Monica Geingos celebrated the EJS Centre’s 5th anniversary in Liberia, underscoring the need for women’s political representation. The event coincided with International Women’s Day and saw participation from prominent leaders including Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Geingos advocated for women’s economic empowerment as essential for political representation and discussed the urgency of addressing inequalities, while Johnson Sirleaf introduced Musiehjah to honor women’s contributions to societal change.
Monica Geingos, former first lady and chairperson of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Centre for Women and Development, recently celebrated the 5th anniversary of the EJS Centre in Monrovia, Liberia. The two-day event commenced on March 7 with the launch of the GapZero Manifesto promoting gender equality in leadership, culminating on International Women’s Day, March 8, with a gathering of dignitaries and stakeholders.
Among the notable attendees were EJS Centre founder Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian President Joseph Boakai, former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. During her speech, Geingos emphasized the significance of women’s political representation and the urgency for addressing structural inequalities affecting the youth and women today.
Geingos remarked on the impatience of young women, who feel disillusioned by older generations. She articulated the vital intersection between political and economic freedoms, stressing that economic empowerment is essential for political representation. Geingos insisted that women must participate in the economy to fund their political campaigns and highlighted the importance of representation across all levels of society.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf unveiled Musiehjah, the African Women’s House, celebrating the contributions of women in advocating for societal progress. She called for an ambitious goal of electing five women presidents across Africa in the next decade, noting Namibia’s advancements. The event concluded with a commitment to close the leadership gap and foster gender equality within leadership roles.
Geingos’s statements underscore the critical need for women’s representation in political positions and highlight the necessity of integrating economic empowerment with political rights. The anniversary celebration reflects a broader commitment to advancing gender equality and facilitating leadership opportunities for women in Africa, as championed by both Geingos and Johnson Sirleaf.
Original Source: www.namibian.com.na
