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International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: Can Women Escape Poverty Without Safe and Secure Homes?

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: Can Women Escape Poverty Without Safe and Secure Homes?

By Blossom Ukoha “Poverty is not a personal failure; it is a systemic failure, a denial of dignity and human rights.” — António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General These words from António Guterres, in his message for the 2025 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, challenge the tendency to view poverty as an individual failing rather than the consequence of structural inequalities. For millions of women and girls, poverty is sustained by limited economic opportunities, inadequate social protection, unequal access to resources and the absence of something fundamental: a safe and secure home. As the world marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October 2026, the focus, Safe Homes for All, under the theme United for Peace and Human Rights, presents an important question: can women truly overcome poverty when their homes offer neither security nor stability? The Gendered Reality of Poverty Women continue to experience poverty…

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Amazons on Boards

Qualified but Overlooked: What Keeps Women Out of Corporate Boardrooms?

Qualified but Overlooked: What Keeps Women Out of Corporate Boardrooms?

By Blossom Ukoha A woman may spend decades building expertise, leading teams, managing complex budgets and delivering measurable business results, yet still be overlooked when a board vacancy arises. Her qualifications may be unquestionable and her leadership record impressive, but the final appointment may go to someone whose experience appears more familiar to those making the decision. This raises an important question: if women are qualified to lead organisations, why do they continue to struggle for representation in corporate boardrooms? The problem is not simply a shortage of capable candidates. It lies in how board members are identified, assessed, recommended and appointed. Although women’s representation has improved over the past decade, progress remains uneven, particularly in positions that carry the greatest influence over corporate decisions. The Numbers Behind the Boardroom Gap According to Deloitte’s Women in the Boardroom research, women held approximately 23.3 per cent of board seats globally in data…

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Amazons on Boards

Breaking Barriers in the Pacific: Temukisa Hauma Becomes Tuvalu’s First Woman Governor-General

Breaking Barriers in the Pacific: Temukisa Hauma Becomes Tuvalu’s First Woman Governor-General

By Blossom Ukoha “I look forward to leading the nation and empowering our people, especially the women of Tuvalu.” With these words, Temukisa Auina Penehuro Hauma began a historic chapter in Tuvalu’s leadership. Sworn in on 30 September 2026, Hauma became the Pacific island nation’s first woman Governor-General, beginning a four-year term as the representative of King Charles III. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in Tuvalu’s constitutional history and brings renewed attention to women’s representation in public leadership across the Pacific. A Historic Appointment At 71, Hauma took the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance at Niutao Hall in Funafuti, Tuvalu’s capital. Acting Chief Justice Sir John Muria administered the ceremony, which included a Guard of Honour and a General Salute by the Tuvalu Police Service. The timing made the occasion particularly meaningful. Her inauguration took place on the eve of Tuvalu’s 48th Independence Day, celebrated on 1…

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Mums & Kids Zone

Childcare: The Missing Link in Women’s Economic Power

Childcare: The Missing Link in Women’s Economic Power

By Blossom Ukoha According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), women perform 76.2 per cent of unpaid care work globally and spend 3.2 times as much time on it as men. This unequal burden has significant consequences for women’s economic participation, earnings and career progression. While women’s economic empowerment is often discussed in terms of education, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship and access to finance, childcare remains a critical part of the equation. Without reliable, affordable care, many women struggle to enter the workforce, sustain businesses, pursue promotions or earn incomes that reflect their abilities. The Invisible Cost of Unpaid Care The scale of the challenge is substantial. The ILO estimated in 2024 that approximately 708 million women worldwide were outside the labour force because of unpaid care responsibilities, compared with around 40 million men. These figures reveal a structural problem: women’s time is essential to families and communities, yet much of…

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UN Day

International Day of the Girl Child 2026: Who Gets to Decide a Girl’s Future?

International Day of the Girl Child 2026: Who Gets to Decide a Girl’s Future?

By Blossom Ukoha “I was just a child and suddenly got married. Before I had time to recover from the shock, I got pregnant.” Salma, a girl from Yemen, was just 15 when she was forced into marriage, an experience that interrupted her childhood and exposed her to gender-based violence. Yet her story did not end there. She returned to school and is pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. Her journey reflects the reality faced by millions of girls whose education, safety and aspirations are threatened by child marriage. On 11 October 2026, the International Day of the Girl Child is observed under the theme “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights!” The message is clear: every girl deserves the freedom to learn, grow, make decisions about her life and shape her future. A Global Crisis That Cannot Be Ignored Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011,…

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Amazons on Boards

Leading the Fight Against Breast Cancer: Amber Guild Takes Charge at Susan G. Komen

Leading the Fight Against Breast Cancer: Amber Guild Takes Charge at Susan G. Komen

By Blossom Ukoha “I am deeply honored to join Komen as its President & CEO, and I am inspired to work alongside Komen’s incredibly talented and committed team to apply my professional and lived experiences to make a difference on behalf of so many.” — Amber Guild, President and CEO, Susan G. Komen For Amber Guild, leading the fight against breast cancer is more than an executive responsibility. As a breast cancer survivor whose treatment benefited from advances informed by research funded by Susan G. Komen, she brings a personal understanding of the disease to one of the world’s leading breast cancer organisations. On 1 October 2026, Guild assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer, bringing together her experience in business leadership, brand transformation and storytelling with a mission that has touched millions of lives. Her appointment represents a significant intersection of professional expertise and lived experience. At a…

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Business Clinique

11 Success Tips Every Woman Scaling a Social-Impact Business Needs to Know

11 Success Tips Every Woman Scaling a Social-Impact Business Needs to Know

By Blossom Ukoha “Profit and purpose are not mutually exclusive, and you have to work just as hard on delivering the impact you want to see as you do on building a financially sustainable business.” — Claudine, founder of Career Ear Building a business that changes lives requires more than a compelling mission. It demands a clear strategy, sustainable revenue, strong partnerships and measurable results. For women entrepreneurs leading social-impact businesses, scaling can be particularly challenging as they navigate funding inequalities, limited professional networks and expectations that social good should take precedence over financial growth. Yet women-led businesses demonstrate considerable economic potential. According to a Boston Consulting Group analysis, women-founded startups generated 78 cents in revenue for every dollar of funding, compared with 31 cents for male-founded startups. Although this finding does not mean every women-led business will outperform, it challenges assumptions about the financial potential of investing in women entrepreneurs.…

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