On Friday 27th June 2025, the World Academy for the Future of Women (WAFW) participants from Karatina University had the distinct honour of visiting the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), where they were graciously received by the Director-General, Zainab Hawa Bangura, a global icon of women’s leadership and impact. The delegation, led by Prof. Kellen Kiambati, Director of Resource Mobilization and International Programmes and WAFW Team Leader, was accompanied by Jecinta Kabucho – WAFW Liason Officer and Sandra Perez, one of the WAFW facilitators and has been instrumental in supporting the successful rollout of the WAFW programme in Kenya. This visit was a highlight for the young women and an opportunity to meet and engage with one of Africa’s most respected voices in women’s leadership.
Ms. Bangura, with her characteristic poise and wisdom, spoke passionately to the young women about what it truly means to lead in today’s world. She challenged them to pursue their goals with clarity and conviction, to be bold enough to define a vision for themselves, and to commit to that vision no matter the challenges. She reminded them that resilience is not optional but very essential.
She urged the participants not just to identify problems in their communities and workplaces, but to become the people who craft solutions. She emphasized the power of hard work, encouraging the young women to never give up, even when the odds seem against them. One of her most memorable and powerful messages was this: “No one will invite you to the decision-making table. You must prepare yourself and take your seat. Be bold, be prepared, and show up.”
The impact of her words was profound. She didn’t just speak to their ambitions; she spoke to their potential. She inspired them to return to their communities and campuses as change makers, knowing that they carry not just dreams, but the responsibility to lead.
