Events
It’s “The Century of the African Woman”! WomenWerk Celebrates International Women’s Day in New York
co-founders Demi Ajayi (L) and Nekpen Osuan (R) with several honorees
WomenWerk, a new organization founded by Nigerian-Americans Nekpen Osuan and Demi Ajayi, on Saturday 8th March 2014 celebrated International Women’s Day with a day long celebration – a daytime forum and an evening gala held annually in March in New York City.
The theme for WomenWerk’s 2014 Forum and Gala was “The Century of the African Woman” – where the organization showcased leading women in film, technology, government, non-profit leadership, academia and medicine.
The Forum covered key issues related to women’s success including: leaning in and the need for women to invest in their professional aspirations, women as collaborators versus competitors, the potential for women to balance passion and profitable aspirations, and the role of feminism in shaping the lives of women across the world. Key speakers at the Forum included philanthropist MacDella Cooper, banking vice-president Anie Ekpe-Lewis, author Nana Brew-Hammond, African feminist Dr. Abena Busia, and corporate recruiter Brittany Steward.
WomenWerk’s Gala honored international icons with significant impact in shaping the welfare of women in Africa. Opening remarks for the Gala were provided by Mimi Alemayehou, Executive Vice-President of Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the United States’ development finance arm. Headliners honored were Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, current Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy of Nigeria and former Managing Director of the World Bank, President Bill Clinton and The Clinton Global Initiative of the Clinton Foundation headquartered in New York, Mo Abudu, Founder and CEO of Ebony Life Television, Africa’s first black-owned global entertainment network, and Dr. Mehret Mandefro.
WomenWerk’s complete list of honorees can be found on their website at www.womenwerk.com.
WomenWerk is platform that brings together men and women to highlight the individual and collective success of women on International Women’s Day. Each year, WomenWerk hosts its annual Forum and Gala in New York City.
For more information, visit their website at www.womenwerk.com or follow them on Twitter @WomenWerk. To join the WomenWerk mailing list, email [email protected] with subject line “Mailing List.”
