Kigali-Thursday, 4 April 2019-The African Women Leadership Conference kicked off in Kigali, Marriot Hotel on Thursday, 04^th April 2019. The annual meeting gathers 200-300 Government officials, Development Partners, women professionals/entrepreneurs, NGOs, Religious Based Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Philanthropists and Women Associations in a bid to engage women to increase their leadership participation. It also engages key decision makers to generate solutions, implement best practices and build partnerships for women's development.

While officiating the conference, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Amb. Soline NYIRAHABIMANA lauded the African Women Leadership Organization and its Founder Dr. Elisha Attai for bringing the conference in Rwanda adding that it is a perfect occasion to reiterate Rwanda’s commitment to advance women’s leadership and make a real change.’

Amb. Soline NYIRAHABIMANA echoed: ‘Equal participation including women leadership participation is not only a human rights issue, but rather a critical factor of success and a condition to effective development.’-

The Minister went further saying: ‘There is no doubt that African Women can greatly sustain Africa’s development agenda if they are given equal opportunity and space.’ Adding that for this to yield greater impact, focus should be put to gender strategic needs for women.

The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion accentuated that although much has been done; challenges still exist that hinder full women participation in leadership including limited leadership skills and mentorship especially for young women, patriarchy remains that is deeply entrenched within the fabric of the society especially in Africa, majority women still in unpaid care and domestic work among others.

Founder of AWLO Dr. Elisha Attai said: ‘We are making a greater and better world and we cannot achieve it without celebrating women.'

The African Women in Leadership Organisation [AWLO] is an international not-for-profit organization founded in 2009 for driving women's leadership through gender parity, leadership effectiveness and global development. The organization strives to advance the status of women in leadership by creating an empowering platform and harnessing the synergies of alliance. It has 23 Chapters and Youth Councils in 12 countries including USA and UK.

The AWLC first edition was hosted by Accra Ghana in 2009, Abuja Nigeria in 2010, Accra Ghana in 2011, Banjul Gambia in 2012, Uyo Nigeria in 2013, Atlanta USA in 2014, South Africa in 2015, Sugarland Texas in 2016, Washington DC in 2017, Abuja Nigeria 10th Anniversary in 2018 and Atlanta Georgia 10th anniversary Diaspora edition 2018.