By: Arret Jatta
The World Bank on Wednesday celebrated International Women’s Day two days before the global commemorations.
International Women’s Day will be celebrated tomorrow across the globe on the theme Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress.
The Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, Fatou Kinteh, joined the World Bank in the commemorations as a poignant reminder of the collective journey towards gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls across the globe.
“It is a call to action for all of us to commit to investing in women’s health, education, and economic opportunities as a pathway to accelerate progress for everyone. In The Gambia, we are proud of the significant strides we have made in empowering women and one of such strides is the Women Enterprise Fund,” Minister Kinteh stated at the commemorative event held at Sir Dawda KairabaJawara International Conference Centre.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Claudiana Cole, stressed that women form a greater percentage of the population, adding that it will constitute a great mistake if they are not given their rightful places in society and be seen as partners in development.
“Societies cannot progress and development cannot take place if women are left out of the equation,” Minister Cole said.
The Country Director of the World Bank, Keiko Miwa, said the global body was not just celebrating the “remarkable” achievements of women around the world but also reflecting on the journey ahead towards gender equality and empowerment for every girl and every woman.