Women have been urged to increase their participation in governance and other sectors of the economy.
Speakers, who included the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande; wife of the Lagos State governor, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello and board guru, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, made the call at the seventh Women in Governance Conference organised by the Association of Corporate Governance Professionals of Nigeria (ACGPN).
The event themed ”Women in Leadership: Navigating challenges and seizing opportunities” was held in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Olawande, who was represented, said though women empowerment is vital to national development, gender equality remained a societal issue. The minister who advised women to go out and shine, however, urged men to support women to achieve their goals.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu called for full representation of women in the future. With more empowerment, doors would open for them, said the governor’s wife, who was represented by the wife of the Commissioner for Transportation/member, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs Oyinkan Oshiyemi.
Olatunji-Bello, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration), Prof Adenike Omotunde Moyo, charged women to be courageous and go for their goals and that nothing should deter them. She said when they meet barriers and glass walls, they should be hopeful as they were meant to be scaled or broken and that nothing could hold a willing mind back. Citing herself, the VC said it had not been a bed of roses as many might have erroneously thought, but that she, too, had mountains to surmount to get to her exalted position with good results. Hard work, she noted, as the mother of success.
She noted that with good leadership by women, mountains could be moved. ‘We are the leaders the world needs,” she added.
Ohuabunwa, who is the association’s President/Chairman-in-Council, said gone were the days when the number of women in the boards or heads of universities could be counted on the finger tips, adding that women were on the rise in government, banks, among others.
He said he had encountered over 20 institutions of high learning led by women and, also, female heads of service and permanent secretaries in civil service. ”The teaching and nursing professions are not dominated by female folks, and even professions that were seen as largely masculine are today led by women and that the president of the National Centre for Human Rights is a woman. ”Thus, it is clear that our women have made tremendous progress, though we still have a long way to go,” Ohuabunwa said
Despite the challenges, Ohuabunwa said, women should not be deterred from climbing higher.
He however decried the situation where some women were found guilty of malfeasance, saying such should be discouraged by them. Rather, he added, women should be role models in society.
He challenged women on accountability, fairness, and transparency in public and private. He congratulated the new fellows of the association.
A lawyer, Mrs Funmi Roberts, sought mentoring for younger women, especially lawyers. She counselled the young generation on patience, good conduct and training, saying the future belongs to those with the right skills. Mrs Funmi noted that the road to the top is rough and tough but that with patience, the young ones would achieve success. She pleaded with the old generation to put in place for grooming, adding that after all, they are the future leaders who should be trained to get it right.
Earlier, while welcoming participants to the ceremony, the WIG Conference Committee Chairman, Mrs Olufade Olufunke, said it was their objective to continue to create pathways where women could thrive and leave marks in leadership.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to the speakers, among others.
Also at the event were the association’s National Treasurer, Princess Elemanya Ebila; National Administrator, Dr. Femi Mosaku-Johnson; ACGPN council member, Mr Filius Osunbor; General Manager, Lagos State Office For Disability Affairs, Mrs Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal;Zonal Director, NTA Network Centre, Lagos, Dr. Evelyn Nwosu; among others.