Nigerian Women, particularly the Professionals among them, have been called upon to increase their participation in politics to enable them to attain leadership positions at different levels and make their impact felt, overcome bias as well as discrimination.
The call is contained in a communique signed by Dr. Abiola Adimula, National Chairperson, Society of Women In Taxation (SWIT), Mr. Adeshina Adedayo, President and Chairman, Council Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and Mrs. Olaitan Babatunde, the National General Secretary, SWIT.
The participants issued the communique at the end of their four-day Women Conference held recently at Cotonou, Benin Republic. The participants were drawn from various professions, including Tax practitioners, accountants, lawyers journalists, security personnel among others, with the Deputy Secretary-General UN, Dr. Amina Mohammed and Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and former Minister of Defence and Deputy Governor of Osun State, Erelu Olusola Obada in attendance.
The women pointed out that policies and practices that encouraged gender parity should be supported to change the narratives of women in leadership, adding that Women should be deliberate in practicing excellence,” because it is in women’s DNA to do well.” “Improved sensitization and awareness programs on the rights of women will empower women and reduce discrimination. “Families should support women and girls in the pursuit of education and leadership opportunities, while successful Women should encourage other women by creating room for them to advance. “Women are to go beyond other people’s visions, have big dreams for themselves, and should seek alternative investment and strive to take calculated risks. “Women should embrace technology in safeguarding their investments and also take advantage of the opportunities available with digitalization and globalization of businesses. “Government should create an environment that would enable women to thrive and put in place a Trust Fund to combat vulnerability of women and address their peculiar needs. “Women should be role models to other women and should encourage other women to develop good leadership qualities. “Professional women should make contributions to national development in their respective spaces towards building a nation of their dream,” the communique added.
The women also urged professional women in leadership to nurture the growth of upcoming generations of women, take good care of themselves and maintain good hygiene as well as ensure regular medical check-ups for them to remain healthy and be in a stable state of mind.
They suggested that only qualified, competent, and deserving women should be propelled and given a chance in Leadership and Government but stressed that women should understand their strengths and make them work for their country.
According to the communique, the Conference was enriched by paper presentations in six different sessions, with the lead Paper on “The Roles of Women in Nation Building”, presented by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission
Mr. Adedayo Adesina – CITN President, Dr. Khadijat Yahaya – Lecturer, University of Ilorin and Mrs. Lilian Okonkwo-Ogabu – Deputy National President, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) were the discussants while Barr. Ezinwa Okoroafor, former National Chairperson of SWIT chaired the session.
The highpoint of the Conference includes an excursion to the Songhai Farm, Port Novo, Benin, and African cultural night, organized in honor of the participants.