Ouagadougou: The National Council of the Informal Economy of Burkina Faso (CNEI-BF) commemorated International Women's Day on Monday in Ouagadougou through an activity focused on strengthening the capacities of women, particularly in terms of leadership and resilience in the informal economy sector. The ceremony, chaired by the president of the CNEI-BF, Salifou Nikema, represented by the 1st vice-president Boureima Tond, was an opportunity to emphasize the need to prioritize initiatives useful to the development of women rather than activities deemed distracting.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Mr. Tond stated that women in the informal sector play a significant role in the economy and contribute greatly to social cohesion, even though they still face numerous challenges. He encouraged women to remain resilient and understanding within their homes in order to support their husbands in the face of daily challenges, in a national context marked by insecurity.
The 1st Vice-President of the CNEI-BF also expressed his wish that the celebration of March 8th be more devoted to frameworks for reflection and training aimed at strengthening the intellectual capacities of women in order to better face their daily challenges. The Director General for Youth Empowerment and National Education, Bibata Oudraogo, speaking on the theme "Women in the Informal Sector: Leadership and Resilience," reaffirmed her commitment to supporting women through various initiatives, particularly in the areas of education and financial management.
She also encouraged women to persevere and strengthen their organizations to contribute more effectively to the growth of the national economy. His co-speaker, Tamolgo Camille, speaking on the initiatives of the Popular Progressive Revolution (RPP) in support of women, reiterated the authorities' commitment to translating Burkinab¨ women's economic autonomy into concrete actions.
He specifically cited the actions undertaken by the Presidency of Burkina Faso during the March 8th commemoration, namely the development of modern market gardening areas and the promotion of local processing units and industries aimed at strengthening women's economic empowerment. The national secretary of the executive office in charge of gender for CNEI-BF, Zombra/Compaor Rgine, called for a change in behavior to effectively contribute to achieving women's economic empowerment goals.
According to her, the training provided is an important opportunity to help participants develop leadership and resilience as true assets in their work. Ms. Zombra/Compaor also felt that this type of initiative is more beneficial than festive celebrations which, according to her, do not always bring concrete results.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Ms. Sandrine Oudraogo commended and thanked the organizers for this initiative, which she considers a better way to celebrate women and highlight the role of the family. She also encouraged those responsible for organizing the March 8th activities to follow the example of the CNEI-BF.
Ms. Oudraogo finally urged women to celebrate their successes whenever the opportunity arises and to persevere in their efforts in order to contribute to the well-being of their families.