The Power of an Educated Woman.

"Mary! Your responsibilities in this house are to clean, wash and cook and get married to redeem this family from poverty!" These are some of the harsh words that African girls wake up to every morning. Even though the world has worked towards achieving Millennium Development goal number two and three, two being achieving universal education and three that aimed at empowering women and now working towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals. In an African set up, these goals have not been achieved to its full potential. The patriarchal society still demean girls, some African societies still prefer to send their boys to school and not girls. Men prefer having male children to female children as they see potential in boys rather than girls. The African village is still missing it! They have underestimated the power of education in an African girl, an educated girl is unstoppable.

Economic growth is inevitable when women are educated. They become productive, not only at household level but at national and international level. For example, Madam FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJA OF NIGERIA who has been named the richest black woman in the world. This is a milestone achievement for herself, Nigeria's economy as well as Africa and the world at large. The power of empowered woman. In addition, women have a motherly heart by nature, if a woman had means of feeding the whole world they would do so. Educated women become financially empowered, once they are financially stable they always think of the kid that goes to bed hungry. Women are the majority that run charitable organisations, poverty eradication is the fight when a woman is educated. Women do not want to leave anybody behind!

Africa should move towards a culture that will support female entrepreneurs, engineers as well as political leaders. An educated woman is able to become successful in any of these areas, the patriarchal society should not limit her potential by depriving the girl child education.  Africa stand up for  the girl child, her potential and success are Africa's potential and success.

 By MUSOPA KALENGA

       YALF Member,

       Zambia.