Experts have advised Muslim women entrepreneurs to ignore the stereotype the society placed on them in a bid to excel in there chosen ventures.
The experts, who spoke at the Muslimah Impact Conference and Exhibition, organised by Bounties Charity Initiative, with the theme ‘Rising Beyond Challenges and Distractions in Today’s World,’ in Lagos recently, noted that, as women and hijabites, the society looks down on them, advising them, to correct this erroneous notion by being the best in whatever they do.
The chief executive officer of Egret Media Concept, Mutiat Olagoke, said, Muslim sisters should strive to excel in their businesses, by being bold, confident and committed, urging them to also be confident in wearing the partial or complete Hijab, adding that, the practice has evidence in the Holy Quran.
According to her, “when you are the best in a business, you would be patronised by buyers. People would not leave or abandon your good products for the inferior products just because you wear Hijab.
“People believe that the attire I am wearing is from Dubai, not knowing that it is made in Akute area of Lagos by somebody who continues to strive for better uniqueness among her peer group. That is what women should strive for.”
Similarly, the executive director of Sisters Chilling, Ola Olabimpe Sanusi, said, those fond of saying that women belong to the kitchen need to be enlightened, adding that, men are naturally meant to be in the kitchen as well.
She said: “whenever the women put to bed, the men take over the domestic affairs at home including cooking. Many Nigerian women saw economic gaps and they filled them up.
“We have few Muslim female doctors in our hospitals today, as a result of the words, ‘women belong to the kitchen,’ if you and I can urge our daughters to engage in the study of medicine at University it would be a great effect on Islam and humanity.”
Meanwhile, the executive director of Hijab Right Advocacy, Mutiat Orolu Balogun, stressed that, the use of the Hijab does not mean that female Muslims do not have better things to establish in society.
Balogun added that, looking at those that engaged in the event’s exhibition, it was glaring that most of the participants were female Muslims who had impacted society positively in one way or the other.
“So, we have gathered here today to tell the Muslimahs in partial or complete Hijab that they should not see the practice as an obstacle to good thought in making the society a better place.
“We should take care of our children and the children of other people and we should also be optimistic that being pious and altruistic are worth rewarding at the sight of Allah,” she pointed out.
The conference showcased innovative ideas of Muslim women in different professions, as there were interactive Sessions addressing the theme of the event.
The event held with the support of some charity organisations to uplift Muslim women with various programmes that explained how their needs could be met, even as the event provided an avenue for the participants with opportunities to hang out with experts in their field of business and profession.
