GWAJIMA APPLAUDS GGML GRADUATES OF ATE FEMALE FUTURE PROGRAMME

One of this year's graduates of ATE's Female Future Programme, Kulwa Nyirenda, who works for GGML as a Coordinator II - Vendor Prequalification, receives a certificate from the Minister for Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima (third left). Second left is the Deputy Minister, Prime Minister's Office (Labour, Youth, Employment & Persons with Disability), Patrobas Katambi.  Also pictured from left to right are; ATE Vice Chairperson, Imelda Lutebinga, ATE Past Chairperson, Almas Maige and Professor Lucky Yona, Lecturers at the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute - ESAMI.

One of this year's graduates of ATE's Female Future Programme, Zuhura Khamis who works for GGML as a Senior Software Engineer, receives a certificate from the Minister for Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima (third left). Second left is the Deputy Minister, Prime Minister's Office (Labour, Youth, Employment & Persons with Disability), Patrobas Katambi.

Five female employees from Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML), a subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti, have graduated from the much coveted Female Future Programme, and have been urged to use the skills and knowledge they have gained to make a difference in the companies they work for and in their communities.

The training organised by the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) is now in its ninth year since its establishment in 2016. It is designed to equip women with the skills and abilities necessary to hold high leadership positions in their companies.

During the ninth graduation of the training programme, which included 76 graduates, the Ministry of Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dorothy Gwajima, congratulated the companies that sponsored their female employees for participating in the training who yesterday was present at the graduation ceremony in Dar es Salaam.

Dorothy Gwajima also congratulated the companies that sponsored their female employees to attend the graduation ceremony yesterday in Dar es Salaam, saying that the state will continue to support the ATE's programs, especially since it is in line with the state's plans to promote gender equality.

She noted that the theme of the graduation ceremony, which coincided with ATE's 6th General Assembly, "Investing in Women to Accelerate Development", was timely as her ministry prepares to launch the National Gender and Development Policy.

She said the policy would be officially launched on 8 March this year, at the height of International Women's Day celebrations.

Contributing to the discussion at the event, AngloGold Ashanti's Vice President for Sustainability and Corporate Affairs in Africa, Simon Shayo, said since the training began, GGML has enabled 23 female employees to develop their skills.

Some of them have been promoted, while two have reached senior management positions within the company, he said, adding that the training has been a springboard for the company as it has increased collaboration and gender equality.

He said some of them had also been able to compete internationally in their positions, including female engineers. "GGML has continued to support this training to strengthen gender equality, but this issue has also continued to be properly implemented by the employees themselves from their hearts," said Shayo.

One of the GGML graduates from the finance department, Tammy Sumawe, thanked the management for encouraging women to attend the training, which she said had been a stepping stone for them and even their lives because of what they had learnt.

And Professor Lucky Yona, one of the lecturers at the East and South African Administrative Training College (ESAMI), said the students had been taught how to lead, how to speak at high-profile meetings and forums, and other training that would further develop their leadership skills.

And ATE Chief Executive Officer, Suzanne Ndomba-Doran, said more than 400 students from various companies in the country had already completed the training.

She said the training had been the gateway for women to take up leadership positions and even the intake of students who will start the training this year was already full.

This year’s Female Future Program graduates from GGML are: Cecilia Nkanabo - Senior Officer Human Resources, Kulwa Nyirenda - Coordinator II Vendors Prequalification, Njile Izengo - Superintendent – Accounts Payable, Zuhura Khamis - Senior Software Engineer, and Tammy Sumawe - Financial Officer – Treasury.