Vicentia Boco

**Vicentia Boco** *(* wey dem born am 22 January 1949) be one big woman from Benin wey she be doctor for X-ray (radiologist), teacher, politician, plus woman rights fighter. She be trained doctor wey teach medical imaging for di University of Abomey-Calavi, wey she sana be di head of radiology for big hospital for Cotonou till she  come retire for 2014. For politics side, she be Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research between 2007 and 2008, and later she be president of women promotion institute (INPF) from 2009 go reach 2021.

## Early life and education
Boco wey dem born am for Natitingou for Atakora area, that time e be under French rule (dem dey call  am French Dahomey). She grow for Savi, Atlantique Department and her mummy den ein puppy dem all be teachers. For 1968, she finish secondary school with bac D in science certificate. 

That same year, she travel go Belgium go learn medical imaging because dat time dem no  start to dey teach am for Benin. Later she come go France continue, den she now become full doctor for 1974 from Paris Descartes University. After that, she still go learn public health from di University of Nancy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) from di University of Strasbourg, before she come back Benin for 1983.

## Medical career

When she come back Benin, she start to dey job as radiographer. From 1998 till 2014, na she still be boss (head) of radiology for the biggest hospital insyd Cotonou.

She no just stop there oo, she sana go dey teach for university too as professor for medical imaging. Because of ein job, ppl started to dey call am di first French-speaking university radiologist for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Boco don talk say e dey support abortion for cases wey the pregnancy fit put the woman for physical danger or if she no get money take take care of the pikin.

## Political career

From 1993 to 1996, Boco go job as medical advisor gv Benin government under President Nicéphore Soglo.

### Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (2007-2008)

For 2000s, she join body with one politician called Thomas Boni Yayi. She even manage his campaign for 2006 election, and he win. So in 2007, he appoint am as Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research. During her tenure, Boco notably scrapped entrance exams and registration fees for students attending Beninese universities, and promoted strengthening the teaching of sciences, as well as improving science facilities in the country.

Boco sef receive plenty criticism from some students say she no dey listen to dema demand for free tuition. After she step down from the position for October 2008, Boco talk say she no too happy with wetin she fit achieve for the role, she mention say she face plenty barriers when she dey try bring reforms, plus she talk say e be like Boni no really trust am for the position.

### President of the Institut national pour la promotion de la femme ( 2009-2021 )
Na together we go fight this fight. We for teach our men make dem respect we. 

— Vicentia Boco (2020)Even though Boco get experience as minister, she still keep good relationship with Boni, and she go serve as him advisor again for the 2011 presidential election. For 2009, Boni appoint Boco make she be president of the new institute dem create Institut national pour la promotion de la femme (INPF).

Boco lead the INFP take prepare reports plus studies about how women for Benin dey live and wetin dem dey go through, wey later the Ministry of Planning and Foresight use am as guideline. For 2016, Patrice Talon come take over from Boni as president of Benin. Even though Boco still stay for her position for INPF, later she talk say Talon ein government no dey show much interest for promoting women rights like the previous government

At first, Boco support Boni him promise say 30% of members for the National Assembly go be women. But she still call am make he make sure say women dey get leadership roles for every level insyd regional and local politics plus decision-making bodies too. For 2016, Patrice Talon come take over from Boni as president of Benin. Even though Boco still stay for her position for INPF, later she talk say Talon him government no dey show much interest for promoting women rights like the previous government.

Boco talk say she no like how women their role for government drop after the 2019 election, wey only eight women win seats. She say the new changes dem do for Benin constitution, wey promise say dem go reserve 24 seats for women insyd di National Assembly, no satisfy am. She point out say this be only about 22% of all the seats.  

She still show worry say because of this, political parties no go again put women as candidates for the remaining 85 seats, and this go make am harder for women to plenty inside politics.

Aside leadership matter, Boco still call make dem give more support to people wey dey suffer domestic abuse. She talk say prison sentence for the people wey dey do the bad thing no really dey help their partners and children, and she feel say dem for use better, more complete way take handle the problem.

For 2021, the government wey Talon dey lead come take over INPF, dem change the name to Institut national de la femme. Boco no continue for her role again.

### Subsequent events

For 2021, dem choose Boco make she organize the funeral for former First Lady Rosine Vieyra Soglo, to show respect for all the work wey she do for women emancipation.

For 2022, Boco criticize the twenty-year prison wey dem give opposition politician Reckya Madougou, she warn government make dem no use her sentence take scare people wey wan talk their mind.

## Honours

* Knight for di National Order of Benin
* Knight for di Legion of Honour of France
* Commander for di National Order of Benin
* Honorary Member for di French Society of Radiology (2019)

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