Institutions and associations across the world are making critical advances to decrease gender disparity against females in education.

To address this dissimilarity, the African Guarantee Fund held a mentorship program focusing on female students from Strathmore University Business School through the Faculty of Career Development office with an end goal to expose them to opportunities and expound on their right to bargaining power at work places alongside their male partners.

Felix Bikpo, Group CEO of African Guarantee Fund , in an interview, said that the students; principally enthusiastic about business, financial matters and economics-related subjects; were engaged in the forum as it allowed for candid and open conversations between women on issues pertaining to their empowerment in Africa.

In honor of the recently celebrated International Women’s Day 2020, Mr. Bikpo noted that AGF hopes to build an interpersonal relationship of mentorship, skill and knowledge acquisition for African young women in order to equip them and improve their bargaining power in their various career paths.

The mentorship forum, run by female staff from various AGF departments, included discussions on job searching, challenges faced, pursuing success as well as advice and counsel.

In Africa, women’s ability deficiencies, as well as their cultural barriers have not completely vanished. Underprivileged families tend to give priority to the education and training of boys over that of girls, which has direct implications on their ability to pursue their dreams and aspirations.

Women in Africa are true social impact bearers. In fact, it is estimated that they reinvest up to ninety percent (90%) of their earnings in education, health, and food for their families and communities, against forty percent (40%) at the most for their male counterparts.

In his parting shot, Mr. Bikpo’s said, “Women are a true backbone of African economies, occupying a space that is still scarcely understood by key financial players. Africa has the largest proportion of female entrepreneurs in the world and investing in businesses owned or run by women has the potential to radically change African communities.”