The seventh edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development recently concluded in Tokyo, Japan. 

Over 25 African presidents and other males who represented their governments were present. Well, males because from the images of the attendees, the female representation was dismal; could they have been the ones updating social media or covering for mainstream media? A group photo of 62 leaders and their hosts had only two women!

The AU Agenda 2063 formed part of the deliberations. This agenda is the Africa of the future, it is a biting desire for Africa to revise and adapt its development agenda due to ongoing structural transformations; increased peace and reduction in the number of conflicts; renewed economic growth and social progress. It spells out the need for people-centered development, gender equality and youth empowerment among others.  

All these people sat somewhere in a room and discussed the future of Africa and the development of the continent without the representation of women and the youth. Globally there’s a high population of women and young people.

The world’s ten youngest populations are in Africa yet the elite and political class is made up of not so young people. Most of them make policies that serve their personal and family interests and their long stay in power as opposed to giving the best service to the continent’s growing population.

It’s in Africa where university fees increase each year, thousands struggle and graduate and end up ‘tarmacking’ for years looking for jobs.  It’s here where leaders are sitting in a board room borrowing money without caring to involve the people that will remain alive longer to clear the loans.

It’s in Africa where the political class rules as if they will live forever with no clear exit or transition plan. Whether it’s a meeting in China, America or Russia the obvious misrepresentation of the continent is glaring. 

The youth and women who will be approached for votes during election campaigns are often forgotten when the election season ends. Is there hope of this situation changing? Time will tell.

The woman cares for, nurtures and keeps hence the reason she should be wholly included in any agenda to see the continental economy grow. They happen to be the greatest labor force and sure enough the more they are left out of these talks, the more development will continue to elude Africa. 

Years ago we used to ask for women to be removed from the kitchen; that is an ongoing task because it seems a good number have left the kitchen but have been blocked somewhere in between not to access the living room, boardroom or the high sit. 

It is imperative that we see a genuine, deliberate and proper representation at these forums. Women know the tools required for them to advance so nobody should be speaking in their place because they do not know.