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Tag: International women’s day

  • We are not in competition with the men- Folorunso Alakija

    We are not in competition with the men- Folorunso Alakija

    Black Africa’s Richest Female Magnate, Folorunso Alakija has said women are not in fierce competition with the men.

    Alakija stated this during a visit to The Nation Headquarters  in Lagos on Thursday which coincided with the commemoration of the International Women’s Day.

    “We are not in competition with the men. Our project, Flourish Africa has come to encourage women to roll up their sleeves, propel and prosper women even in the workplace or whatever it is they choose to do.

    “God created the man to be the head of the family and the women to give the support that he needs. Therefore a man cannot do without the woman. They must cooperate and prosper,” Alakija stated.

    Alakija spoke on her online platform, Flourish Africa which she said is dedicated to supporting the women.

    “Flourish Africa came on board because of the need to support women. Women have come a long way and have cause to be downtrodden, ignored and underrated.

    “A lot has been going on in the lives of women, especially the African woman.Women have been brought up to bear children, however I believe there is more to women than just that,” she said.

     

    Flourish Africa is expected to focus on five core areas which includes inspiration, career development, health, beauty, love and relationships.

     

  • Int’l Women’s Day: Obaseki harps on inclusive policies

    Int’l Women’s Day: Obaseki harps on inclusive policies

    Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has called for inclusive policies and stronger collaboration on programmes that will create spaces for women to be properly represented in politics and business.

    The governor said this on the commemoration of the International Women’s Day (IWD) marked every March 8, by the United Nations and many other organisations across the globe.

    He said that much as there are efforts to expand the frontier for women to participate in economic, politics and social institutions in society in urban and peri-urban centers, there was even a more urgent need to focus on those in rural areas who need inclusive policies, financial support and social structures to facilitate their contribution to development.

    According to the governor, the imperative to press for progress across different markers of development, especially for women, and ensure spaces are created for them to achieve their potentials.

    “As the world celebrates the International Women’s Day, it is important to stress the contribution of women to national development. But at the same time, it is an opportunity to call for inclusive policies and open space to address issues of gender parity. This will make it easier for women to not only reach their full potentials in politics and business, but also expand the space for representation for societal integration and growth.”

    Meanwhile, the First Lady, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, has presented cheques of N50,000 to 2,000 female entrepreneurs who are into small and medium scale enterprises in the state.

    Mrs Obaseki presented the soft loan cheques during the 2018 International Women’s Day celebration organized by the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, in collaboration with the Office of the Edo State First Lady in Benin City, on Thursday.

    She said the initiative, which is supported by the Bank of Industry, is to assist women to grow and expand their small and medium-sized enterprises.

    She said some of the beneficiaries are successful participants of the Edo Women for Agriculture and Enterprise initiative while others were drawn from several cooperative societies across the state.

    “The 2000 women are going to be beneficiaries of the first phase of this scheme. Last year we empowered 500 women with poultry birds to make each of them earn at least N150,000 from the sale of eggs,” she said.

    The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu launched the Betsy Obaseki After School Club (BOASC) and the Edo Women Monthly Farmers’ Market Initiative, urging women to lead the drive for economic emancipation and wealth creation.

    She said the BOASC seeks to address the root of economic hardship amongst women via empowering school girls with skills in shoemaking and vehicle repairs.

    “This initiative aims to build confidence in their abilities and give these girls a firm footing against traffickers who may approach them with promises of better lives abroad. 180 school girls drawn from 18 Public Secondary schools are participating in the first phase” she said.

    The First Lady said the Women Farmers’ Market initiative is to promote the purchase of healthy agricultural produce as well as provide ready markets for women farmers to sell their produce directly to buyers.

    She added that the theme for this year Women’s Day celebration: “Time is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Life” was apt, noting that it reinforces the need for all hands to be on deck and work concertedly for the overall progress and stability of women.

    In her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Magdalene Ohenhen, said the occasion was put together to highlight the activities, progress and problems confronting women in all aspects of their lives.

    Ohenhen said women have continually been challenged by issues such as maternal and infant mortality, poverty, unemployment, low income and low participation in governance.

    She, however, commended the Edo State government for mainstreaming women in governance, particularly, the appointment of female Special Assistants on Gender.

