First Woman Pres Elected In Africa To Speak At Wellesley College

WELLESLEY, MA — On International Women's Day a star studded group of women will be speaking at Wellesley College's first African Women’s Leadership Conference, incuding the first woman elected to head of state on the African continent.

The first-of-its-kind gathering in the United States will include some of the most influential voices in African women’s leadership—from education and politics to health and technology, entertainment, and the law. More than 200 individuals are expected to attend, according to the college.

"The conference presents a transformative opportunity for the next generation of African women leaders in the United States to meet and exchange the ideas that will move their countries and the world forward," according to a statement sent to the Patch.

Keynote speakers include Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia (2006–2018) and Nobel laureate; Kenyan educator and social activist, Kakenya Nataiya; Kansiime Anne, Ugandan comedian and actress who has been dubbed “Africa’s Queen of Comedy”; and Agnes Binagwaho, vice chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity, and the former minister of health of Rwanda who led the way in addressing chronic disease in Rwanda.

Joey Cole, who graduated from Wellesley in 1999, and who is now a senior producer for MSNBC Live with Hallie Jackson, will emcee.

The goal of the conference is to expand understanding of the ways African women leaders are transforming their communities and their countries. The event aims to advance thought leadership and provide opportunities to learn from the women who are making a difference across Africa and around the world. In lectures, breakout sessions, and informal discussions, attendees will explore what women’s leadership looks like through the lens of four key leadership competencies—confidence, creativity, courage, and resilience—leading to a deeper appreciation of the challenges African women leaders face and offering productive strategies for addressing them.

Highlighted Events

The three keynote talks are free and open to the public; guests may register online on the conference website. Although registration for the full two-day conference is full, all events will be available via livestream at wellesley.edu/live.

Thursday, March 8 (International Women’s Day)

· 1:15 pm to 3 pm - Agnes Binagwaho, vice chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity presents the keynote talk, “The Challenges Faced by African Women Leaders in the Health Sector.” Wellesley President Paula Johnson will moderate the talk.

· 3:15 pm to 5 pm - Playwright and Wellesley 2006 alumna, Mfoniso Udofia, presents “Creating Movement: African Women’s Bodies in the American Theatre.”

· 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Keynote speaker Kakenya Ntaiya presents “Empowering Girls, Transforming Communities: My Journey to Live a Bold Vision for Change.”

· 7:45 pm to 8:30 pm, Kansiime Anne gives a comedy performance, titled "I am Kansiime"

Friday, March 9

· 11:30 am to 1:15 pm - Hauwa Ibrahim, International Human Rights and Shariah Law Attorney presents “Mothers Without Borders: Steering Youth Away from Violent Extremism”

· 3:45 to 4:45 pm – Keynote talk with H. E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia (Jan 2006-Jan 2018), moderated by Paula Johnson, President Wellesley College

About Wellesley College’s Partnership with the MasterCard Foundation

In 2012, Wellesley College became the first liberal arts college to partner with the newly developed Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. This program aims to help academically talented, economically disadvantaged young people, primarily from Africa, attend Wellesley at no cost to them. In addition to a comprehensive scholarship that includes tuition, books and supplies, and room and board, Mastercard Foundation Scholars are trained in 21st-century skills, provided transition assistance such as mentoring and leadership development, and are connected with internships, volunteer opportunities, and other career opportunities.