The University for Development Studies (UDS) chapter of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) in collaboration with the Medical Laboratory Students Association (MELSA) has organized the first ever Female leadership and empowerment summit on the theme "The Modern Woman in Leadership- Navigating Cultural and Work Place Challenges to get to the Top". The event came off on Saturday March 18, 2023 at the Central Administration Block.

The main Speakers for the program were Mr. Alhaji Ibrahim Bashiru, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Honorable Joyce Bawah Mogtari, a former Deputy Minister of Transport and the Spokesperson to former President John Mahama, Dr. Wumpini Fatimata Mohammed, an Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia in the USA, and Ms. Napaga Tia Sulemana, the Coordinator for special Development Initiatives at the Office of the President.

The Program had in attendance, the Dean of Students Affairs of the University, Dr. Musah Alhassan, who chaired the event, the Vice Dean of students Affairs, Dr. Umar Haruna, the Head of the University Relations Office, and Mr. Abdul Hayi Moomen. Also present were the Central SRC president, Mr. Musah Abdul Mugis, the Tamale Campus SRC Vice president, Ms. Mahama Jacob Zabrawu, the Tamale Campus SRC secretary, Ms. Sadia Abukari Atiku and some other students’ leaders as well as students from the Tamale and Nyankpala Campuses.

The President of UDS- NUGS, Ms Alberta Avoka Wuntima said the main purpose of the summit was to encourage female students to aspire for higher laurels.

A Deputy CEO of the Youth Employment Agency, Alhaji Ibrahim Bashiru, encouraged students, particularly, female students, to go for activity-oriented tasks and goals that are more visible, accept critical responsibilities, take up heavily packed assignments that lead to promotions and market themselves to the top.

There was an all-female panel discussion hosted by Ms. Adwoa Sarfo, a student of UDS. The pane was made up of Ms. Napaga Tia-Sulemana, the Coordinator for special Development Initiatives at the Office of the President, Dr. Wumpini Fatimata Mohammed, an Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia in the USA, and Honorable Joyce Bawah Mogtari, a former Deputy Minister of Transport and the Spokesperson to former President John Mahama.

The discussions focused primarily on how the members of the panel were able to navigate all the cultural and work place challenges to get to the top of their chosen careers. The panel unanimously encouraged the students to be motivated by their own fear and always network and connect with mentors, be brave enough to take up responsibilities without feeling intimidated to lead even in male spaces. The panel also encouraged students to take their studies serious, adding that education is the surest way to being empowered in contemporary times.

There was a beautiful cultural display by the Upper East Students cultural group, after which the Dansolima project was launched. The Dansolima project is a project initiated by the UDS Melssa and NUGS to help provide sanitary pads to needy girls.

The Dean of students expressed his profound gratitude to the UDS NUGS and MELSSA for organizing such a program to inspire and empower young women.

STORY BY; 
Ramadan Ibrahim (NUGS Secretary)