Stakeholders want govts, corporate bodies to remove barriers to gender equality
By Trek Africa Newspaper
Stakeholders have converged in Lagos, urging political, corporate and community leaders to take deliberate actions in removing all the barriers to gender equality in the society.
They argued that removing the limitations would address gender disparities and promote gender equality which ultimately results in greater access to the innovation ecosystem and investors for women.
They made the call at the Women in Governance (Conference 2023) which was organised by the Association of Corporate Governance Professionals of Nigeria (ACGPN) in Lagos on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is themed: “Inspiring Visionary Governance: The Role of Women”.
In his welcome address, the association’s President, Dr Sam Ohuabunwa, said political and corporate leaders should take deliberate actions to remove all the limitations on the career paths of women folks, especially in the area of employment, business and politics.
According to him, this is because women bring their unique characteristics to governance, especially at this time when the country is in dire need for accelerated economic and social growth.
Ohuabunwa said the association is set to enthrone a National adoption of Good Governance Principles to promote women involvement in leadership and governance at all levels of national endeavour.
He said: “There is a growing body of knowledge that seems to suggest that women can provide exceptional visionary leadership that translates into excellent corporate and organisational governance.
“There exists a cluster of characteristics that women have and this has been corroborated over time through observation of women in senior management and board leadership positions in organisations across many sectors.
“These characteristics arise from the experiences of women in leadership positions, shaped by cultural and social mores as well as by repetitive behaviours that have proved very helpful in driving good corporate governance.
“It has become very important that our leaders must take deliberate actions to remove all the hindrances on the career paths of our women folk in employment, business and politics since the country is in dire need of accelerated growth.”
Ohuabunwa said the role of women is in search of visionary governance that would drive the country to the highest levels of productivity, competitiveness and transform the public sector to high-performing bureaucracies.
According to him, the role of women is also to yield optimum service to the citizens to improve their quality of lives in a sustainable manner, “we feel that not much focus has been shed among our Women folk”.
In her paper presentation, the Managing director of Avery Nigeria Limited, Mrs Ebisan Onyema, said removing hindrances would involve giving women decision-making power and overcoming the barriers and discriminatory norms that limit their potentials.
“When women are empowered in the business and government world, they bring diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences that foster innovation and drive economic growth.
“It creates a more equitable and just society by addressing gender disparities and promoting gender equality which ultimately results in greater access to the innovation ecosystem and Investors for women,” she said.
Delivering her speech, the Conference Chairperson, Mrs Gloria Akobundun, said women must take their rightful place as change agents in governance.
Akobundun said women’s participation in politics has helped to advance gender equality and affected both the range of policy issues that get considered and the types of solutions that were proposed.
She said women must do their part to break the glass ceilings and open the doors of opportunity, adding that she was honoured and proud to add her voice and full support to this vital cause.
On her part, Mrs Elemanya Ebilah, the Managing Director/CEO at Euglobin International Travel & Tours, said women are team players who should be included in governance.
Ebilah said women invite other thoughts and opinions, and they orchestrate discussions that use varying thoughts and opinions in their conclusions.
According to her, women often use facts and less assumptions in their contributions to discussions and therefore have an edge in creating persuasive arguments in discussions.
