Speakers at the “Women Shaping Africa’s Nuclear Landscape” Webinar
Participants from across Africa attended the “AFCONE Women Shaping Africa’s Nuclear Landscape” webinar, reflecting the growing engagement of women in the continent’s nuclear science and technology sector.
The African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) organized the “Women Shaping Africa’s Nuclear Landscape” webinar on 27 March 2025, in the spirit of International Women’s Day (IWD). International Women’s Day, commemorated annually on 8 March, celebrates the achievements of women worldwide. Recognized by the United Nations since 1977, IWD traces its origins to the early 20th-century labour movements advocating for women’s rights and equality.
In his opening remarks, AFCONE Chairperson, H.E. Gaspard Liyoko Mboyo, emphasized that African women must position themselves to play an instrumental role in shaping the field of nuclear science and technology to maximize Africa’s benefits from nuclear energy. He underlined that women’s active participation is essential to achieving inclusive and sustainable development across the continent.
Mr. Zaher Laher, Commissioner from South Africa, who represented the AFCONE commended the significant development strides made by African States through their commitment to various continental and international frameworks, noting that gender inclusivity remains vital to advancing Africa’s scientific and technological agenda.
The webinar featured several distinguished speakers from across the African region, including Prof. Soheir Korra (Women in Nuclear), Dr. Margaret Chege, Prof. Jo-Ansie van Wyk, and Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Director of Technical Cooperation at the IAEA and Dr Nortin Titus, AFCONE Commissioner from Namibia. Discussions highlighted the importance of empowering African women in the nuclear field, fostering capacity building, and strengthening regional cooperation to ensure equitable participation in all areas of nuclear science and technology.
Through initiatives such as this, AFCONE continues to advance its mission of promoting the peaceful, safe, and secure applications of nuclear science and technology in Africa, while encouraging gender equality and inclusion as key drivers of progress within the framework of the Pelindaba Treaty.