First lady-designate of Akwa Ibom State, Helen Eno-Obareki, has called for a level playing field for women to get to the heights of their careers by breaking societal and cultural stereotypes against them in leadership roles.
She made the advocacy against the backdrop of the Women Reserved Seats Bill being tinkered with by the National Assembly (NASS).
At the 25th Women in Management and Leadership (WIMLEAD) Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) held at Watbridge Hotels and Suites, Uyo, the state capital, she made a case for healthy competition between the men and women in leadership space.
Eno-Obareki, who was represented by the member representing Uruan State Constituency in the House of Assembly, and chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Dr Itoro Etim, applauded the theme of the WIMLEAD conference “Empowered to Excel: Redefining Leadership, Growth and Balance for Women in a Changing World”.
She highlighted the necessity for men to provide equal opportunities for women to thrive in leadership roles and for women to support each other in their journeys to success.
The acting first lady emphasised that her father, Pastor Umo Eno, “a gender sensitive and responsive Governor, has already begun breaking stereotypes in his administration by appointing women to leadership positions, allowing them to voice their opinions and contribute to building A STATE TO be reckoned with.”
In his welcome address, the president and chairman of the Institute, Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (rtd), recalled that the WIMLEAD conference, which has been held annually for 25 years, has provided a platform for women in management and leadership positions in both the private and public sectors “to converge, share experiences, discuss and forge the way forward on issues that directly affect them at home and in the workplace.”
Commodore Ayuba emphasised the urgent need to dismantle barriers and biases against women in their pursuits, “to break the glass ceilings,” noting that despite the exceptional performances of women in various fields, they still encounter discriminations at the highest levels of many professions.
In her keynote address, the Clerk of the State House of Assembly, Mrs. Nsikak-Abasi Orok, expounded on the evolving definition of leadership, stating that leadership has shifted from masculine ideals characterised by dominance, command and power, to focus on collaboration, transformation and compassion.
Mrs. Orok reiterated that women should be allowed to take leadership positions as they bring a unique blend of empathy, strategic foresight, emotional intelligence and resilience as evidenced by the outstanding success of notable women in academia, business, the corporate world, boardrooms and political spheres.
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