In a press release issued on Wednesday 5 January and signed by its President, Antoinette Sassou N’Guesso, First Lady of the Republic of Congo, the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, announced the appointment of Leyla Gozo, from Togo, as its new Executive Secretary, effective 1 January.
Formerly known as the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) and now the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development, OAFLAD is an advocacy organisation where African First Ladies seek to leverage their unique position to advocate for policies that make health services accessible and laws that empower women and youth. To this end, African First Ladies strengthen supportive policies and programmes through advocacy, resource mobilisation and partnership development with all stakeholders at all levels. In addition, the First Ladies engage in various activities at the community level to raise awareness of health risks and policies. OPAD currently brings together 28 First Ladies of Africa.
Accomplished professional
Leyla Gozo, explains OPAD, is an accomplished professional with many years of experience across Africa and Europe. She has held various positions of responsibility in the public and private sectors. Prior to her appointment, Leyla Gozo was an advisor to the Presidency of Niger and a member of the communication unit.
Leyla Gozo has worked on various projects mainly related to education and has also worked as a business development manager for an IT solutions company. From 2012 to 2016, Leyla Gozo was founder and managing director of LGG & Partners. She led advocacy projects and developed policies and strategies for the public sector as well as the private sector. In addition, Leyla Gozo has advised government officials on creative solutions.
Youngest Person of the Global Agenda Council on Africa
Leyla Gozo was the youngest African member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Africa; founder and curator of the Lomé Hub, a World Economic Forum initiative; and member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community.
An economist by training, Leyla Gozo holds an MBA from the Institute of Finance and Management (IFM University) in Geneva, Switzerland and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), Canada.
Leyla Gozo speaks Ewe, Hausa, Amharic, French, English, Italian and Spanish.
