Samira Bawumia inspires young Africans to lead climate action at AFRIWOCC 2025 in Accra

Founder and Chairperson of the Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC), Mrs. Samira Bawumia, has urged African leaders, the private sector, and civil society to place young people at the forefront of climate action and invest more in homegrown, youth-driven solutions.

Speaking at the second edition of the Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC 2025) in Accra, themed “Young Voices, Innovative Ideas, and Greater Impact for Africa,” Mrs. Bawumia delivered an inspiring keynote address that called for renewed commitment, partnership, and accountability in addressing Africa’s climate challenges.

Reflecting on AFRIWOCC’s evolution since its inception in 2023, she said the initiative was built on a bold and inclusive vision—to amplify the voices of women and children and ensure they are recognized as key agents in Africa’s climate journey. The inaugural conference, she recalled, drew over 800 participants from across the continent, including students, media professionals, and private sector representatives, to deliberate on sustainable and inclusive climate policies. That engagement birthed the AFRIWOCC Communiqué Action Plan, a continental blueprint that called for greater inclusion, indigenous knowledge integration, and fair access to climate finance.

“From the very beginning, AFRIWOCC was never meant to be just a conversation on paper,” Mrs. Bawumia declared. “We committed to translating our words into tangible interventions, partnerships, and policies that shift Africa’s climate agenda.”

She explained that the Communiqué influenced the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, contributing to the Nairobi Declaration and ensuring that the perspectives of women, youth, and children were reflected in Africa’s unified climate position.

At COP28 in Dubai, AFRIWOCC deepened its impact by launching the Africa Women and Children Climate Fund a dedicated mechanism to support locally led climate initiatives. Through a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), AFRIWOCC also convened a youth-focused dialogue that engaged 48 young African activists in global discussions, amplifying the continent’s voice on the world stage.

Beyond advocacy, AFRIWOCC’s commitment to action is visible through initiatives like the Africa Students for Climate Action (ASCA), which currently reaches 21 schools across Africa, empowering students to explore innovation, education, and climate advocacy. Mrs. Bawumia also highlighted the success of the NextGen Youth Climate Forum, hosted by AFRIWOCC during the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa the largest youth gathering at the event, where young Africans showcased scalable climate solutions and contributed to shaping policy priorities.

“Young Africans are not mere spectators; they are the architects of our climate future,” she said passionately. “AFRIWOCC has, in just a few years, moved from vision to action—anchoring youth and women at the heart of Africa’s climate transformation.”

However, she acknowledged that not all commitments from 2023 have been fully achieved, especially in areas such as scaling up climate financing and ensuring cross-border inclusivity. She called for renewed collaboration among governments, private sector players, civil society organizations, academia, and international partners to ensure Africa-led climate solutions receive the attention and funding they deserve.

“As we open AFRIWOCC 2025, let us ensure that every proposal is assessed for its potential impact on women, children, and young people,” she urged. “Let this conference end with actions, not just words with commitments that embody both ambition and accountability.”

In her closing remarks, Mrs. Bawumia reaffirmed her pledge to make women and children central driverscnot peripheral participants in Africa’s climate transformation.

“Let us honour that promise,” she concluded. “By ensuring that young Africans remain the engine of innovation and impact for a sustainable future.”

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