Award-winning television personality Nana Aba Anamoah has chalked another feat by inspiring hundreds of women at her Women of Valour programme to break barriers and achieve the ultimate.
On a regular day, Nana Aba would be spearheading business development initiatives for Excellence in Broadcasting (EIB) Network.
However, on Thursday, March 7, 2024, the vocal screen goddess had a different agenda at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
In an auditorium filled with hundreds of participants, she unleashed the second edition of her annual Women of Valour programme, with several accomplished women as speakers to motivate others as the world marked International Women’s Day.
The programme aims to highlight courageous women with inspiring stories to motivate, advise and nurture others to rise to the peak.
Students, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and other individuals could not miss the programme for any other thing as they showed up in their numbers to participate.
The headline speakers for this year’s event were Ghana’s award-winning movie director Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Nigeria’s iconic movie superstar Rita Dominic and South Africa’s famous TV presenter Bonang Matheba.
Founder of the Women of Valour, Nana Aba Anamoah, admonished women to support each other and charged successful persons to serve as anchors for younger ones in various fields.
“Let us embark on this incredible journey together, celebrating the past, embracing the present, and shaping a future where women of valour are recognized, celebrated, and empowered. They say women are from Venus, but I think we’re actually from a galaxy far, far away.
“We have the power to create life, juggle a million things, and still find time to binge-watch our favourite shows. If you are ever in doubt about how far you can go, drink water and ask yourself, what would a woman of valour do? Happy International Women’s Day.”
Movie director Shirley Frimpong-Manso challenged women to develop a trait of resilience and continue to fight despite the failures they may encounter.
“You try, you fail; you try, you fail, and you try some more. But for a woman, when you fail, it’s a calamity. Why is it so for a woman? Because, remember you would be given the option to settle, to have a softer life. Unfortunately, including some of your fellow women will watch you fall. You rise and you fall again but you cannot stay there. You see men who succeed do not stay down there when they fall. So, against all odds, you must rise,” Shirley Frimpong-Manso said.
Nollywood actress Rita Dominic admonished women never to be intimidated by external pressures concerning their lives.
The screen goddess said women should be courageous, pursue their dreams regardless of challenges, and not be deterred by negative societal views.
“Do things that make you happy. Choose your happiness over societal pressure,” she admonished.
On her part, South African media personality Bonang Matheba emphasised the importance of branding.
“You can commercialize your value. You need to create a very powerful personal brand and I think that’s what I do. And after you do that, you’re able to commercialize your value,” she noted.
The Chief Executive Officer of SG Etiquette Consulting, Sika Goka, spoke about becoming a quintessential lady while the founder of Ignite Youth Empowerment Initiative, Obuobia Darko-Opoku, delved into confidence building.
The Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office(EOCO), Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, who was the Special Guest of Honour for the event, crowned the speeches by underscoring network building which is essential to success in every sphere of life.
Her wisdom nugget for the audience was, “Anytime you have the opportunity to meet anybody, build that network. You don’t know when that opportunity will arrive and you will need that person to do one or two things for you”.
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Ghanaian musician Becca was at her dazzling best as she thrilled the audience with spectacular performances of her hit songs.