Banjul mayor commemorates International Women's Day, advocates for gender equality

The Mayor of Banjul, the Capital city of The Gambia, Rohey Malick Lowe, has advocated for gender equality.

Mayor Lowe made the call during the celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day.

In her message to the Gambians, she stated that to achieve the Africa sustainable goal, gender equality is key.

“The mother’s, daughters and well-wishers, I greet you all. As the first female of Banju, the capital city of The Gambia, and the president, African Capital City Sustainable Forum, as well as the co-chair of Global Parliament of Mayors. I am pleased to share thisessage in this important month,” Mayor Lowe said.

“This celebration is crucial due to the challenges the world is faced with. We need gender equality today to build a sustainable tomorrow,” she added.

Lowe explained further that women are vulnerable to climate changes, stressing that celebration of IWD will help tackle changes.

“We need to build an emerging world where women can exercise the freedom to live free from violence, to go to school and participate in decision making,” she emphasized.

She stated that women need economic empowerment and access to finance for Africa to achieve its goal for inclusive and sustainable development as vision in the 2060.

“African countries need to come up with policies and programmes such as entrepreneurship, business management, technology training, financial planning, investment, and capacity building.

“Small and medium-sized entrepreneurs must be supported to access finance, market information and networks,” she explained.

She also advocated gender equality in leadership in all sectors of the economy. She stressed that it is important to create an enabling environment to ensure women get involved.

“Without gender equality, to achieve a goal with be different.