    Read Also: Int’l Women’s Day 2015: IFAD-RUFIN empowers rural women for better livelihood

  • Time is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Lives

    Time is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Lives

    Statement by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women for International Women’s Day

     

    This year’s theme captures the vibrant life of the women activists whose passion and commitment have won women’s rights over the generations, and successfully brought change. We celebrate an unprecedented global movement for women’s rights, equality, safety and justice, recognizing the tireless work of activists who have been central to this global push for gender equality.
    What we see today is a remarkable gathering of strength among women all over the world, demonstrating the power of speaking with one voice, as they call for opportunity and accountability, drawing momentum from grassroots networks and coalitions that stretch right up to government leadership. These movements grow from the work of multigenerational activists—from the late feminist human rights leader Asma Jahangir of Pakistan, to the powerful new generation represented by young women like Jaha Dukureh of The Gambia, UN Women’s Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa on ending FGM and child marriage.
    Healthy societies have a wide mix of voices and influences that provide the checks and balances, the differing threads of experience and perspectives, and the debate that shapes good decision-making. Where voices are missing, there is an important gap in the fabric of society. When those quietened voices count in the millions, we know there is something wrong with our world. Similarly, as we see and hear those voices rise in strength and solidarity, we feel the power of something right.
    We salute those who have bravely spoken out to gain access to justice, such as those from the #MeToo movement, who in recent months have found their voice in social media in more than 85 countries to expose those who have preyed on the less powerful and shown how when women support one another, they help to overcome stigma and ensure that their stories are believed.
    We commend the women who spoke out in the International Criminal Court where their testimonies have held to account those who used rape as a weapon of war. We celebrate activists who campaigned for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, and we recognize those who advocated for legal reform in countries such as Tunisia, to end a provision that allowed rapists to escape persecution if they married their victims. We acknowledge those who have taken to the streets in India to decry the murder and rape of young children, turning protests into broader-based movements that engage entire communities. We honour the indigenous leaders who have stood up for their custodial rights to land and traditional practices, and the human rights defenders who have even lost their lives for their cause.
    The feminist movement must continue to increase the diversity and the number of people working on gender equality, bringing in individuals and groups—such as men and boys, young people and faith-based organizations—to support and shape the agenda, so young men and boys learn to value and respect women and girls and so men can change the way they behave. Today’s activism needs to alter the way we listen to women and the way we look at them, recognizing the power of stereotypes to influence how we value people. A movement of women that can address these issues is critical, but we also need a movement of male feminists.
    This has to be a tipping point; an end to impunity and the silent suffering of women in rural and urban areas, including women domestic workers. Today’s activists must empower those most likely to be left behind, the majority of whom are women, as our latest report, Turning Promises into Action reveals. Across all regions, women are more likely to live in extreme poverty than men. This gender gap is as high as 22 per cent for the 25 – 34 age group—women’s peak reproductive years, starkly highlighting the dilemma so many face of reconciling income with care—for which policy change and action is so needed.
    UN Women has a special relationship with the women’s movement; we arose from that activism. Civil society has had a historically crucial role in leading global action on gender equality by promoting reform, highlighting the complexities of the challenges facing women, influencing policies, participating in monitoring, and upholding accountability. We must deliberately create stronger support for women’s political activism and a broader space for women’s civil society voices so that our efforts combine to target those who truly need change most. The culture of gender-based poverty, abuse and exploitation has to end with a new generation of equality that lasts.

  • Hard Journey to the Boardroom

    Hard Journey to the Boardroom

    By Yetunde Oladeinde for The Nation

    The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day was Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030. Around the world, women and men were invited to pledge their utmost efforts in achieving workplace gender parity by 2030.

    Sadly, in many parts of the world this remains an ambitious plan, notably in our native Nigeria. Walk into any boardroom in downtown Lagos or Abuja and it will be overwhelmingly male-dominated. Just what is stopping our Nigerian sisters from breaking the glass ceiling?

    The feminist movements of the 1960s and 1970s mean that in many developed countries, women have been pouring into the workplace for over 40 years.

    Yet the unfortunate reality is that Nigeria has been left lagging behind. In fact, a quick glance over the first 20 listed companies on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) reveals that seven of the listed companies don’t have a single woman on their board, and that five have only one woman each.

    Erelu Angela Adebayo, former first lady of Ekiti State and the first ever chairwoman of WEMABOD Estates Limited (one of Nigeria’s leading real estate firms) said: “I have been chairman of WEMABOD, chairman of Afriland Properties, board member of Dangote Foundation and many more. And in all of them, I am the only woman and it makes me think that I am a token woman.”

    Whilst the Nigerian economy has exploded and our industry has been catapulted into the 21st century, attitudes towards gender roles are deeply rooted in traditions and we raise our daughters accordingly.

    University education is very important to Nigerians—in elitist circles a Master’s degree from a foreign university will deem you excellent wife material, but not necessarily capable of holding your own in a company boardroom.

    The mentality in Nigeria simply doesn’t accommodate young women who come out of university keen to get going on establishing high-flying careers. As renowned Nigerian author and outspoken feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said on society’s attitudes to young women, “You can have ambition, but not too much, otherwise you’ll threaten the man.”

    The harsh reality is that we Nigerians raise our daughters to believe that they aren’t capable of reaching the same heights as men.
    Encouragingly, in spite of such circumstances and mentalities, organisations are popping up across the country to foster female leadership and help women climb the career ladder.

