However, no technological breakthrough, no legal advance and no financial improvement will ensure Africa s progress unless the continent s women are unbound to take their rightful place in government, business and society at large. What we have discovered in the developed world is that women are valuable partners in achieving progress. Many African societies knew this before colonialism, but allowed the colonial powers to convince them that women should have a limited role. By allowing their forces to be so diminished, these male African rulers rendered their societies more vulnerable to conquest. Now that these countries are independent, they must not exclude any contributing member.
Women already play an indispensable role in African economies with little if any assistance.
Women ably manage many non-governmental organizations. It is time for African political parties and governments to respect the contribution women can make and give them the space they need to contribute. There are many challenges being faced by African nations. Some are being successfully handled, while others are being ignored. It is incumbent on the most powerful nation on earth to play a positive role in working with African leadership to find solutions to today s problems and effectively plan for tomorrow s challenges.