The Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network (GWIIN) in collaboration with Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) on Wednesday organised a conference to honour innovative women in business and workplace.

It was aimed at supporting and encouraging women to embrace innovation as a key economic driver, assist in the increase of capacity building and serve as a vehicle to sustain growth, push forward competitiveness and encourage new ideas to be turned into commercial success.

Ms Bola Olabisi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GWIIN, noted that though domestic violence against men is on the increase, there are a lot more women who suffer maltreatment in their homes.

She said there are still a high fraction of women in the country and Africa, who face real hardship and yet, had helped shape history.

Ms Olabisi expressed appreciation to women who had excelled in their fields of endeavour, as well as some outstanding personalities in the country.

Dr Joyce Rosalind Aryee, Founder and Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministry, said it was time for women to see the innate qualities that they had, and see themselves as excellent planners in using time and resources effectively.

She urged women not to listen to people who tell them they were not good enough to take up leadership professions, because a woman’s second talent was time management and multi-skilled.

Dr Aryee called on men to support their women who engage in innovation and inventing new business ideas to contribute their quota to society.

The conference was attended by participants from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Namibia and Middle East/Africa.

An exhibition platform was mounted to showcase some of the products made by members of GWIIN.

GWIIN was established in 1998 and has created a global platform by working with government departments, leading industry experts, voluntary organisations, private sector enterprises and educational institutions.

It recognised that effective policy goals were needed, such as the transfer of knowledge between the science and business communities, and effective support for small businesses as key sources of innovation.

GWIIN bridges the gap and reinforces the power of individual role models and mentors in promoting leadership qualities, inventiveness, and innovation in business and the workplace.**