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The First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has challenged her colleague African first ladies to channel more investment into policies that will ensure quality education and increased access for all children, especially the girl-child. According to her, despite the proven benefits of educating women in acquiring quality education in Africa girls faced enormous challenges in the areas of enrolment, poverty, accessibility, early marriage and pregnancy. She added that the lack of a comprehensive and coherent project dedicated to girls� enrolment into schools and retaining them there were other challenges constraining girl-child education. Mrs Lordina Mahama was addressing the Bush Institute�s 2014 African First Ladies Summit dubbed, �Investing in Our Future� which was attended by first ladies from over 35 African countries on the sidelines of the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington. First Ladies Summit The Bush Institute�s 2014 African First Ladies Summit brought together leaders from non-governmental organisations, private sector partners, faith-based and grass-roots organisations and other leading experts. It was organised by the Office of the US First Lady, the George W. Bush Institute and the US Department of State. A major highlight of the summit centred on the critical role first spouses play as advocates for women and girls and showcased success stories, best practices in public-private partnerships. It also announced new initiatives and partnerships that would empower women�s roles in society and lead to improved outcomes for women and girls on the continent of Africa. Initiatives She stated that in line with the Ghana government�s policy of providing quality education for the children in the country, her non-governmental organisation, the Lordina Foundation, had instituted a scholarship programme to support brilliant needy and deprived female students to further their education in Ghana and overseas. The foundation is also working to secure funds for the establishment of dining halls, kitchens and teacher motivation programmes for the deprived communities across the country. Mrs Lordina Mahama said the foundation was also facilitating a project to provide accommodation and educational facilities for residents of the Gambaga Witches Camp in the Northern Region and the Gambaga community. The facilities will provide vocational training to the inmates and their dependants. The First Lady, who was the only African first lady invited to speak at the symposium, called for public-private partnerships to ensure quality education for girls in Africa. The First Lady of the United States of America, Mrs Michelle Obama, observed that �until we prioritise our girls and understand that they and their education are as important as the education of our sons, then we will have lots of work to do.� Watch the First Lady's speech below: