Strength of a woman         Photo courtesy

The International Women’s Day, marked just recently, celebrates the achievement of women and brings to the fore challenges facing them. One hundred years since its inception, women make only 30 percent of the world's formal workforce; only 10 percent of the world's income and own only 1 percent of the world's property. Of 1.2 billion people living in poverty worldwide, 70 percent are women. In Africa, women are responsible for 80% of food production but own only 2% of the land.

Women’s contribution towards the continent’s development cannot be underestimated. It is their resilience that sustained the continent when men were shipped away by slave masters. Even in slavery, some facilitated the escape of slaves. The ingenuity, strength of character and commitment demonstrated by women to the development of their homes, nation and continent has over the years seen them rise ladders. This demonstrates that the market rewards individuals who give people goods or services that they want and will pay for.

African women ought to consequently guard against deliberate mis-education and mischaracterization that has labeled them victims in need of preferential treatment to rise to the top. What women need is an environment that will enable them explore their way ahead, own property, invest for the long term, conclude private agreements and trade with others.