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Universities urged to foster inclusive environment for both genders

Ms. Angela Kairuki

TANZANIA: TANZANIAN universities have been urged to foster an inclusive environment for both male and female students in order to build a more equitable society.

This call was made by Ms Angellah Kairuki, who is the Advisor to the President, during a forum focused on “Enhancing Academia’s Role in Accelerating and Localising Generation Equality Forum (GEF) Commitments.”
It was organised by UN Women in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups.

She emphasized that a truly inclusive, gender-balanced approach is critical for supporting the holistic development of all students.

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“As we empower women to achieve gender equality, it’s important to recognise the unique challenges that young men face as well. Both male and female students encounter distinct issues, and our academic programs, support systems and opportunities must be designed to reflect and address this diversity,” said Ms. Kairuki.

She added, “We must provide all students with the tools for personal and professional growth, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone thrives and no one is left behind in building a just and equitable society.”

The forum brought together representatives from various Tanzanian universities, along with Professor Judith Waudo from Kenyatta University and Professor Wanjiku Kabira from Nairobi University, who shared insights on successfully implementing the Generation Equality agenda through their Women’s Economic Empowerment Hubs.

Ms. Kairuki noted that the forum offers an opportunity for Tanzanian universities to learn from these successful examples and tailor strategies to their local context.

“I encourage participants to reflect on how the lessons from these esteemed professors can be adapted in our institutions. Through their expertise, we hope to envision and create a roadmap for how Tanzanian universities can decisively advance the Generation Equality agenda,” she said.

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Furthermore, Ms Felister Mdemu, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups, highlighted that universities play a vital role in strengthening and implementing the commitments of the Generation Equality Forum, as they nurture and develop the youth. She noted that universities are hubs for various research efforts, which are essential for planning and developing inclusive policies.

On her part, Professor Wineaster Anderson Saria, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dodoma, stated that the forum provided valuable insights on how universities can implement the agenda. She emphasized that success also requires focus at the family level.

“Both males and females should be granted equal rights, starting from the moment a child is born. If we succeed at the family level, by the time a child reaches university, we won’t need to invest much effort in explaining the importance of gender equality,” she said.