The Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa wishes to present its new Programs Officer, Ms. Saajida Shiraz. Ms Shiraz was recently appointed as part of efforts to enhance the organizational capacity of Moremi Initiative. It is hoped by the management and Board of Moremi that, Saajida who shares the vision of the organization to “engage, inspire, and equip a new generation of transformational African women leaders” will contribute significantly to the achievement of this mandate.

Saajida brings to the team years of advocacy experience and a strong passion for issues related to the empowerment of women. In 2014, Ms Shiraz was named by our organization as one of the 25 most Outstanding Emerging Young African Women Leaders across Africa. This was in recognition of her leadership promise, academic excellence, volunteer and community service record, and commitment to positive social change. According to Saajida, her MiLead Fellowship experience was life changing. “It inspired me tremendously, and equipped me with the skill set to lead change on the continent”. Saajida is also an associate fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

A first class political science graduate from the University of Ghana, Ms Shiraz has gone on to pursue a Master of Philosophy in Political Science at same University, and ultimately wants to pursue an academic or political career. Saajida is also a budding writer. In 2011, she was selected as a winner of the African Women Development Fund sponsored Hawa Yakubu Legacy Fund Essay Awards.

Saajida is the founder of Women’s Action Network for Change (WAN4CHANGE), a network of young professional women committed to active social change. She is also the owner of Haske Collections, a fabric retail business.

Saajida epitomizes the promise of African Leadership, and Moremi Initiative is pleased to have her as a member of our team.

 

ABOUT MOREMI INITIATIVE 

Founded in 2004, The Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa works to develop creative strategies to address the woeful under-representation of women in decision-making and leadership in Africa.  Moremi strives to nurture and equip young women/ girls with the skills, tools and resources to become the next generation of leading politicians, activists, social entrepreneurs, and change agents. Moremi Initiative is United Nations accredited with ECOSOC status and has official partnership with UN Women and UNAIDS.

We firmly believe that the full and active participation of women in leadership is a pre-requisite for positive change and development in Africa, and addresses the current problem of leadership imbalances.  We envision a society where African women and girls thrive and participate fully in the transformation of the continent. Moremi pursues proactive strategies through capacity building, advocacy, solidarity building and mentoring. We focus on long-term development of women leaders who can help transform and change institutions that legitimize and perpetuate discrimination against women. We are based in Ghana and United States, with operations across Africa.

Visit us on Social Media via twitter.com/MoremiAfrica,  www.facebook.com/MoremiAfrica and www.instagram.com/moremiinitiative