By Vivian Onyebukwa
Africa leaders in different sectors gathered in Lagos recently to share their views on better approach for women empowerment at the just concluded 21st Annual Conference of the Women In Management, Business And Public Service, (WIMBIZ).
The two-day programme with the theme, ‘Women and Civic Duties, Voters’ Attitude And Elections In Nigeria’, focused on how women should evolve, impact the lives of one another, identify partners who are loyal to their causes, and continuously be innovative as they look forward and plan for 2023.
This year’s hybrid event had in attendance over 2,800 female business owners, private sector professionals, public sector leaders, and social sector practitioners worldwide recording the highest number of people attending the conference since its inception.
The programme also featured a report, infomercials and a mini-historical documentary on Nigeria’s suffragettes. The keynote speaker for this year’s conference was Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, an award-winning author.
In her speech, Adichie explained the audacity of trying and believing in oneself and not being afraid of failing or rejection, as the core factors that have helped her writing skills. She stated that dreaming should not only be based on having beliefs but also on having self-doubts that propel one to deeper levels of introspection.
Speaking on ‘audacity of trying’, she urged women to stay focused and be purpose driven, saying there is so much more that women could do despite the cultural beliefs. “It is part of the journey. Every woman needs to keep trying until she is able to create her own table and let people see her. Writing has always been my passion. Despite rejection and depression, I was focused. I did not allow rejection to dictate my life. There is no one who will like you more than yourself. Do not wait for people to like you.We need to make room for self doubt because it is part of the process of making a woman and it is important to try”.
Speaking, the new Chairman, WIMBIZ Board of Trustees, Bisi Adeyemi said that the organization’s plan is to make sure women are empowered, inspired all over the world. “We have lots of programmes that we have targeted for women particularly in the energy sector. The challenge is access to funding, sponsorship. WIMBIZ is trying to increase their capital”.
She added that WIMBIZ is working with different sponsors such as in renewable energy. “We measure and monitor those women who were empowered. We help them access both capital and training”.
Adeyemi also expressed WIMBIZ’s dissatisfaction over the number of women in politics. “There are not enough women going for politics and we must continue the advocacy to encourage more women. We need to support women candidates regardless of their parties. In this way, the percentage will increase. We need to keep pushing the theme for this year WIMBIZ suggested.
On her new role, she said, “I feel humbled. It was never expected. My team and I will consolidate on all that WIMBIZ has been doing in the past. A lot of things that have been institutionalized are to make sure they continue to be better. We continue to partner with like-minded organizations on this journey”.
US Consul General, Will Stevens, while speaking, called for collective efforts to support women achieve their aims. “We need to work together and find solution to the global problem that we face. We need to think of the African solution to climate change, it is something that we can do together but we need to rely on women leaders to do. We need to work together in the area of financing, help Nigeria’s transition to clean energy. This has always been on the agenda of COP 27. We need to do it together and it must be a global perspective”.
High Commissioner of Namibia to Nigeria, Humphrey Geiseb, spoke on ‘Leading Beyond Bother’. He said that he consider Nigeria as the window of Africa to the world because of the population and economy. “We have been working hard to ensure Namibia becomes a place where there is no gender inequality, and voice of every woman and girl will be heard and that was what I was sharing with you. In Namibia, we are happy that we are promoting the woman’s peace and security agenda because women are critical instrument in the attainment of peace and security in the society. We are also working with Nigeria in that regard and this is very important to all African countries.
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, Maureen Tamuno, lamented Nigeria’s inability achieved the 35 affirmative action as a country. “We have always wanted to see women participation in governance. Although, we have made some stride in the past, but there is so much that could be done and we need to think about affirmative action for women, people living with disability because they are like minorities represented in offices and politics. Once we have a diverse group, the decision taken will be robust”.
Chim Chalemera, Country Director for UK Department for International Trade, Lagos, believed that women are unique which is why it is important that they project that to the world. “Women need to do more when it comes to believing in themselves and building a social and business network”.
Mahmud Tukur, CEO, Ashgrove Group, regretted that politics has not favoured women as it seems a-no-go area for them, but however observed that more women are taking their places in various sectors. “We need to continue to push for the affirmative action because women always bring different perspective to debate. Sometimes, when too many men are in the room, ego sets in but women calm the temper by bringing different perspective.Women bring competence, loyalty and when men are quick to decision making, they look inwards and that is why their involvement on the board of trustees of management is important”.
Mokutima Aijileye, Managing Director, Procter and Gamble Nigeria, harped on gender sensitivity for change. She stated that women need to up-skill and be ready for the challenges ahead, which is the only to avoid being pushed to the corner.
Hansatu Adegbite, Executive Director, WIMBIZ, speaking on the theme, “Firing Forward-The Future In Focus”, said the theme reminded women to be focused all the time. “One of the things women need to do is to stay focused on where they are going, where they are and where they want to be without minding limitations, when you focus on yourself, you keep moving until you get there. Women should endeavour to get more knowledge, capacities and surround themselves with the right people”.
She urged women to shun voter apathy, saying women should not think that their votes do not count. They should get involved.
Other notable speakers at the conference were the Conference Chairperson – Osaretin Demuren, UN Women’s Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS – Beatrice Eyong, Lagos State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation – Bolaji Dada, Ambassador of France to Nigeria and ECOWAS- Emmanuelle Blatmann, Canadian Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria- Teshome Nkrumah, and Adenike Funke Egbemode, immediate past Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Osun State, among others, who served as discussants on various plenaries at the conference.
WIMBIZ was presented with the United Nations ‘Outstanding Corporate Governance and Sustainability Award’, in recognition of her mandate to empower women to proactively build the future they desire against all odds. The award was announced at the conference.
2020 is also a year of handover to new set of leadership of the organisation. WIMBIZ announced its new Board of Trustees members who will continue to ensure the organization’s sustainability and maintain its performance. They are Adebisi Adeyemi, CEO, DCSL Corporate Services Ltd; Dr. Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, Publisher, Clever Clogs Books; Chioma Afe, Head Marketing, and Communications, Access Bank Group; and Aishah Ahmad, Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Others are Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, Chief Commercial Officer, Mixta Africa; Ebisan Akisanya, Contracts Advisor, Chevron Nigeria Ltd; Osayi Alile, CEO, ACT Foundation; Juliet Ehimuan, Director, Google West Africa; and Dr. Celestina Eke, Branch Head, Quantity Surveying, Federal Ministry of Works & Housing.
Also included are Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, Head Client Coverage, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Ltd; Furera Isma-Jumare, Director General, Jigawa State Investment Promotion Agency; Dr. George Nwangwu, Managing Consultant, Ratio Consulting Ltd and Niyi Yusuf, Managing Partner, Verraki Partners.
WIMBIZ is a Non-Profit Organisation that implements programs that inspire, empower and advocate for more excellent representation of women in leadership positions in public and private sectors. Since 2002, the organisation has collaborated with credible indigenous and international global organizations to deliver programs influencing over 304,037 women. As of August 2022, WIMBIZ had a contributory associate pool of over 1,562 accomplished women, and about 28,787 women in its database.