When Women come together, they redefine Possibilities: Inaugural FLAIR Forum 2025
When Women come together, they redefine Possibilities: Inaugural FLAIR Forum 2025
The highly level First Ladies of Africa Impact and Resilience (FLAIR) Forum and Expo commenced today at the University of Nairobi, Chandaria Auditorium, bringing together a distinguished array of leaders and visionaries from across the continent and beyond.
This highlevel, multi-sectoral event is dedicated to inspiring, empowering, and fostering innovation among Africa's First Ladies and foremost visionary women. The forum, hosted key guests including H.E. Rachel Ruto, EGH, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, Second Lady to the Spouse of the Deputy President, H.E Dr. Joyce kithure, PhD, Second Lady of Republic of Kenya, the Spouse of R. Honorable Raila A. Odinga, H.E. canon Dr. Ida Odinga, EGH, pan African Visionary and the University of Nairobi Vice-chancellor professor Margaret J. Hutchinson. Under the theme "Impact and Innovation with Africa's Visionary Women: Catalyzing Women’s Transformative Leadership for Accelerated Impact," the FLAIR Forum and Expo underscores a deep commitment to promoting inclusive and impactful initiatives.
These initiatives are closely aligned with the ambitious African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. The event has convened a diverse and influential group of invited participants, including First Ladies, visionary women, government officials, and representatives from the UN, AU, EU, US, China, ASEAN, and Caribbean nations. Also in attendance are members of civil society, industry leaders, academia, media, innovators, and policymakers from various sectors, all gathered to contribute to the discourse on women's transformative leadership. The FLAIR Forum and Expo promises a day of insightful discussions, collaborative opportunities, and groundbreaking ideas aimed at accelerating impact and fostering resilience across Africa.
The First Lady of Kenya, H.E. Rachel Ruto, expressed her joy of officially opening the Inaugural First Ladies of Africa Impact and Resilience Forum and applauded the organizers of the FLAIR Forum, citing the need to amplify the impact of Women and their innovation. She noted that Kenya's women are on the rise, 'We are no longer icons alone, we are bridges and change agents of the society. When you empower a woman, you have not only empowered an individual, but you have empowered a society and a driver of national prosperity.' The First Lady also highlighted the impact that her initiative under the Joyful Women organization Table banking that put money into women's pockets had all over the country.
The Second Lady, H.E. Joyce Kithure spotlighted the celebration of women on Women in STEM. She noted, 'Across Africa and the world, STEM has long been seen as a male-dominated space. Yet in an increasingly STEM-driven world, we cannot afford to leave half the population behind. Empowering women through STEM is not only a matter of equity- it is a matter of economic growth, innovation, and sustainable development. ' She shared success stories of women in stem and encouraged young girls to go for any career they can think of.
H.E Dr. Ida Odinga noted the impact of Devolution and women empowerment. She noted, 'For women, devolution has opened doors to unparalleled opportunity and provided the local populations with the ability to set priorities on their own decisions, and created political space for women that did not even exist before. Women have been elevated to Governors, Deputy Governors, Senators, Members of Parliament, and Members of County Assemblies. It reflects the power of collective policy.' She also urged women to not only register as voters but also come out and take part in leadership positions and vote in large numbers.
"My own focus is longstanding; I founded the League of Kenyan Women Voters way back in 1991 with exactly that intention to bring increased women's representation and inclusion into politics. My work also continued in support of the Gender Bill in 2019 to give increased representation to women in parliament. Having political space and making space to exercise it are different aspects. Which brings me to women's voting turnout. The health of our democracy depends on the active engagement of each of our citizens. For a woman, to put that tick is not just a privilege but declaration of resolve to make our collective voices heard to demand better services, better representation, and better policies that deal with our unique challenges. Let's mobilize each woman to register, to vote, and to vote strategically, to elect representatives who are authentic voices of her cause."
Prof. Jesang Hutchinson, the UoN Vice Chancellor, expressed her joy for the priviledge the University of Nairobi got for hosting the Inaugural FLAIR Forum. She noted that such forums align with the University's mission, 'At the heart of our mission is the unwavering commitment to preparing women for impact across all sectors. We recognize that a nation's true progress is inextricably linked to the empowerment and full participation of its citizens, both men and women. Through rigorous academic programs, cutting-edge research, and a nurturing environment, we equip our students with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and resilience needed to excel. From science and technology to business, law, medicine, agriculture, education and the arts, we are dedicated to ensuring that women are not just present, but are leading, innovating, and driving change in every facet of society. We instill in them the confidence to challenge norms, the courage to lead, and the vision to create a better world.'
Prof. Susan Chepkonga, the Director, FLAIR Africa and Purity Mwende, the UNSA Vice President also spoke during the meeting.
The FLAIR Forum and Expo which was held at the University of Nairobi, was a pre-event for the FLAIR London Summit scheduled for June 17-18, 2025. The FLAIR London summit is a unique gathering of Africa’s most influential women who are driving significant change and building strong futures. During the FLAIR Summit, women will get a chance to immerse themselves in impactful keynote sessions, engage in dynamic workshops, and seize outstanding networking opportunities to enhance their influence.
