In a recent landmark virtual gathering, African First Ladies rallied behind a $150 million action plan by Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa) to elevate women’s participation in the continent’s lucrative mining sector from marginal roles to leadership positions. The webinar, titled “Empowering Women, Safeguarding Children, Transforming Mining, Shaping the Future,” validated the 2025-2030 strategy, drawing endorsements from high-level stakeholders across the continent.
Hosted on Thursday, September 25, the event aligned the initiative with the Africa Mining Vision and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), emphasizing inclusive growth amid Africa’s vast mineral wealth—nearly a third of global reserves.
Led by Her Excellency Mariem Mint Dah, First Lady of Mauritania, the session highlighted urgent reforms. “To empower women is not to grant them a place, but to recognise the place they already hold,” Dah declared, citing Mauritania’s strides where 30% of ministers are women and laws bolster parliamentary representation. She spotlighted investments in mining training for women in geology and engineering, transforming them from “spectators into leaders.” Dah stressed mining’s “developmental necessity” in a competitive global landscape, urging collective action. “Africa’s renaissance will not come from its men alone… but from their shared determination and collective strength.”
She emphasized that “In Africa, women have always been more than participants in development; they are its very heartbeat. To empower women is not to grant them a place, but to recognize the place they already hold.
“In Mauritania, this is a reality. Women represent 30% of our government ministers—proof of clear political will. We have also strengthened laws guaranteeing women’s seats in Parliament, and invested in vocational and technical training so that young women can master mining, geology, engineering, and energy. Through these initiatives, Mauritanian women are no longer spectators—they are becoming leaders of transformation.
“Today, Africa’s mining sector is undergoing profound change: global competition is intensifying while our people demand inclusive growth. In such a context, women’s participation is not optional; it is a developmental necessity”, she asserted.
Other First Ladies echoed the call, affirming women’s centrality to mining communities despite persistent marginalization in value chains. Dah commended WiM-Africa’s efforts, imploring it to, “Keep the flag flying” for more upliftment programs.
Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, WiM-Africa’s Executive Director, delivered a compelling keynote, rallying with the event’s mantra and unveiling a seven-point agenda: women-led value addition, exclusive mining zones and cooperatives, ESG and climate resilience, policy advocacy, youth inclusion, research/digital tools, and regional beneficiation.
“Africa holds nearly a third of the world’s mineral wealth, yet women… still play second fiddle. This agenda is to change that narrative,” she asserted.
The plan’s phased rollout spans foundational structures in Year 1 to sustainability evaluations by Year 5, funded via blended public-private partnerships.
Flagship projects include multi-mineral labs in Nasarawa, Nigeria, and hubs in Sierra Leone, Botswana, and beyond, plus leadership training and AfCFTA-linked facilities. A new pact with South Africa’s WiMBIZ aims to fortify host communities, ensuring “dignity, safety, and opportunity.”
Asokoro-Ogaji hailed it as “not just a plan but a continental movement,” poised to reshape mining’s gender dynamics.
