Group Advises Women To Get Involved In Politics
Women generally and particularly, Professional Women, have been called upon to get involved in politics and attain leadership positions at different levels, to make their impact felt and to overcome bias and discriminations.
The call was made in a communique reached at the end of Women Conference held recently at Cotonou, Benin Republic.
The communique signed by Dr Abiola Adimula, National Chairperson, Society of Women In Taxation (SWIT), Mr Adeshina Adedayo, President and Chairman of Council Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and Mrs. Olaitan Babatunde National General Secretary, SWIT.
Participants at the four days conference were drawn from various professions including Tax practiotional, accountants, lawyers journalists, security personnel among others with the Deputy Secretary General UN, Dr Amina Mohammed and Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and former Minister of Defence and Deputy Governor of Osun State, Erelu Olusola Obada in attendance.
The women pointed out that policies and practices that encourage gender parity should be supported to change the narratives of women in leadership.
According to them, women should deliberately practice excellence because it is in women’s DNA to do well.
“Improved sensitization and awareness programmes on the rights of women will empower women and reduce discrimination.
“Families should support women and girls in the pursuit of education and leadership opportunities, while successful Women should encourage other women by creating room for other women to advance.
“Women are to go beyond other people’s visions and have big dreams for themselves, and should seek alternative investment and should strive to take calculated risks.
“Women should embrace technology in safeguarding their investments and also take advantage of the opportunities available with digitalization and globalization of businesses.
“Government should create an enabling environment for women to thrive and put in place a Trust Fund to combat vulnerability of women and address their peculiar needs.
“Women should be role models to other women and should encourage other women to develop good leadership qualities.
“Professional women should make contributions to national development in their respective spaces
towards building a nation of their dream.”
The women in their communique also urged professional women in leadership should nurture the growth of upcoming generations of women.
According to the communique, women should take good care of themselves and maintain good hygiene and regular medical check up to remain healthy and be in a stable state of mind.
They noted that only qualified, competent and deserving women should be propelled and given a chance in Leadership and Government, adding that women should understand their strength and make it work for their country.
Presentations at the conference were enriched by papers in six different sessions. The lead Paper on “The Roles of Women in Nation Building” was presented by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission
Also, Mr. Adedayo Adesina – CITN President, Dr. Khadijat Yahaya – Lecturer, University
of Ilorin and Mrs. Lilian Okonkwo-Ogabu – Deputy National President, National Association of Women
Journalists (NAWOJ) were Discussants. Barr. Ezinwa Okoroafor, former National Chairperson of SWIT chaired the session.
Highpoint of the conference include excursion to the Songhai Farm, Port Novo, Benin and African cultural night organised for participants.
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