Lady Julia Osei Tutu has commemorated the 2025 International Women’s Day with the Lady Julia’s Mentorship Masterclass, under the theme: “Accelerate Action: Together we can forge women’s equality”, at the Great Hall of KNUST on March 7, 2025.

The initiative under the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, mentored beneficiaries to pursue their dreams to the fullest and stand out to bridge inequality gaps.

Over 500 students in the Ashanti Region benefitted from the 2025 edition of Lady Julia’s mentorship masterclass life coaching.

This year’s edition assembled prominent women speakers including Nana Dr Phyllis Tawiah, Queen mother of Aninkroma who doubles as a Lecturer, School of Medicine and Dentistry, KNUST, Nana Prof. Ekua Suapim Nyaniba I, Queenmother of Deha in the Cape Coast Traditional Area, Prof. Mrs. Mercy Badu, Senior Lecturer at the Chemistry Department, KNUST, and Mrs. Appiah Wiafe Adofo, Country Director for the World University Service of Canada, who threw more light on their life experiences and insights with the students gathered.

In the opening remarks, Prof Akosua Dickson indicated that it was a platform to give direction to young girls and make them aware of their potential.

She thanked Lady Julia for the opportunity to speak to the students “Mom {Lady Julia} thank you for this opportunity where we can speak to these young ladies and let them understand that they have the potential and they are able and capable and nothing must stop them…And as I said, we salute you our mother for this wonderful initiative.”

Prof. Akosua Dickson made gender equality easier by comparing God to an economist.

“God is an economist. Yes, he is an economical God. He wouldn’t place two people on this planet and expect that it’s only one group that must get the job done. He put all of us here for a reason. You have two hands, why will you tie one behind you and say that you are just going to use one? Why?”

The Queen of Aninkroma in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti Region, Nana Akosua Akyaa II, known in Private life as Dr Phyllis Tawiah, in her presentation, dismissed misconceptions about the fight for gender equality in various spheres.

She posits that the fight is not geared toward competing with men to take their place but accessing enough space to show off women’s potential.

She further counselled the mentees from selected Senior High Schools in the Ashanti Region to learn the hard skills and develop their careers.

In a fascinating STEM lecture, Prof. Mrs Mercy Badu, Senior Lecturer in the Chemistry Department at KNUST, listed some of the few, but significant, Ghanaian women in the field, such as Prof. Akosua Dickson, a chemist, Dr Augustina Angelina, a virologist, Dr Angela Tabi, a mathematician, Lizzy Quist, a scientist, and others.

According to her, young girls who are aspiring to build their interest in STEM may face challenges, she however encouraged them saying “It is there and it has been there since so it’s not going to change. You just have to make a difference.”

Prof. Badu also encouraged the girls to take advantage of scholarships and grant opportunities for STEM education available to women.

For her part, Nana Prof Ekua Suapim Nyaniba I, Queen of Dehia in Cape Coast, shared her personal story where a female friend tried to discourage her from pursuing higher educational feats using a bible quotation.

“When I decided to go for higher education from Bachelor’s to Masters. I talked to a friend about the intention and she told me, ‘Why are you trying to fight for women?’ She was a very strong churchgoer. She said Timothy said in the Bible that ‘God said do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over men. She must be silenced.”

She observed fear is the stumbling block to women in pursuing higher education and egged the ladies on to overcome it.

Mrs. Appiah Wiafe Adofo, the Country Director of World University Service of Canada, walked the students through stigma, particularly gender-based violence, and gave them advice on how to deal with it.

According to her, women are vulnerable to discrimination, sexual harassment, and more.

Gracing the event was the wife of the Asantehene, Lady Julia Osei Tutu, Nana Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene II, Otumfuo Hiahene and Board Chairman of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, the Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Also present were Nana Afrakoma Serwaa Kusi Oboadom, Agogohemaa, and Nana Yaa Asantewaa, the Ejisuhemaa.

The Administrator for the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, Miss Elaine Oppong Peprah indicated that the mentorship program was designed to “inspire, guide and empower young girls by connecting them with accomplished women who have walked the path of excellence”.

“We hope to equip you with the knowledge, confidence and the skills to pursue your dream and break barriers”, she said.

Participating schools included Bosomtwe STEM Girls’ SHS, St. Louis SHS, Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ SHS, St. Monica’s SHS, Kumasi Girls’ SHS, Kumasi Wesley Girls’ High School, Afua Kobi Ampem Girls’ SHS, Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS, Adventist Girls’ SHS, Mancell Girls’ SHTS, Prince of Peace Girls’ SHS, Presbyterian Girls’ SHS, Our Lady of Grace SHS, KNUST SHS, TI Ahmadiyya SHS, Islamic SHS, Kumasi Academy, Osei Kyeretwie SHS, Asanteman SHS, and Kumasi Technical Institute.