Women’s Group Advocates For Gender Parity In Public, Private Offices

Female politicians, entrepreneurs, and others operating under the aegis of the Cosmopolitan Women Club have urged the federal government, political parties, and firms to prioritise giving equal opportunities to women in public and private offices.

The women who spoke during the 20th anniversary celebration of the club on Lagos Island, where members, partners, and well-wishers gathered to celebrate the milestone, argued that women have the capacity to perform better in any position than men.

The women also disclosed plans to construct public toilets in public places in Lagos, a Neonatal Ward at Massey Hospital, and other projects aimed at aiding development in the state.

Speaking at the ceremony, the chairman of the Cosmopolitan Women Club’s 20th anniversary organising committee, and a former commissioner in Lagos State, Olateju Philips, appealed to the National Assembly lawmakers to pass the Gender Parity Bill.

According to her, removing the disparity barriers is necessary for Nigeria’s development, emphasising that women play a unique role in managing homes, extended families, communities, and public offices.

She stated that true success lies in ensuring everyone remains relevant and maintains a sense of belonging at all times.

“What we expect to be doing for our children, settling quarrels, is not what we should be doing at this level. These are some of the issues that still challenge us as women,” Philip said.
She added that many men shy away from working closely with women because of lingering doubts about women’s readiness.

“Women are there because we serve better than men.

Any time, any day, I will recommend another woman who is qualified for what she is expected to do,” she stated.

While acknowledging that Nigeria remains a developing society where progress can be slow, the chairman urged women to be patient without compromising their dignity and integrity.

Philips advised women to engage men strategically rather than confrontationally, as many had advocated, as a more effective solution to overcome the disparity barrier.

“Stand with your shoulders high and ensure that at the end of the day, you get what you want. If you cannot get it for yourself, get it for the next woman,” she said.

The chairman urged women to remain visible, consistent, and determined, stressing that persistence today secures progress for future generations.

Speaking on the club’s project plans for the next 20 years, she emphasised that its flagship legacy project remains the ongoing construction of the Neonatal Ward at the Massey Hospital.

Also speaking, a member of the Cosmopolitan Women Club, Dupe Akindele, described the anniversary celebration as a fast-paced and successful occasion, expressing deep gratitude to God for making the event possible and for its overall success.

She appreciated the club’s sponsors and donors, including those who were unable to attend physically, noting that their support remained invaluable.