Adebola Williams, Maleeka Bokhari launch book to honour resilient Pakistani women

Adebola Williams, the Nigerian media entrepreneur, and Maleeka Bokhari, a Pakistani lawyer, have unveiled a new book titled ‘Pakistani Power Girls’.

The project was unveiled during the annual Young Global Leaders (YGL) summit in Singapore.

Inspired by Williams’ ‘African Power Girls’, the new book celebrates pioneering Pakistani women who have broken barriers and led the way in fields from law to government to social justice, and empowering young girls across the country to reach their full potential.

In a statement, Williams said the book is a tribute to resilient and trailblazing women of Pakistan who have shattered glass ceilings and played a pivotal role in the country’s progress.

The storyteller said he first encountered “the strength of the Pakistani women from reading ‘Daughter of the East’ almost 2 decades ago”. He added that the book inspired him deeply.

“At the World Economic Forum Summit in Geneva in 2021, Williams introduced Bokhari to his successful African Power Girls series, which has served as a powerful platform for the stories of Africa’s most remarkable female leaders,” the statement reads.

“Looking to replicate the social impact of the series through collaborative partnerships, he invited Bokhari, a young global leader and advocate for women’s rights in Pakistan, to join him for a similar initiative in her own country.”

Drawing inspiration from Pakistan’s founding leader Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Bokhari said “no nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you”.

“Pakistani Power Girls is a tribute to the women of Pakistan, who constitute half of our 240 million-strong population and have demonstrated immense strength and resilience,” she added.

Williams is a renowned advocate for gender equality and social change through storytelling. He launched the first volume of ‘African Power Girls’ to share stories of Africa’s pioneering female leaders, innovators and disruptors.

Through partnerships with organisations such as Unilever, Platform Capital, and Access Bank, Williams has distributed the book across the continent to foster a movement of educational empowerment.

The author also launched the African Power Girls Fund, a grant initiative aimed at bridging the financial gap for young women in Africa.

Bokhari, on the other hand, is an accomplished barrister with over a decade of experience.

She previously served as Pakistan’s parliamentary secretary for law and justice and spearheaded legislation for women’s rights, including landmark anti-rape laws.