Turkey’s visiting first lady Emine Erdogan last week challenged women to seek opportunities that will set them on equal footing with the men. She said the situation calls for a curriculum framework that will help develop skills for the girls while still in school.
“I have been closely following the problems women and children are having in Africa,” Erdogan said, before challenging the women to rise up to the challenges.
Her remarks came as she officially opened a tailoring unit at Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU)’s Kabojja campus, last week. The first lady has initiated a number of key projects that aim at not only empowering women with skills but also to boost women entrepreneurship. She cited her campaign code-named ‘Come on Girls, Let’s go to School’, which has enabled over 300,000 girls, previously denied education, to go to school.
She said the participation of women in the economy would help Uganda speed up development and minimize on the gender inequality gap.
“Turkey is ready to support Uganda’s efforts in the education sector and economic development ... Turkey will further improve on the 5,400 students [enrolment currently pursuing studies in Turkey],” Erdogan said.
Representing the Ugandan government, gender state minister, Rukia Nakadama, said despite strides in improving the place of the girl child in Ugandan schools, girls still face significant barriers to education. She cited teenage pregnancies, poverty, child marriages, long distances to and from school, as the major barriers affecting the girl-child.
“I wish to appreciate your commitment to supplementing government’s efforts in educating the girl child especially through your donation to the vocational faculty,” Nakadama said.
On May 25, 2016 the first lady initiated the “African handcraft market and house of culture project” in Ankara, Turkey’s capital. The project provides market for African-made products.
“We will be selling the products [made by the women and vulnerable persons] in Turkey and all the revenues are sent back to African women,” she said attracting thunderous cheers from the tailoring unit.
Before she left, the visitor handed over sewing machines to the tailoring unit at IUIU’s female’s campus. Four persons with disabilities also received scooters to ease their mobility in their community. IUIU rector Ahmed Sengendo commended the Turkish government for the support to his institution.
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