and Oluwa Akintewe all stated that the essence of the project was for the empowerment of black women and a platform to mentor younger girls for leadership positions.

They emphasised the need for women to be encouraged to take up leadership roles and for the girl child to be mentored into such leadership positions.

The group said the initiative goes beyond surface appearances but focuses on holistic mental wellness and self-care.

The programme also gave the women the opportunity to form an awareness platform that will help to keep their mental health in check and enhance black women representation in leadership.

About 50 women participated in the Afrocentric painting and jam.