Category: Special Features
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At just 26 years old, Lesego Chombo has captured the imagination of a continent by becoming Botswana’s Minister of Youth, Gender, Sports, and Culture. Her appointment by President Mokgweetsi Masisi represents a profound shift toward youthful and inclusive leadership in Botswana, where over 60% of the population is under 35. This welcome and telling move…
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Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana in acknowledging the challenges faced by women in academia, explained that the path to advancement is not straightforward, particularly due to various distractions faced along the line. However, she firmly believes that women must cultivate a harmonious balance between their professional endeavors and…
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Eunice Dumbuya, a young activist in Freetown, Sierra Leone, still remembers being called promiscuous after getting a contraceptive implant a few years ago. She knew the risks of an unplanned pregnancy in her conservative country, so she made a choice. “I had to go with my aunt to the hospital for contraceptives because my mom…
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Diene Keita has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres stepping into one of the most challenging roles in global health and human rights. The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for UNFPA, the UN agency responsible for sexual and reproductive health…
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Olivia Maniragena has been racing through life, dealing with a lot at a young age. Orphaned at 14 and responsible for raising three siblings, she also became a mother of two before reaching 20. Now 21, the Rwandan has found stability through cycling and is gearing up for the UCI Road World Championships in her…
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In a country where women have long battled against the odds to claim leadership space, Liberia continues to witness a growing wave of female empowerment across key sectors–most notably in governance, development, and now, the once male-dominated forestry industry. From Nobel Peace laureates Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee to the deliberate gender-inclusive policies of…
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Amid the challenges faced by conflict-affected communities in Mozambique, women have emerged as strategic agents of change. Rabeca Gerente Almeida Thomas, 51, is one such transformative example. A pastor, mother, and respected community leader in Báruè district (Manica Province), Rabeca transitioned from faith leader to peacebuilder — a journey that symbolizes the power of local…
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Over 5 billion people globally lack access to safe, quality, and affordable medical oxygen services, according to the Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security published in February 2025. This represents a significant access gap when compared to other essential medicines, the commission found. Oxygen is not only vital for treating respiratory illnesses but…
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Since the outbreak of conflict on 15 April 2023, Sudan has witnessed one of the world’s fastest-growing displacement crises. Over 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes as of 16 June 2025, including more than 2 million women and girls, many of whom are now living in overcrowded shelters or with host communities…
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Lieutenant Colonel Getrude Ndenga’s path to service began long before she joined the Tanzania People’s Defence Force, growing up in the barracks of northern Tanzania. “I grew up saluting before I could spell,” she says, reflecting on her childhood as the daughter of a woman in the military. “She was my role model,” Ndenga says,…
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