Why Empowering Women, And Youths Matters in Spurring Socio-Economic Transformation of West Africa

By: Priscilla Asamoah Baffour
Author, Humanitarian & Social Entrepreneur
Ghana.
There are a lot of controversies surrounding empowering women in the society due to the outmoded traditional perception that women belong to the kitchen and the caretaker of the home. Before I delve deeper into this assertion, what does empowerment stand for? Why is it necessary to empower a certain group of people especially women and the youth?
In my own opinion, Empowerment is the ability to shape, train and enhance the skills, talents and capabilities of people or groups to serve a greater purpose. Empowerment brings development and progress not only to those people or groups but the society, nation and world at large. With this reason, it is of a necessity to empower women and youths as their contribution plays a key role in spurring the socio-economic transformation in West Africa.
First and foremost, empowering women and the youth reduces unemployment in West Africa especially in their countries. Empowerment brings out the entrepreneurial skills in them which they end up capitalizing on to create more jobs for themselves and the large population they employ. Examples can be drawn from women who are changing the status quo in West Africa such as Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson who has a movie production known as “YN Productions”, daycare school called “Just Like Mama” and fashion business with about 100 employees who work in her company. Another reference to Nigerian actress Funke Akindele Bello with scene one production movie company employing the masses in her productions and putting West Africa on the global market as many internationals stream her movies. Their little contributions bring greater impact to the socio-economic transformation of West Africa as through employing a portion of the population, their movies also represent West Africa to be seen and known by foreigners who have never visited our respective countries or continent.
Moreover, empowering the youth reduces crime and other social vices like fraud, armed robbery, teenage pregnancies, streetism, occultism to mention but few. An empowered youth are focused, career- oriented and add their quotas to the building of the national cake in West Africa. An empowered youth becomes educated, skillful, responsible and change makers which reduces crime in the region and promotes development and growth. Looking at the current crime case of Hushpuppi, a Nigerian youth socialite and fraudster and other youths involved in fraudery who have been arrested and tarnished the image of West Africa, that alone has driven away investors to invest in West Africa because of the bad image . However, if the youths are empowered, they will be using their energy for a greater good; establishing their businesses to bring impact to themselves, family and country as a whole. Making references from empowered youths such as Ikorodu boys in Nigeria who are social media content creators and getting recognition from Hollywood Marvel studios,Ghanaian youth actor Abraham Attah who was featured in the movie “Beast of No Nation and currently living in America and propagating the good cause of West Africa, Mark Angel Comedy, Nigerian comedy production which features Emmanuella and other young comic youths, all these empowered youth are spreading a good image for West Africa.
Furthermore, empowering women and the youth generates revenue for the countries in west Africa thereby boosting the social-economic transformation in west Africa. All the IT companies, movie productions, fashion businesses owned by these women and youths generate tax and revenue for the countries which brings about development in west Africa.
Also, tourism and sports are parts of the core of every country, region and continent . Empowering women and youths create Avenue to promote the culture of west Africa because women are good custodians of receiving visitors or foreigners therefore when women are empowered and occupy positions in the country, they are able to function well and promote the image of west Africa. The ministers of foreign affairs and tourism and culture were able to plan “ The Year of No Return” in Ghana which brought Hollywood actors,foreign investors, business tycoons to visit the country and striking businesses with some of the citizens and government thereby boosting the socio-economic transformation of west Africa. These foreigners who have the ideology that west Africa is only made of only animals and trees came to witness a different west Africa which has almost all the facilities they have in their respective countries- houses, cars, theatres, beaches to mention but few. Sports unite the world therefore as the youths are empowered in sports, they represent west Africa and can win medals for the continent just like Ghana under 20 won the World Cup in 2009.
Lastly, empowering women and youths help them take up high positions in the world. An educated country has qualified, skillful and capable citizens who can represent the country and take up the world. Examples can be drawn from the current leader of World Trade Organization, Her Excellency Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who hails from Nigeria and has made West Africa proud of such a great feat and achievement. Empowering women is the gateway to success in every country, home and women are great nurturers, bearers of development and leaders of the future.