Tanzania’s ambassador to France, Ambassador Saidi Othman Yakubu, has called on higher learning institutions to strengthen efforts towards achieving gender equality, especially in leadership positions within universities.

He made the remarks during a meeting held at the Tanzanian Embassy in Paris with a delegation of 18 women leaders from the Open University of Tanzania (OUT).

The group is currently in France on a professional capacity-building and study tour aimed at improving their skills in university governance, leadership, and institutional management.The delegation is led by Dr.Janeth Emanuel Kigoba, who serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Education at OUT.

The ambassador highlighted that while Tanzania has made progress in addressing gender imbalance in higher education, more efforts are still needed to ensure women are fully represented in senior academic and administrative roles.

He noted that historically, universities have lagged behind other sectors in terms of gender equality, but recent developments show a positive shift as more women take up leadership positions and invest in professional development.

Ambassador Yakubu further emphasized that universities play a key role in shaping future leaders and policymakers, and therefore gender inclusivity in academic leadership should be treated as a core part of national development.He stressed that empowering women in higher education benefits not only institutions but also society and the wider economy.

He encouraged the visiting delegation to use the knowledge gained from their French study tour to promote institutional reforms upon their return to Tanzania.He also underlined the importance of mentorship and professional networking in supporting upcoming female academics and leaders.On behalf of the delegation, Dr.

Kigoba thanked the Tanzanian Embassy for supporting the visit, noting that the exposure to international practices will help improve leadership capacity and performance in Tanzanian universities.

The initiative reflects ongoing efforts by the Open University of Tanzania to promote gender equality and strengthen women’s leadership in higher education.