Accra, March 07, GNA — Ms Brigitte Dzogbenuku, Founder and the Executive Director of Mentoring Women Ghana, says women and girls must break the bias first for men to emulate.
She said until women decided to be bold and speak out, no one would do it for them.
Ms Dzogbenuku said this at the 2022 Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk organised by the Mentoring Women Ghana in partnership with Vital Voices Partnership to mark the celebration of the International Women’s Day in Accra on the theme: ‘‘Break the Bias.’’
The Walk, supported by the Future US State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership, Lucozade and Coca Cola, is a mentoring programme held annually for emerging young ladies in 62 countries.
The International Women’s Day is instituted by the United Nations to globally celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
It is celebrated on March 8, every year, to also rally support at all levels to ensure that the rights and empowerment of women in all areas of national development are prioritised.
Ms Dzogbenuku said women and girls could break the bias by being fearless and bold, consequently, changing the trajectory the world was taking.
She said Vital Voices recognised that while women required professional support and advancement, they also desired personal and emotional support from other women as well.
The Executive Director noted that mentoring enabled established women leaders to inspire, encourage and help others tackle the challenges in their professional and personal growth.
She said mentoring helped strengthened a mentee’s motivation and capacity for meeting challenges, exploring new ideas, and making important decisions.
Ms Dzogbenuku said it could facilitate new connections and networks and broaden their horizon for personal and professional achievements.
Mentoring, she said, provided an opportunity for emerging women leaders to gain confidence and skills to thrive as leaders.
Madam Stephanie S. Sullivan, the United States (US) Ambassador to Ghana, underscored the need for mentees to be open and curious, as well as authentic without making unhealthy comparisons.
She noted that setbacks and challenges, which were bound to come, were learning opportunities to grow, therefore, they must be determined to go through them to succeed.
Ms Sullivan urged the mentees to look for opportunities while seeking others to mentor and break through.
Mentoring Women Ghana runs mentoring programmes to empower young women and girls into leadership, and into making a difference in their communities.
Vital Voices Global Partnership invests in women leaders who are solving the world’s greatest challenges, including gender-based violence, climate crisis and economic inequities.
GNA