Africa International Documentary Festival Foundation (AFIDFF), an NGO has celebrated the contributions of Ms Regina Amadi-Njoku, the former UN’s Assistant Secretary-General for spare heading grassroots women development.
The Director-General of AFIDFF, Mrs Malame Mangzha, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, in commemoration of the 2024 International Women Day (IWD).Mangzha, who described Amadi-Njoku as an inspiration and champion for Gender Equality and Development, added she was one of the remarkable women who impacted on development of women in Africa.“It is imperative to honour the remarkable contributions of women like Amadi-Njoku whose dedication to leadership excellence, diplomacy, and gender-responsive development has left an indelible mark in Africa and beyond.
“Her illustrious career spans decades throughout her tenure serving as the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Africa at the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Her presence at the UN was marked by her unwavering commitment to advancing rights-based and culture-rooted development across the continent.“She emerged a trailblazer in the field of international development,’’ she said.Mangzha said throughout her tenure, Amadi-Njoku wielded her expertise to advocate for the empowerment of marginalised communities, particularly women. “Her leadership not only elevated the discourse on gender equality but fostered inclusive policies that promoted sustainable development across the region,’’ she said.Mangzha also said that the effort by Amadi-Njoku’s impact was not only encouraging, but echoed through her grassroots initiatives and advocacy work in Nigeria.
This, she added gave birth to the Other Half Empowerment Initiative, a project, spearheaded by Amadi-Njoku to address the intersection of culture and gender. She said: “The initiative was with a focus on enhancing women’s participation and leadership in governance and development.“Amadi-Njoku’s legacy extends beyond her professional achievements; she is a beacon of inspiration for future generations of women leaders in Africa and beyond.“Her tireless dedication to advancing the rights of the marginalised serves as a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and advocacy.“She has authored publications on gender, culture, and development and has been honoured from national and international organisations.“On this Day, we want to specially recognise her unparalleled contributions to gender equality and development and recommit ourselves to building a more equitable and inclusive world for all.”Mangzha said that her foundation would not only emulate female icons that had broken the stereotype to bring about national development but would put more efforts towards sustaining their legacy.
According to her, more women education, empowerment and inclusion in governance and decision making will produce more of Amadi-Njoku in not just Nigeria, but Africa and beyond.NAN reports that the theme for the UN 2024’s IWD is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’, with a focus on addressing economic disempowerment. (NAN)
