“African women are taking up important positions in sports globally”

In this week’s View From Africa, Maureen Rosita OJONG EBOB-BESONG narrates her journey and spotlights on the ascend of African women in sports.

I moved to Switzerland in 2022, to join the International Olympic Committee, as Portfolio Manager assigned to the Olympism 365 department that is really there to co-deliver and convey the IOC’s strategy focused on the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, in a way that supports communities and individuals access the benefits of sports everyday, everywhere. 

“For me, sports has been a way of life, it’s been a passion. I got into sports,basketball at a young age, maybe not young enough because of the realities of where I come from – conservative environment that was not very much at the time versed with how a young woman could interact with  the sports scene and how that could contribute to her professional and personal wellbeing. I think it also came from a place of love as my parents were keen about  protecting  me from the realities of the social world, and the entertainment world where for a very long time there were no clear pathways for individuals, particulary  girls.

I was blessed  enough to supported by my parents  into education and through which I was introduced to basketball, which opened me to a new world, and really equipped me with the soft skills, while connecting  me to an amazing network that later on, inspired and kind of triggered my interest in social entrepreneurship,  research, as well as a career in sport. 

I moved back from the UK at 23, after my MSc in International bBusiness, after a first degree in  law, and I was hired into the  oil and gas sector.  While working in the oil and gas sector, I stayed connected to sport and in the most amazing ways  basically my job funded my passion and dream. As an employee of Gabon’s national Oil Company at that time, I invested  my revenues into launching and scaling sports for social outreach programmes for youth  in Gabon, led through a non-profit organisation I founded in Gabon. 

African women being given more opportunities

A few years back, as a little girl, parents, and the community would not really identify your drive for sports, except those who came from sports. Working in or playing Sports was not first of all seen as a feminine field and womanly thing, not to talk of being or aspiring to become a  leader in the industry . Sports was not really seen as a dream that was close so it’s definitely great to see more women on the global scene taking spaces and leading in sport; not just for the sake of representation,  but more so because they are  exemplary role models of empathetic leadership in the sector. 

It is inspiring to watch and what has really supported this progress,  is the genuine effort from a leadership level, and from male a few male allies who  recognize the gap that exists, as well as the value of women in the industry. 

As a proud African  woman raised by the continent for the world, it’s really amazing to see more Africans,  particularly women  emerging in sport. It is inspiring. and send a strong message for younger girls and boys  coming up that anything is possible.

When we address the question of women empowerment in the African context it is important to recognise the evolution of this concept throughout time. Firstly what is usually unemphasized is that,  before colonization, Gender equality was never an event because; women played a very powerful role in African societies. They were monarchs, rulers, queens, Priestesses; political and military leaders that  occupied very vital roles and  spaces in African societies. Most importantly they were not trying to be  like men, or equal to men, but were powerful, respected and regarded as valuable allies and partners in society. In fact, some people will tell you that Africa predominantly was a matriarchal society where in most cases, that matriarchy really cohabited in harmony with the patriarchy. But  coming back to today , and with the realities associated to globalisation; we’re witnessing the  efforts of different global partners and institutions to ensure that the gender inequity gap  is addressed . 

There is definitely a positive progression in how women are rising in society ; into leadership positions, in and beyond sports. It particularly inspires me to watch women that I respect deliver amazing initiatives globally and make their mark in this dynamic world. We are already seeing the next generation of young men and women being inspired and mentored into a positive circle. A Lot more still needs to be done with the full support of allies, particularly men who are indispensable allies, because they are our husbands, friends, collaborators, partners , and therefore play a very important role in that process.