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Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development

{{Short description|African organization for women and development}}

The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development, also known as the EJS Center, is an organization to encourage and develop women in leadership roles in Africa. Founded by the former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2018, the organization aims "to be a catalyst for change across Africa, by helping unleash its most abundant untapped power – its women".{{cite news | url=https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00072449.html | title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Launches Women's Center as Change Catalyst | website=AllAfrica.com | date=19 March 2020 | accessdate=30 January 2021 }}

Ophelia Weeks, ex-President of the University of Liberia, was appointed as the center's first executive director.{{cite news | url=https://thenewdawnliberia.com/ejs-center-to-raise-waves-of-women-leaders/ | newspaper=The New Dawn | title=EJS Center to raise waves of women leaders | date=11 March 2020 | accessdate=30 January 2021 }}

Amujae Initiative

The center launched its flagship program, the Amujae Initiative, at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County on International Women's Day in March 2020.{{cite news | url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202003060235.html | author=David A. Yates | title=Liberia: EJS Launches Center for Women and Development | newspaper=Daily Observer | date=6 March 2020 }} 'Amujae' means "we are going up" in Liberian dialect, and the initiative aims to prepare women for promotion to leadership positions across Africa.{{cite news | url=https://news.trust.org/item/20200305232430-tg394 | author=Nellie Peyton | title=Africa's first elected female president to train 'wave' of women leaders | website=Thomson Reuters Foundation | date=6 March 2020 | accessdate=30 January 2021 }}

In 2020, Joyce Banda of Malawi and Catherine Samba-Panza of Central African Republic helped Johnson Sirleaf with the Amaujae Initiative, 15 women were chosen as the inaugural cohort of participants to receive mentorship. They were:{{cite web| url=https://www.ejscenter.org/programs/amujae-initiative/participants/ | title=Amujae Leaders 2020 | accessdate=30 January 2021}}

  1. {{flagicon|Ghana}} Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, MP, doctor and activist
  2. {{flagicon|Rwanda}} Clare Akamanzi, CEO, Cabinet minister and lawyer
  3. {{flagicon|Sierra Leone}} Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, mayor of Freetown
  4. {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Hadiza Bala Usman, managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority
  5. {{flagicon|The Gambia}} Oley Dibba-Wadda, president and CEO of the Gam Africa Institute for Leadership (GAIL)
  6. {{flagicon|Liberia}} Kula Fofana, president of People's Foundation Africa
  7. {{flagicon|Ghana}} Yawa Hansen-Quao, executive director and social entrepreneur
  8. {{flagicon|Guinea}} Malado Kaba, Guinea's first female finance minister
  9. {{flagicon|Liberia}} Cornelia Kruah-Togba, NGO founder, public servant and women's advocate
  10. {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Fadzayi Mahere, lawyer, advocate, lecturer and political leader
  11. {{flagicon|Ivory Coast}} Aida Alassane N'Diaye-Riddick, development expert and public servant
  12. {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Angela Nwaka, nurse, consultant, legislator and NGO director
  13. {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Jumoke Oduwole, academic, government advisor, and advocate
  14. {{flagicon|Tanzania}} Upendo Duraha Penza, MP and advocate
  15. {{flagicon|Ethiopia}} Blen Sahilu, human rights lawyer and gender expert

In 2021, 15 women across 11 African countries were chosen:{{cite news| url=https://thenationonlineng.net/teju-abisoye-for-ex-president-johnson-sirleafs-leadership-initiative/ | title=Teju Abisoye for Ex-President Johnson Sirleaf’s leadership initiative | newspaper=The Nation | date=27 January 2021 | accessdate=30 January 2021 }}

  1. {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Teju Abisoye, development expert, lawyer and youth advocate
  2. {{flagicon|Ghana}} Farida Bedwei, tech entrepreneur and disability rights advocate
  3. {{flagicon|Ethiopia}} Dagmawit Moges Bekele, Minister of Transport and Member of House of People's Representatives
  4. {{flagicon|South Sudan}} Susan Grace Duku, activist and refugee advocate
  5. {{flagicon|Sierra Leone}} Dr. Yakama Manty Jones, economist, lecturer, entrepreneur and philanthropist
  6. {{flagicon|Sierra Leone}} Isata Kabia, social entrepreneur, former MP and Minister
  7. {{flagicon|Botswana}} Bogolo Kenewendo, economist, former Minister and gender and youth activist
  8. {{flagicon|Egypt}} Ghada Labib, Deputy Minister and communications & IT expert
  9. {{flagicon|DRC}} Angèle Makombo, political advisor and party leader
  10. {{flagicon|The Gambia}} Fatoumatta Njai, Parliamentarian, Women's Leadership Advocate
  11. {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Ifeyinwa Maureen Okafor, government advisor and corporate director
  12. {{flagicon|Kenya}} Umra Omar, humanitarian, community development strategist and gubernatorial candidate
  13. {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Dr. Adaeze Oreh, Doctor, healthcare advocate and author
  14. {{flagicon|Liberia}} Telia Urey, businesswoman, politician and activist
  15. {{flagicon|Kenya}} Anne Waiguru, economist and governor of Kirinyaga County.{{cite news |author=Kevin Muraya |date=16 January 2021 |title=Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center honours Governor Waiguru |url=https://www.kbc.co.ke/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-presidential-center-honours-governor-waiguru/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416014948/https://www.kbc.co.ke/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-presidential-center-honours-governor-waiguru/ |archive-date=2021-04-16 |accessdate=30 January 2021 |website=KBC}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|www.ejscenter.org/}}

Category:2018 establishments in Africa

Category:Organizations established in 2018

Category:Women's organizations based in Africa

Category:Organizations based in Liberia

Category:Women's organizations based in Liberia

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