The 3rd Nalafem Summit, held under the theme ‘Women’s Right to Lead,’ was held in Windhoek, Namibia, during the first week of July, bringing together African women leaders, activists, and policymakers.
Hosted by the Government of Namibia and organized by the Nala Feminist Collective, the summit focused on the critical role of women in political leadership and the necessity of fostering intergenerational dialogue.
Nalafem President, Aya Chebbi opened the summit by acknowledging Namibia, “the land of the brave,” and paying homage to former President Hage Geingob for his outstanding legacy and dedication to women’s empowerment on the continent.
Chebbi also commended Namibia’s commitment to supporting women’s leadership and gender equality, as reflected by its ranking of 8th in the global index.
Aya Chebbi addressed the significance of holding the summit during an election year, particularly with Namibia officially supporting a female candidate for the presidency.
“We are happy that a woman is taking over the cause to convene women in Namibia and challenging norms,” she said.
In line with this year’s theme, Chebbi officially launched the #Nalafem100 initiative, which includes Nalafem100 advisory, activists, fellows, champions, and patrons leading across various sectors on the African continent to push for intergenerational co-leadership to advance gender equality and sustainable development.
“Our dream is to multiply this 100 into 1,000 and even millions to lead and champion the gender equality cause in Africa,” she declared.
Menesia Muinjo, Chief of News and Programming Officer at the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation and moderator of the keynote address introduced Vice President of Namibia, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, as the Patron and guest of honour of the Summit, highlighting her journey from youth activism to a prominent political figure.
Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the importance of women’s leadership in all sectors of society.
“Namibia is committed to ensuring that women have equal opportunities to lead,” she said.
“We aim to create a balanced parliament that reflects both gender and generational diversity. As we approach our elections, our guiding principle must be inclusive leadership to drive our development programs effectively.”
Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah engaged in dialogue with young women from across the continent, sharing her experiences navigating political systems and emphasizing the need for patience and understanding in leadership.
Concluding her address, she remarked, “Platforms like the Nalafem Summit are crucial for fostering intergenerational movements. We must support the next generation of leaders to ensure sustainable progress.”
Following the Vice President’s address, Hon. Emma Theofelus, Advisory Council Member of Nalafem and Namibia’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology, the country’s youngest to hold the position, announced the launch of the “TechHer” initiative, aimed at enabling digital access for 100 Namibian girls through the provision of laptops and digital training.
“As a follow-up ahead of Horizon 2026, this project will expand to train 1,000 more girls in digital skills across the country,” Theofelus explained.
She also highlighted Namibia’s achievements in gender equality, including the appointment of women Supreme Court justices and achieving 50-50 representation for women in parliament.
“Namibia is showing Africa how to lead in women’s equality and empowerment,” she said.
Rose Wachuka, Advisory Council Chair of Nalafem, shared the stark reality for young women in politics, citing the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s statistics: only 2.2% of parliamentarians are under 30, with just 1% being young women.
“By appointing the youngest minister of information on the continent, Namibia is bridging the intergenerational leadership divide,” she asserted.
Wachuka also announced that Vice President Nandi-Ndaitwah would receive the Nalafem Award on Intergenerational Co-Leadership for her excellence and leadership in enabling better access for young women in leadership.
Nalafem President Aya Chebbi concluded the summit by thanking the people and government of Namibia for co-hosting the event, reaffirming Nalafem’s dedication to fostering inclusive and equitable leadership across Africa.
In the photo: Vice President of Namibia Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Minister of ICT Emma Theofelus were the highest government officials who graced the Nalafem Summit.
