Media Release:
Rwanda Represented at International FUWA Conference

3 September 2009

Two representatives of the Rwandan Association of University Women (RAUW), Ms Jeannette Bayisenge and Professor Shirley Randell have attended and addressed the Federation of University Women of Africa (FUWA) annual conference in Lagos, Nigeria.

FUWA is a federation of 12 university women’s associations in Africa, four of whom were represented at the conference: Uganda, Ghana, several branches of the Nigerian association as well as Rwanda. The President of the University Women of Europe also attended.

RAUW President Angelina Muganza said how pleased she was that RAUW members are attending and contributing to these regional conferences. “Many Rwandan academic women are engaged in valuable research activities and it is important to share the results with their colleagues in both regional and international forums”, she said.

The conference drew on the theme ‘Girl-Child Education in Africa’ and both Ms Bayisenge and Professor Randell presented papers to the international audience of nearly 100 women graduates. Professor Randell, Vice President and International Federation of University Women’s Association board member, gave the opening address on The Education of Girls in Africa.

Professor Randell’s paper discussed the history and progress that African nations have made in the field of women’s education, and looked at the areas still needing attention. The economic, social, and cultural benefits of increasing the level of women’s education were also debated. She also gave a paper on Promoting the Retention of Women Students and Faculty of Higher Education: a Rwanda case study.

Ms Bayisenge, an assistant lecturer at the National University of Rwanda, spoke about the psychological, physiological and social impact of early marriage on young girls in her paper, Early Marriage as a Barrier to Girl’s Education: A Developmental Challenge in Africa. The paper particularly focused on the negative impact that early marriage has on a girl-child’s ability to attend school.

A major highlight of the conference was the presentation of an award to the Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Ms Abimbola Fashola in recognition of her outstanding contribution to girl-child education in Nigeria. A new arm of the National Association of University Women, the Lekki branch, was also formally inaugurated.

The conclusion of the conference called on African governments to invest more in girl-child education as a strategy to help reduce maternal and infant mortality, Vesico Vaginal Fistula, and HIV/AIDS. Increased punishment for human traffickers, kidnappers, and rapists was also recommended. The conference also called on African governments to work conscientiously towards the removal of constitutional barriers to women’s empowerment and include women in constitution drafting.

Conference proceedings will be published shortly. Further contact Angelina Muganza 0788301568, Jeannette Bayisenge 0788681151

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