African women urged to go beyond university degrees

African women have been urged to expand their horizons beyond traditional university degrees and embrace technology to secure influential roles in leadership and development. Dr Obaapanin Oforiwaa Adu, Director-General of Administration and Consular Services at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), urged women to transition from passive users of technology to creators of digital solutions that tackle real-life challenges.

This call came during the 2026 CAMFED Association (CAMA) Summit in Accra, Ghana, where young female leaders, educators, and development partners from several African countries gathered. The summit, themed "Rooted in lived experience: Shaping the future," focused on empowering women through education, technology, and leadership.

Dr Adu warned women against using social media and digital platforms solely for entertainment, urging them to leverage their digital knowledge and platforms to innovate and address societal issues. She emphasized that the next decade would be dominated by technology, making it crucial for women to actively participate in shaping digital tools that impact their daily lives.

While commending the CAMFED network for enabling thousands of young women to obtain university degrees, Dr Adu stressed that a traditional degree was no longer sufficient in today's rapidly evolving world. She encouraged young women to be fearless, take executive positions, and ensure their voices are heard in decision-making processes.

Additionally, she encouraged women who have achieved leadership roles to create opportunities for others to succeed.

Faruza Abdul-Rashid Safian, the Executive Director of CAMFED Ghana, highlighted the importance of investing in Africa's youth, noting that approximately 75 percent of the continent's population is under 35 years old. She warned that without addressing the high unemployment rates and limited access to quality skills training among young people, Africa could not achieve sustainable development.

The week-long summit aimed to build sustainable enterprises, influence policies, and promote inclusive education for girls and individuals with disabilities. The summit concluded with a rallying cry for young women to take calculated risks, forge strong networks, and utilize creative media to share authentic African narratives.