WIMBIZ Calls For Increase Of Women In Public Leadership

Women in Management and Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) has called for an increase in the number of women in public leadership positions.

WIMBIZ also seeks the passage of gender bills, which will create more inclusion of women in political and appointive positions among other gender equity issues.

Speaking to media in Lagos, the chairman, Board of Trustees of WIMBIZ, Bisi Adeyemi said the organisation over the past 23 years has continued to advocate for the inclusion of women in different spheres of life.

According to her, pushing for change for women is a collective one.

“We all know that we live in a society that is influenced by culture, tradition, religion, among many other factors and the political will is not there,” Adeyemi said.

She noted that a lot of women groups including WIMBIZ have come together to assess every aspect of gender equality within the constitution, saying that if women are well represented in the House, they will be able to push for the passing of the bill.

She added that “looking at the females appointed in the House of Representatives, the figures are lower than in the last four years, so definitely there is a gap. In bridging the gap, one of the things that can be done is to implement the quota system.

“People have always said the quota system does not work but we have seen it work in some countries of the world.

So, we should introduce the quota system in Nigeria for an equitable future, just like what we are seeing in the banking sector.”

Adeyemi noted that “the financial sector’s higher female representation may be attributed to proactive diversity initiatives, such as targeted recruitment efforts, leadership and business development programmes, mentorship opportunities, and flexible work policies targeted specifically towards women.

“Little wonder why over 10 leading banks are currently being led by female CEOS. Other sectors can emulate this success by prioritising diversity and inclusion as strategic imperatives, implementing similar programmes, and fostering a culture that values and supports women’s career advancement.”

Executive director, WIMBIZ, Hansatu Adegbite added that WIMBIZ is a renowned organisation dedicated to empowering and advocating for women’s leadership in Nigeria with the mission is to inspire and empower women to attain leadership positions in business, management and public service.

Adegbite noted that “the future of women’s leadership appears promising both within Nigeria and globally. There is a growing recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion in leadership, which is driving efforts to break down barriers and empower women to take on leadership roles.

“In Nigeria, initiatives like the ones WIMBIZ promotes in line with various government policies are aimed at advancing women’s leadership. With increasing education and awareness, more women are entering the workforce and aspiring to leadership positions in various sectors, including finance, technology, politics, and entrepreneurship.

“Globally, there is a concerted effort to promote gender equality in leadership through campaigns, policies, and advocacy efforts. Organisations and governments are implementing measures to address gender disparities, including quotas, mentorship programs, and diversity initiatives.

“As more women break through the glass ceiling and occupy leadership positions, the landscape of leadership is becoming more diverse, inclusive, and representative of society as a whole. However, challenges still exist, and continued efforts are needed to ensure that women have equal opportunities to lead and contribute their talents and perspectives to shaping the future.”

Member, Board of Trustees, WIMBIZ, Chioma Afe added that the future of work showed that Nigeria has huge aspirations to play in energy transition, technology and innovation, the whole digital blue economy, among others.

She said there was a need to find the gender gap and put in place policies that will open the doors for more women in those areas of focus to close the gap.

She also canvassed for policies in driving formal educational systems, saying that gender gap in Nigeria’s workforce can be bridged through education and policy change.