Samia Urges Women Leaders to Balance Family and Careers

Samia Urges Women to Balance Leadership Roles with Family Life

Dar es Salaam, February 21, 2025 – In her speech during the 10th Anniversary Celebrations of the Female Future Program, President Samia Suluhu Hassan urged women to leverage their leadership positions and education to benefit society while emphasizing the importance of not allowing these roles to disrupt their family lives.

The event, held at The Super Dome in Dar es Salaam, also marked the graduation ceremony for the 10th cohort of participants in the program. The Female Future Program, a collaborative initiative between the Employers' Association of Tanzania (ATE) and the Norwegian government, was established in 2016 with the aim of enhancing leadership skills among women across various sectors.

During her address, President Samia stressed that women who have access to education or leadership positions must maintain a sense of responsibility toward their communities, emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the areas where they live. She also pointed out the significance of educating girls.

"Leadership roles and education should not make us forget our primary responsibility of raising and nurturing our children. Neglecting this duty could have detrimental effects on our communities," President Samia warned. She highlighted potential consequences, such as children becoming involved in undesirable behaviors or growing distant from their parents as they mature.

Additionally, she noted that neglecting family responsibilities could lead to an increase in dependency, placing an unnecessary burden on the nation and hindering efforts to uplift girls and women. She further shared insights into how perceptions of women’s capabilities have evolved over time, recalling past skepticism about a woman's ability to lead.

“In the past, there were those who doubted a woman's leadership potential, but we have seen how attitudes have changed, as women have proven their ability to lead effectively,” said the president.

President Samia encouraged the graduates to use the knowledge they acquired to elevate other women within their communities, guiding and supporting them, without offering preferential treatment. She emphasized that empowering more women in leadership would help push their collective agenda forward.

In closing, President Samia expressed pride in seeing the program, which she launched a decade ago, positively impact the lives of many women.

Ridhiwani Kikwete, the Minister for Labour, Youth, Employment, and Disabled Persons, also spoke at the event, affirming that the government will continue collaborating with various stakeholders to advance the agenda for women in leadership roles.