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AFRICA’S MOST INVENTIVE & INNOVATIVE WOMEN – JOIN US & MAKE YOUR NOMINATIONS TODAY. Revolutionary new ideas of creative, technical and entrepreneurial talent from Africa’s top creative business women will be on show in Accra Ghana at the International Conference Centre on the 8 September 2005. Everyone is encouraged to identify and nominate inventive and innovative women for special recognition at the First Pan-African Women’s Inventive & Innovative (PAWII) Exhibition, Conference and Awards Ceremony taking place as from 7 – 9 September 2005. The PAWII Awards ceremony is organised by the Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GWIIN) in partnership with the International Finance Corporation’s Gender Entrepreneurship Markets (GEM) unit – supported by the Ministry of Women & Children Affairs Commission, Ghana. The key theme is ‘Business Women Marketing a Wealth of Ideas’ focusing on fostering and supporting the economic empowerment of inventive and innovative women in business across Africa and the International World. The 3 day PAWII event will provide inspiration for women seeking to turn unique ideas into commercial propositions and will put the spotlight on the amazing wealth of ideas which will follow in the footsteps of several remarkable international winning inventions and innovations by women showcased in past GWIIN events such as Oluseyi Adeosun’s winning bottle mouth invention from Nigeria, Mandy Haberman’s bestselling children’s Anywayup Cup that prevents drinks spilling out from the UK, India’s Dr. Seema Prakash’s Glass Bead Liquid Culture Technology - A novel advancement in the area of plant tissue culture, Norma Doris McCulloch’s Breath of Life – an easy to use manual resuscitator designed as a sage alternative to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation from New Zealand and Solgun Drevik’s well received Absorbent Article from Sweden. The events Founder and CEO, Bola Olabisi, a Nigerian with dual British citizenship remarked "It is crucial that we keep spurring new products and services that meet our immediate needs from across the world and Africa is no exception. Women are the world's natural innovators – many tend to solve problems they find rather than find problems to solve. As well as the ultimate prize of being recognised and acknowledged on an international platform, participants will be provided with the opportunity to network with leading entrepreneurs which could very much lead to the development of long lasting trade partnerships. With initiatives such as the PAWII event, we can show the world how worthwhile it is to be innovative, entrepreneurial and how it also pays to protect commercial viable ideas”. Keynote speakers at the conference will include leaders from across Africa, high level policy makers and government officials. Distinguished Key Speakers include Ms Elizabeth Joyce Villars, President, PEF/Managing Director, Camelot Ghana Limited, Ms Janet Minja, Director of Marketing & Information, Small Industries Development Organisation, Tanzania, Ms Thelma Mathamelo, Chairman, Marothodi Resources (Pty) Ltd, South Africa Winner of Cosmopolitan Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Dr Alexandra E. Graham, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, LaGray Chemical Company. The IFC will be represented by the Director for Africa, Dick Ranken; Director for Environmental and Social Development, Rachel Kyte; and Amanda Ellis, who Heads the IFC's Gender Initiative -Gender Entrepreneurship Markets (GEM), as well as many top leading women entrepreneurs from Cameroon, Egypt, France, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, UK, USA. Over 200 delegates are expected to participate and exhibit. Registration to attend the Conference and Awards is now available on the GWIIN website and the closing date for those wishing to nominate or enter the Awards is 29 July 2005. The special recognition award will be announced on 9 September 2005 at the PAN-AFRICA INVENT & INNOVATE Gala Award Dinner at the International Conference Centre, Ghana. For details on how to enter and the full event information please visit our website www.africa.gwiin.info/ or send an email to office@gwiin.com. Ends For more information, please contact: Faith Williams, Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network, Tel: ++ 44 (0) 20 8223 7786 / ++ 44 (0) 208591 9964 or faith@gwiin.com Rodger Lutterodt, MMRS Ogilvy on ++ 233 01372 363 386 or mmrs@africaonline.com.gh Editor’s Notes Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GWIIN) is a global network which aims to increase the number of innovative women embracing enterprise. The organisation works with Government departments, leading industry experts, voluntary organisations, enterprises and educational institutions in finding effective ways of bringing the support, assistance, tools, advice and information that assist women in achieving significant growth in their businesses. Bola Olabisi, Chief Executive, is available for interview on++44 (0) 20 8591 9964 or bola@gwiin.com or visit www.gwiin.com The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group and is proud to sponsor and support this exceptional event, which is in line with the over-riding mission of its Gender Entrepreneurship Markets initiative, launched in December 2004 with the aim of mainstreaming gender issues into all dimensions of the IFC’s work whilst helping to leverage the untapped potential of women as well as men in emerging markets. Please visit www.ifc.org/gem for information about the IFC’s Gem program. The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) exists to promote the welfare of women and children in Ghana. It is the entity designated by Government to initiate, co-ordinate and monitor gender and child responsive issues. The mission of MOWAC is to enhance its contribution to the development of Ghana by achieving equal status for women and promote the rights of children. The ministry also seeks to promote the survival, development and protection of women and children, through: The formulation of gender and child specific development policies, guidelines, advocacy tools, strategies and plans for implementation by MDA’s, District Assemblies, Private Sector Agencies, NGO’s, civil Society Groups and other Development Partners. Please visit www.mowac.gov.gh/ for more information on MOWAC. |
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