For more on the 2020 edition of SAMEAWS, click here

The Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD) hosted its held the 6th edition of her flagship South America- Africa -Middle East- Asia Women Summit (SAMEAWS) in glamour and fanfare as it brought at bringing together the most influential and prominent women as well as key stakeholders from these regions, under one roof on November 22nd, 2018 at the Conrad Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai – United Arab Emirates.

SAMEAWS 2018, which was put together in collaboration with Training Excellence South Africa, was declared open by Dr. Ken Giami, Chairman, CELD Board of Trustees. He welcomed all guests and participant, shared the objectives of the summit and enjoined them to take advantage of the unrivalled networking opportunity the summit offers. Hon. Dee Dawkins- Haigler, Global Ambassador, Centre for Economic & Leadership Development, also made a goodwill presentation during the opening session of the summit.

The Summi had, in attendance, a high-level delegation from the Republic of Armenia, led by H.E. Nouneh Sarkissian, Spouse of the President of Armenia. Giving her perspective on the theme, especially as it relates to her position as First Lady of Armenia, H.E. Mrs. Sarkissian made a keynote presentation, tagged: “Realizing Legislation & Policies on Gender and Sustainability”, highlighting some of her country’s policies in empowering women in the country.

The summit also hosted a high-level delegates from the Republic of Sierra Leone, led by Hon. Baindu Dassama, Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children Affairs, who ably represented to First Lady of the country. Other keynote speakers in the summit included, Her Excellency, Mrs. Hadiza Mohammed Abubakar, First Lady  of Bauchi State, Nigeria; Mrs. Felicia Twumasi, CEO, Homefoods Processing and Cannery Limited; Hon. Rep Sandra Scott, Vice Chair, Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Georgia General Assembly, USA; and Dr. Asma Salman, Chair – Department of Accounting, Finance & Economics, College of Business Administration at the American University in the Emirates.

The 6th edition of the South America- Africa- Middle East Asia Women Summit successfully achieved its objective of bringing together women leaders, representatives of heads of government, global private sector thought leaders and academia who explored evidence-based global research and shared their thoughts on executing corporate responsibilities, enacting, implementing and enforcing equality and non-discrimination, towards fostering global sustainability.

The Summit featured a high-level roundtable session on “Public & Private Sector Partnerships for Sustainability”.  The theme of this session was set as “Formulating and Executing Policies for Women empowerment and social sustainability”; and the session members who were drawn from the private and public sector, discussed and shared practical experiences and progress from the public and private sector players on formulating and executing policies for social sustainability.

The roundtable session was moderated by Dr Sara Khorakiwala – CEO and Owner Switz Group, with the following successful women as embers: Mrs. Hannatu Adamu Fika,  Executive Secretary/CEO, Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, Nigeria; Ms. Veronicah Namagembe, Managing Director, Pride Micro-finance Limited, Kenya; Mrs. Francisca Karikari, CEO, Glorygate Capital Limited, Ghana; Mrs. Elizabeth Lungu Nkumbula, CEO, Workers Compensation Fund Control Board, Zambia; and Mrs. Juanita M. Scott – USA.

SAMEAWS 2019 climaxed into the unveiling of the Amazons Watch Magazine and presentation of awards to deserving women leaders, renowned global female CEOs, and entrepreneurs in recognition of their various works in fostering innovation and sustainable development in their communities, and making inroad for other women in the society.

The awardees at SAMEAWS 2019 were Dr. (Mrs.) Hannatu Adamu Fika, Executive Secretary/CEO, Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, Nigeria; Veronicah Namagembe, Managing Director, Pride Micro-finance Limited, Kenya; Francisca Karikari, CEO, Glorygate Capital Limited, Ghana; Dr. Elizabeth Lungu Nkumbula, CEO, Workers Compensation Fund Control Board, Zambia; Felicia Twumasi, CEO, Homefoods Processing and Cannery Limited, Ghana; H.E. Hadiza Mohammed Abubakar, First Lady, Bauchi State, Nigeria; Her Excellency, Mrs. Nouneh Sarkissian, Spouse of the President, Republic of Armenia; Sara Mohamed, Director, Suwaidi Pearls; Safia Mohammad al shehi- Author and Media Figure; and Dr. Asma Salman, Associate Professor, College of Business Administration, American University in the Emirates.

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