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In October 1991, five African women ministers of education met informally during a World Bank meeting of donors to African education to discuss the very real obstacles faced by African girls and women in gaining an education and improving the quality of their lives.
Recognising that there was much that they and other decision-makers could do to collectively address these problems, they put forward the idea of creating a network of prominent women in African education who could come together to propose measures and advocate for transformation of the African education landscape for greater gender equality.
They met again in September 1992 and, with a group numbering 19 senior African women policy-makers in education, launched the Forum for African Women Educationalists.
These women were Hon. Simone de Comarmond of Seychelles, Hon. Dr Fay Chung of Zimbabwe, Hon. Paulette Missambo of Gabon, Hon. Alice Tiendrebéogo of Burkina Faso and the late Hon. Vida Yeboa of Ghana.
Hon. Simone De Comarmond
Seychelles
Hon. Simone de Comarmond is the current chairperson of FAWE. She served as Seychelles Minister of Education for five years, during which she founded the FAWE National Chapter in the country.
Hon. Dr Fay Chung
Zimbabwe
Hon. Paulette Missambo
Gabon
Hon. Paulette Missambo is former Minister of State for Education of Gabon and has held several other ministerial positions.
Hon. Alice Tiendrebéogo
Burkina Faso
The late Hon. Vida Yeboa
Ghana