    One such initiative is Women in Successful Careers ( WISCAR ), created in 2008 by renowned Nigerian businesswoman Amina Oyagbola. WISCAR, based in Lagos, offers young professional women strategic guidance and support to assist them in better navigating their career pathways.

    WASCAR

    During her 25-year-long career, Oyagbola has noticed that without advice on how to navigate the corporate world, young professional women become confused and isolated, and suffer a loss of confidence in their ability to overcome these challenges.

    In response to such downfalls WISCAR provides young women with a one year long mentoring plan conducted by top-level professionals, and advocates for gender friendly policy in the corporate world.

    Women who do manage to make it to the top ranks of companies initiate positive change in both the corporate world and society as a whole. Indeed, female managers and CEOs are deemed more trustworthy and collaborative than their male counterparts.

    Nigerian economist Mrs Dr. Nike Akande noted: “They [women] possess very strong business ideas and seek to share their business ideas with others who may benefit from their discoveries.”

    Women are also better problem-solvers and mentors to young colleagues—benefitting the future of the company.
    Promisingly change is on the horizon, notably in the traditionally male dominated banking sector of Nigeria. Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, the Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, put into place a policy stating that 40 percent of the bank’s top management and 30 percent of board directors should be women during his tenure at the CBN—which lasted from 2009 to 2014.

    “I am a very strong believer in diversity, be it gender, ethnic or religious, but I believe it can never be achieved by sacrificing merit and competence,” he said.

    What remains clear for the moment is that Nigerian women are highly capable professional women, pushing for change in a patriarchal corporate world that is slowly beginning to shift.

    How do we speed up the process of obtaining better gender equality in the professional world? Whilst this may remain a tricky question to answer, one possible option may be to take a page from the Nigerian banking sector’s book.

  • Sterling Bank marks International Women’s Day

    Sterling Bank marks International Women’s Day

    Sterling Bank Plc has launched a new proposition known as ‘One Woman’ to commemorate the International Women’s Day with theme ‘Be Bold for Change.’

    The product was launched by the Chief Executive Officer of DO.II Designs Limited, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo at a well -attended ceremony in Lagos.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs. Ighodalo said the significant number of women in Nigeria’s population has made it imperative to deliberately focus on the needs of women to ensure sustainable economic development and growth.

    She said the business case for targeting women was simple as they are the more excluded gender as 21.4 million females, which represents 42.7 per cent of the total female population are financially excluded while 15 million of these women are not earning income frequently.

    Mrs. Ighodalo who is also the wife of the Chairman of the Bank, Mr. Asue Ighodalo said, “This provides a huge opportunity for structural changes within the economic and financial system if we pay attention,” remarking that, “to enable us to make an impact, we must reach as many women as possible.”

    “At Sterling Bank, we are moved not just by the statistics before us but by the stories we experience to make a difference in the lives of women through financial access. This is the premise on which we are here today. To be the platform that provides a space for women to thrive, to be heard and live the best of their lives.”

    In her address of welcome, Mrs. Egbichi Akinsanya, an Executive Director of the bank said the One Woman was designed to make the women of the past proud; the women of the now, inspired, and provide the women of the future with hope.

    She said the theme of the programme, ‘Living a Legacy’ was also apt as it challenged everyone to celebrate the women in their lives as the foundations of communities and challenged women to make great impact in the lives of those around them.

  • Visualisation: Women’s Day – Gender wage gap

    Visualisation: Women’s Day – Gender wage gap

  • FG vows to protect women’s rights

    The Federal Government on Wednesday promised to protect the rights of women in the country.

    The assurance was given in a message by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo as part of activities marking the 2017 International Women’s Day.

    A statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, reads: “On International Women’s Day, I would like to, on behalf of the President, Government and people of Nigeria, recognise and appreciate the very valuable work done, and role played by women in our country, over the years, since the struggle for independence.

    “We acknowledge and value the contributions women are making to national development. They do this daily working within and outside the home as well as in public life. Indeed they sometimes are the sole providers for their families.

    “To strengthen the economic capacity of Nigerian women, President Muhammadu Buhari personally ensured that the sum of N1.6 billion was set aside for the National Women’s Empowerment Fund – the Jarin Mata fund.

    “This administration also established, as part of its Social Investment Programme, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) which provides interest-free soft loans to artisans and traders. At the moment, 60 per cent of beneficiaries under the GEEP programme are women.

    “While we have made some progress over the years connecting women and girls with opportunities, there is still so much more to do. We must strive to use our laws, cultural and religious institutions as well as our resources to empower women, give them opportunity, and protect their rights to a safe, healthy and stable life in our country.

    “This administration remains committed to ensuring the protection of all women including from all forms of gender-based violence especially those living in parts of our country where the security situation is difficult and living conditions are challenging. We are determined that Nigerian women will live to fulfill their aspirations in a peaceful and prosperous country.”

     

  • Wives urged to stop unrealistic demands from husbands

    Female lawyers in Abuja have called on women to resist the temptation to make unrealistic demands compelling their husbands to cut corners.

    They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the manner in which some women rebuked their husbands was largely responsible for the widespread corruption.

    They were speaking on the occasion of the International Women’s Day with the theme: “Be Bold for Change’’.

    A respondent, Ms. Mary Akpa, told NAN that women were the bedrock of the society and could do all within their powers to ensure that their husbands live above board while holding public offices.

    “Basically, women have the task of training the children well to be honest, hard working and humble; they groom these children to be shining examples in the society as future leaders.

    “It is agreed that they need finances to handle this task but some women make demands that drive their husbands out to do all sort of things just to satisfy their needs.

    “This must be discouraged because women are known managers and so they should be able to manage whatever legitimate resources their husbands bring home,’’ she said.

    A lawyer, Mrs Alexis Enumah, advised women to be contented with whatever their husbands offered them for their upkeep.

    “I am not saying the men are corrupt because of women but most often, the men are driven to engage in corrupt practices to impress their wives just to have peace at home.

    “So the women should be contented with what the husband is bringing home and not put undue pressure on him.

    “They must also never compare their home with others bearing in mind these popular saying: ` not all that glitters is gold’ and `the sea weed is always greener in somebody else’s lake”, she said.

    Another lawyer, Florence Nwachukwu, told NAN that women should be bold enough to do the right thing when their children were not doing well in school, rather than “paying their way through the nose’’.

    She expressed displeasure at the attitude of some women ever eager to give bribe or push their husbands to do same, rather than tackling the causes of their children’s poor academic performance.

    Nwachukwu also emphasised the need for women to acquire entrepreneurial skills so as to become self-reliant and employers of labour.

    “I think that one major way we can contribute will be to stop the occurrence of sorting either in cash or kind at every level.

    “Stop sorting lectures to pass exams; stop sorting male executives to get jobs and after getting the job, we must be hardworking and not sort to get to the top,’’ Nwachukwu said.

    She said that the pride and dignity of womanhood were much more valuable than material gains, saying that this year’s theme: “Be Bold for Change’’ is a wake-up call to every woman to take a bold step to be part of change for a better society.

    NAN reports that the International Women’s Day, originally called International Working Women’s Day, is celebrated on March 8 every year.

    It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women as well as a call for gender parity.

  • Edo Assembly reaffirms commitment to promotion of gender equality

    Edo Assembly reaffirms commitment to promotion of gender equality

    The Edo House of Assembly on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to continue to promote gender equality through the passage of laws that would protect the rights of women.

    The Speaker of the Assembly, Justin Okonoboh, made the promise during plenary to mark the 2017 international women’s day celebration in Benin.

    Okonoboh noted that the house had passed six bills that affected women and children.

    He listed the bills to include; a law to prohibit Female Circumcision and Genital Mutilation, 1999. And law to make provision for the prohibition of inhuman treatment of widows, 2001.

    Others include; A law to amend the provisions of inhuman treatment of widow (prohibition) law, 2004 and law to provide protection against stigmatisation and discrimination of people living with (HIV/AIDS), 2006.

    He said the House also passed a law to protect the rights of the Child 2007 and a law to establish the Edo State Agency for the Control of Aids, 2009.

    Okonoboh said that the Gender Equality Opportunity Bill,2016 and a Bill for a law to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence against persons were pending.

    According to him, they are before various committees of the House.

    Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, member representing (APC Uhunmwode) Constituency urged Gov. Godwin Obaseki to give top priority to 35 per cent affirmative action in his appointment across the state.

    The affirmative action seeks 35 per cent employment opportunity for women in governance.

     

  • Saraki to women: Be bold for change

    Saraki to women: Be bold for change

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has called on Nigerian women to be “bold for change’’ and work towards redefining opportunities for future generations of women.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Gender Advocacy, Fatima Kakuri, made the call as the world marks International Women’s Day.

    He said that the Day presented an opportunity for every Nigerian to recognise and celebrate the talent and achievement of women and girls.

    “We must appreciate the fact that 49.6 per cent of our mothers, wives, daughters and sisters own or manage 48 per cent of the informal micro-businesses in Nigeria.

    “Such numbers are truly significant because they demonstrate that Nigerian women contribute immensely to our social, economic and political development.

    “In everything that we do, we need to be bold for change. We need to challenge bias and inequality by standing up when women are excluded from positions of leadership,’’ he said.

    Saraki called for synergy between men and women to ensure sustainable development.

    NAN reports that the International Women’s Day is celebrated every March 8 throughout the world to commemorate the struggle for women’s right.