African women must break barriers to create wealth, says Graça Machel

In a powerful keynote address at the Women Creating Wealth Summit, renowned humanitarian Graça Machel urged African women to move beyond the confines of informal sectors and small enterprises to become wealth creators for their families, communities and nations.

The summit, organised by the Graça Machel Trust (GMT), brought together more than 200 women entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, donors and thought leaders from nine countries. It focused on breaking barriers and creating wealth through sectoral networks in finance, agribusiness, entrepreneurship, media and energy, with plans to expand into technology.

Machel called for collective action to address systemic constraints. “No one is going to remove barriers alone,” she stated, encouraging those with sector-specific expertise to take the lead in identifying and overcoming challenges. She championed the African philosophy of solidarity, urging women to share both pain and success as a way to uplift society as a whole.

A mindset shift for wealth creation

Machel emphasised the need for a mindset shift among women, declaring: “The first thing that has to change is for us to believe we have reasons to be wealthy.”

She highlighted the unique perspective women bring to wealth creation, focusing on community benefit rather than individual gain.

Participants were encouraged to form meaningful connections, with Machel challenging them to bond with at least five other attendees, blending emotional and intellectual collaboration to drive lasting change. She also urged them to think beyond African boundaries, suggesting women’s approaches to business could influence global practices.

Transforming Africa’s economic potential

Addressing Africa’s historical economic challenges, Machel called on women to become innovators in harnessing the continent’s rich resources for collective benefit. “We bring to the table a different way of doing things, which is transforming our societies,” she said, urging attendees to stand tall and represent millions of other women when they enter any room.

A vision for equality

Machel concluded with a message of hope, envisioning a future where women are respected and accepted as equals. She encouraged participants to maintain their cultural identities while striving for excellence, declaring the summit part of the GMT’s ongoing efforts to transform the economic landscape for African women.