The University of Kinshasa commemorated International Women's Day this Thursday, March 17, 2022 under the theme: “Promoting the achievements of women at the University of Kinshasa "All categories of women working on the university campus gathered in the large Mgr Luc Gillon promotion hall. These included women from the academic, scientific, administrative, and student bodies.

After the welcoming words from the Rector of Unikin, Professor Jean-Marie Kayembe Ntumba, several representatives of the female gender of Unikin took turns at the microphone:

• Mom Kika, Honorary Administrative Secretary General.
• Miss Stépahanie Tshibola, Minister of Gender of Student Coordination.
• Mrs. Louise Nguindani, Assistant.

Two thought-provoking interventions enriched this ceremony:

• Mrs. Thérèse Izay Kirongozi, commonly called "Robot Mom", who recounted her laudatory career as a great fighting and enterprising lady. This 49-year-old lady, married and mother of 3 children, studied Industrial Electronics and trained in Programmable Automation (Japan) and Business Management (USA). She is the Head of the company Planète J and Women's Technology. She has several innovations to her credit: the Intelligent Rolling Robot, Mobile Traffic Lights, Static Lights, Automatic Hand Washers, the Water Drinkability Machine and the Electrolyzer (teaching material).

She strongly encourages women's work in a spirit of complementarity and not equality with men. She advocates for the modernization of raw material processing technologies, the recognition of women's expertise, and the creation of family businesses.

• THE Professor Antoine Tshimpi Wola, Secretary General for Research at Unikin, presented on “Women and science in the DRC”. Low rate of female researchers, near absence of publications by women, masculinization of certain professions, the Matilda effect, ... constitute obstacles to the scientific emergence of women and their recognition. To this end, it envisages early and positive awareness, mixed participation, equality and not gender war, gender work and publication.

A short question and answer session followed, preceded by a relaxing session with a slam and a poem:

• A slam "The Woman with the Flame" by the student Eliage of the Faculty of Sciences.
• A poem in memory of the women who died on February 3, 2022 at the Matadi Kibala market recited by Miss Christelle Onanga of the UFDEO. (Appendix)

The Rector of Unikin closed this ceremony by encouraging all the women of Unikin to work towards a Unikin solution.

Family photos and a cocktail reception marked the ceremony.

Poetry

The woman with the ftheremrs

We talk about women, not their bodies or their shapes.

We talk about these women who are still fighting, these extraordinary women.

Full of dreams, projects and when the sea presents itself, don't hesitate to swim.

Those who break the silence in the face of all forms of violence.

We talk about mothers, engineers, these open-minded women

Those who do not give in to this society at any price

These unashamed women who say that the brain has no sex

Why be so misogynistic, does seeing a pierced woman upset you?

To say that women are made for cooking, you certainly don't know Marie Curie.

And besides, this concept is as old as the laughing cow cheese.

Woman don't give in, hold on, lots of courage and rage

Tell them in Congo that it is the woman who created rolling automatons

I wanted these words to be a sheaf to these budding hardworking women

Let femininity not prevent you from broadening the horizons of your steps.

Success, science, education know no gender

She just needs people, and besides, these words are feminine.

We talk about women who bring their potential to life

To those who know how to see the essential, who do not seek only physical maturity

Those who seek intellectual maturity, those who undertake

Those for the evolution and development of women are being trained.

We talk about women, not their bodies or their shapes.

We talk about these women who are still fighting, these extraordinary women.

Filled with dreams, projects and when the sea presents itself, they don't hesitate to swim.

Those who break the silence in the face of all forms of violence.

Woman, give yourself more strength, puff out your chest

Trace your path, fight with both hands

Tomorrow belongs to you, hold on, come on woman

And the future will be bright

And say goodbye to laziness

We talk about women, not their bodies or their shapes.

We talk about these women who are still fighting, these extraordinary women.

Full of dreams, projects and when the sea presents itself, don't hesitate to swim.

Those who break the silence in the face of all forms of violence

                                                                                                                                                        Rectorate Press.