Rebecca Akufo-Addo addressing participants of the workshop.
First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has called on Africans to shine the spotlight on innovation and creativity.
It is through creating an enabling ecosystem for innovation and creativity in Africa that African innovations that solve real and difficult human challenges can drive economic growth in the region, she stated.
MRs Akufo-Addo noted that usually when the topic of creativity and innovation is being discussed, Africans tend to look at the more developed regions, although there are a lot of world-class innovations in Africa.
“We must tell our own story and support those who through their innovation and creativity drive economic growth. This means we have to be innovation enablers,” she said.
Mrs. Akufo-Addo said being innovation enablers requires offering mentorship and coaching tools to up-and-coming innovators to make it easy to trade between African countries and encourage competitiveness that allows the unleashing of creative solutions to society’s challenges, needs and aspirations.
Mrs. Akufo-Addo disclosed this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Women Innovators & Entrepreneurs Workshop held on the sidelines of the 2017 Africa Innovation Prize (AIP) in Accra, Ghana.
Speaking on the theme, ‘True Women – Awakening the Innovator Within,’ Mrs. Akufo-Addo highlighted the importance of innovation and creativity in any society.
“This can be lifesaving for the most vulnerable populations, drive productivity and ensure rising incomes. It goes without saying that the future health of any economy rests on its ability to innovate. The key to growth and progress has always been innovation,” she stressed.
The First Lady said innovation was at the core of government’s national agenda not only to meet Ghanaian and African challenges, but provide home-grown innovations that will become competitive globally.
AIF Awards
Mrs. Akufo-Addo also expressed joy at the fact that Ghana was hosting the Africa Innovation Prize Award.
She was excited that four African women made it to the top 10 IPA nominees this year.
“So allow me to extend a special word of congratulations to Peris Bosire from Kenya, Nokwethu Khojane from South Africa, Philippa Makobore from Uganda and Omolabake Adenle from Nigeria. You are proof that there is truly no limit for the determined African woman,” she said.
The First Lady said the women nominees are also testimony that ingenuity and creativity is not limited to any gender, adding that it was up to Africans to create every opportunity for women to flourish and celebrate them when they do well.
“May this be the first of many glass ceilings you shatter on behalf of all of us fellow African women. I also congratulate all of this year’s 10 nominees. You are all winners and should be proud of yourselves,” she said.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri