Former Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, has delivered a moving speech that captivated the audience at the 2025 Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC) on Monday, October 6, 2025, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.

Samira Bawumia, who is also the Founder and Chairperson of AFRIWOCC, during her remarks, made a passionate appeal for the voices of the youth, as well as those of women on the African continent, to be included when addressing challenges of the continent, including the issue of climate change.

She pointed out that the only way the challenges of the continent can be resolved, which would lead to its transformation, is when the voices of women and children are heard.

“We must connect young voices and ideas to policy, financing, and implementation to drive measurable impact and transformation across Africa,” she added.

The former Second Lady went on to urge leaders of the continent to fulfil a promise to ensure that the youth and women are at the forefront in the fight against climate change.

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“Let us also remember the promise we made in 2023; that women and children would no longer be peripheral voices in climate action. Let us now honour that promise by ensuring young Africans are the engine of innovation and impact,” she reiterated.

In her remarks, the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Myriam Montrat, who was the special guest of honour at the 2025 AFRIWOCC, highlighted the impact of climate change on the African continent.

She pointed out that women and girls were mostly impacted by issues of climate change on the continent.

“Climate change is increasingly disrupting education systems. Between 2022 and 2024, extreme weather events affected the education of 400 million children. Students lose an average of 18 school days annually due to climate impacts, compared to just 2.4 days in wealthier nations.

“Women and girls, particularly those who are socially excluded, bear the brunt of climate change impacts. Their roles in caregiving and household responsibilities make them more dependent on natural resources, which are increasingly threatened. This leads to time poverty, limits their ability to adapt, and reduces access to education and economic opportunities,” she said.

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The Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC) is Africa’s leading platform for youth and women in climate leadership, founded by Samira Bawumia.

This is the second edition of the conference, which is scheduled to end with a concert on October 7, 2025, featuring Amandzeba, Rocky Dawuni, Bessa Simons, and a host of other renowned artistes.

The 2025 AFRIWOCC is themed “Young Voices, Innovative Ideas, Greater Impact for Africa,” and builds on the success of its 2023 debut, which attracted high-level participation from African leaders, global partners, and grassroots movements.

The 2025 conference will host more than 500 delegates from government institutions, civil society, academic bodies, development organisations, and climate-focused groups across Africa and the diaspora.



BAI/AE