Jeanne Gervais
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jeanne Gervais, née Jeanne Ahou Siefer-N’Dri (June 6, 1922 – December 9, 2012) was an Ivorian politician and the first woman minister in Côte d'Ivoire.[1]
Born in Grand-Bassam, Gervais was the daughter of a French father and a Baoulé mother.[2] She became married to Marc Gervais, also born to a French father. Marc had a similar background in terms of education, and worked as an entrepreneur in the construction sector. Jeanne and Marc Gervais had seven children: André, Marie Dominique, Liliane, Nicole, Claudine, Georges, and Chantal.[3]
A longtime member of the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire – African Democratic Rally,[4] she participated in the women's march in her hometown in 1949.[1] Trained as a teacher at the École normal de Rufisque,[5] she became one of three women, alongside Hortense Aka-Anghui and Gladys Anoma, elected to the National Assembly immediately after independence.[6] She served in that body from 1965 until 1980.[2] In 1976, she was named head of the Ministry of Women's Affairs, remaining in that role until 1984 and becoming the first woman to serve in the Ivorian cabinet.[1] She was also active for many years as president of the Association des Femmes Ivoiriennes.[6]
