Akagera Business Group (ABG) on   Monday, March 8, joined the world to celebrate the annual international women’s day.

The celebration took place at the group’s headquarters in Gatsata sector in Gasabo district by sharing cake among female employees and ABG management.

Globally, the day was fêted under the theme; "Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world,” while in Rwanda, the theme was "Women, be at the forefront in the Covid-19 World.”

"Akagera Business Group (ABG) is a Corporate Company, and that has Automotive and Non-Automotive Divisions dealing in automobiles, tires, batteries, lubricants, media, consumer goods, wines & spirits, consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals & healthcare, car rentals, hardware, tools, paints, design, construction, security and safety systems.

ABG celebrated Women’s day by lauding female employees’ efforts and commitment in taking the company forward.

Senthil GANESH Shanbagamoorthy, the Managing Director of ABG, reiterated that gender equality should be embraced in all sectors of the economy and levels of society.

He lauded the "remarkable contribution” the firm’s female employees were making in their families, societies and at the national level. "Progress of women is the progress of the society” He added, "and insisted giving priority to women is not an option but a necessity for any society to develop to its best standards”.

Ganesh said the company keeps clear mandate to uphold gender equality, "We ensure all our women staff are given increased access to and control over resources, Expansion of Choices, Ample training, building self-confidence, and actions that reinforce and perpetuate gender equality.” ABG is proud to have women staff working in all departments of the company, including, as labor intensive as it really is, Workshop for Heavy Equipment, Vehicle Fleet Control Units to mention a few, He added.

Nirere Innocente one of the female employees said they got an opportunity to showcase their strengths and responsibilities they owe to the company, family and society in general.

"We received a lot of messages from leaders and colleagues wishing us happy women’s day. We witnessed how it is good to be proud of women. We assessed what we can do as women, our strengths and shared the cake. Our managing director really motivates us,” she said.

Good Mbabazi, a female mechanic at ABG witnesses that being employed as a woman in this field usually dominated by male has motivated her, increased her confidence and transformed her life.

"I grew up with passion in mechanics. I did one and half year short course training before being employed as a female mechanic. I appreciate our management for recognizing women,” she said.

Mbabazi says that she has been serving as a female mechanic for the last two and half years.

"It requires observation and thought. I work on trucks and currently I am working on caterpillars. I urge other women to study mechanical courses and show that women can do what men can,” she said.

Giving back to society

On the same day, ABG female employees visited InshutiZ’urukundo Centre where they provided food, clothes and hygiene materials to children with disabilities as a way to show what they can do to support needy people.

The Kicukiro-based center is home to 20 disabled children. 

In addition to running various subsidiaries, ABG engages in activities that improve the livelihoods of people in communities where they operate under social corporate responsibility strategy.

The company expressed its gratitude to the nuns who have devoted their efforts towards looking after the disabled children at the center.

Claudette Ntiyamira, the Head of Administration and Human Resources at ABG, said the exercise was part of the organization’s annual activities to celebrate women’s day where it gives back to the vulnerable members of the society. 

"On this day, it was an opportunity to think again about who we are: smart, beautiful and courageous, it is an opportunity to remind ourselves that we are capable of achieving all our dreams without being judged or stereotyped. It is an opportunity to also celebrate the fact that we have proven to the world that we can be great leaders and excel in diverse fields. It is also an opportunity for us to show our humanity by giving back to society,” she said.

As has been the culture at ABG, they celebrate International women’s day with the most vulnerable of the society by giving them a message to never give up on life, to believe in themselves despite how they are perceived, she added.

Sister Anatholie Bamporiki, who heads InshutiZ’urukundo Centre, welcomed the support as a timely boost, and appreciated ABG’s generosity towardsInshutiz’urukundo Centre’s welfare.

"The children appreciated the visit and support by ABG women. We currently have 20 children,” Bamporiki said. "Most of the children we received are from poor families while others are orphans as well as those abandoned by their parents.”

The children, she explained, have mental and physical disabilities including those with multiple disabilities.

Female employees at Akagera Business Group (ABG) marked International Women’s Day by visiting Inshuti Z’urukundo Centre in Gahanga sector of the Kicukiro district.

Sister Anatholie Bamporiki, head of Inshuti z’urukundo centre interacts with female employees at the centre.

Senthil GANESH Shanbagamoorthy, the Managing Director of ABG, joined female employees to celebrate International women's day and lauded their contribution to society.