African women to push for inclusive economic growth 

Lagos, Nigeria, 18 Jul – (ANA) - The Second African Women’s Economic Summit has ended in Lagos, Nigeria,  with a unanimous commitment by participants to campaign vigorously for the economic empowerment of their gender as the surest means to banish poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth.

 In a keynote address, Nigeria’s finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stressed that women’s economic empowerment was no longer simply an option because investing in women, who constitute half of the continent’s population, was the only way to sustain the growth recorded across the continent at this times.

 “Women are the third largest emerging markets in the globe.  Women are the third largest source of growth. One of the fastest ways to sustain current growth is to invest in women,” said Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, who was a candidate in the recent election for World Bank president.

 She suggested that a specialized bank be established to cater for the financial interests of women, who do not have access to investment finance for a host of reasons.

 Also addressing the gathering, New Faces, New Voices executive director, Nomsa Daniels, said the organisation would focus its attention over the next two years on developing a database on women’s participation in entrepreneurship, financing and the economy.

 She said the group, which currently has chapters in 16 countries, would also organise capacity building programmes, financial education and enlightenment courses for women. (ANA)

FA/ANA/18 July 2012-----------