Former Vice-President Jewel Howard Taylor of Liberia emphasized the obstacles encountered by young women in West Africa, including poverty, early pregnancy, and harmful cultural traditions.
She made these remarks at the commencement of the West Africa Adolescent Girls Summit held in Monrovia, Liberia. The summit convened 200 adolescent girls and boys from across the region, along with government representatives.
While acknowledging some progress, Mrs. Taylor expressed hope that the young attendees would be motivated to effect change in their respective communities.
Ame Atsu David, the regional co-director for Africa at the Global Fund for Children, highlighted the tendency to exclude young people from decision-making processes due to perceptions of inexperience or apathy.
Former Nigerian First Lady Aisha Buhari, in a recorded video message for the summit, underscored the significant challenges facing young women and girls, particularly due to traditional religious norms.
She cited “religious misconceptions” as barriers to girls’ access to formal education, often relegating them to domestic roles.