Page 10 - Q1 2021

BUSINESS

Are women overtaking

men in the corporate

space in Africa?

By Wezi Njovu

When Kamala Harris became first woman rises to the top rung of
African American and First Asian the traditionally all-male ladder
American vice president of the in the world, it becomes front-
United States and the highest- page news because women’s
ranking female in U.S history, the progress in leadership and
whole world especially females, business leadership in many
were in awe and social media countries, continues to be
was buzzing with her images and achingly slow.
powerful exaltations. It almost
felt like a positive wave and that According to a ground-
a movement of uplifted women breaking study by the African
across the world had made this Development Bank (AfDB)
massive achievement. titled Where Are the Women?
Inclusive Boardrooms in Africa’s
This month of March, we also Top-Listed Companies, in the targets to transform the lives of
see Nigerian economist Ngozi 307 top African companies, women across Africa. Women
Okonjo-Iweala appointed as the women accounted for only 14% now believe in their full potential
WTOs Director-General. She of total board membership. That and capabilities. And in as much
becomes the first woman and translates to one woman out of as we have a long way to go to
first African to lead the group every seven board members. And achieve equal representation
that governs trade rules amongst one-third of the boards have no in the corporate space, African
countries. And similar to Kamala women at all, adds the report. women are taking stock of
Harris, Okonjo-Iweala makes progress and asking questions as
history as WTO’s first African and Countries with the highest they examine why progress has
female leader. percentage of women board been limited in many countries.
members are Kenya (19.8%), They are also seeking ways to
Now, let’s pause and think: Ghana (17.7%), South Africa overcome the obstacles.
would the world have created (17.4%), Botswana (16.9%) and
the same buzz and excitement Zambia (16.9%). Many now acknowledge that to
had the two positions been filled enable women escape poverty,
by men? Certainly not! It would For decades, African women have development policies should
have been business as usual. had reason to expect change place more emphasis on their
This also shows that when a and have equally set ambitious

10 | The Lion King | Jan - Mar 2021