Ladies and Gentlemen of the press you are welcome to this historic occasion, Women Advancement for Economic and Leadership Empowerment in Africa (WAELE/ARCELFA). was founded on the 8^th May 2004 and registered with the Cooperate Affairs Commission on 7^th September 2004. Within the short period of its existence, it has undertaken a modest amount of achievements in Nigeria and other African countries.

The role and contributions of Women Advancement Economic and Leadership Empowerment (WAELE/ARCELFA) to the global struggle for the emancipation and empowerment of African women has been properly enunciated in our lofty aims and objectives.

In our resolute effort to achieve the objectives of the Organization, the Board of Trustees has made provision in the constitution of the Organization for the establishment of structures through which we can channel programmes and activities that will ensure our effective participation not only in the struggle for women advancement but also in establishing a

virile and committed Organization that will champion the economic and political empowerment of the African woman. Infact, this is the mission statement of WAELE/ARCELFA.

The Organization is also committed to translating into realistic action the yearnings of African women across the continent who believe that women should participate more in the economic decision making and governance of our great continent Africa.

These action programmes which include capacity building workshops, women access to loan and credit, organizing trade fairs, political involvement and small scale industries.

The struggle for the achievement of these laudable goals that will bring women into economic independence has already started in earnest in Nigeria.

This empowerment as it relate to Nigeria has been carried out in all aspect of human endeavor. It is gratifying to note that within the short period of the Organization’s existence we have been able to give relief materials to women and children that suffered from ethno-religious crises in Jos Plateau state.

We have also been able to empower our women who are into farming with empowerment equipment to boast their productions.

Indeed, those that are into Cassava processing in Akwa Ibom could only produce two bags of Garri manually with hard labour in a week but after giving them equipment, they can now produce twenty (20) bags daily. Similarly, the women that are into palm oil production could only produce 20 litres in a week. It is my pleasure to let you know that with the economic empowerment equipment that our Organization gave to them, they can now produce 400 litres in a day. The Women of Borno State were  also presented with the following  equipment, Milling Machines, Knitting Machines, Sewing Machines, Embroidery Machines and Over lock machines. Furthermore, 60 milling machine were also presented to the women of Ondo State. We also hope to be in Enugu State soon.

WAELE/ARCELFA organized our first International conference to launch the organization in WEST AFRICA which took place in Bamako-Mali on the 15^th – 17^th of March 2005, in which 14 countries participated.

WAELE/ARCELFA 2^nd International conference took place at ECOWAS Secretariat Abuja, Nigeria between 11^th and 13^th of July 2005. The theme of the conference is -AFRICAN WOMEN IN A CONTEMPORARY WORLD – ISSUES ON POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, in which 18 countries participated.

WAELE/ARCELFA , Organized a welcome dinner for the new Ambassador of Mali His Excellency Amb Boubacar Karamoko Coulibaly.

WAELE/ARCELFA (Nigeria) will be organizing its first National conference which will be coming up on the 24^th – 25^th of July 2006 at the International Conference centre Abuja. The theme of the conference is: -

POLITICS AND NATION BUILDING: - THE ROLE OF NIGERIAN WOMEN

Each state will be attending the conference with 50 Delegates.

WAELE/ARCELFA 3^rd International Conference will be coming up in Tripoli Libya in October 2006.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, the last two years have been quite challenging but we thank God Almighty for keeping us alive up till this moment.

I will like to use this opportunity to thank  the Chairman of our Board of Trustees who has been a pillar and source of inspiration, the officers who are dedicated and always available even at short notice, and the entire members of WAELE/ARCELFA who are presently in 26 African countries. And to all our sponsors and friends, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

WAELE/ARCELFA is now two old. We pray to Almighty God that this organization will live even after us to continue championing and advancing the cause of the African Woman. Thank you and God bless.