Protocols
I
|
cannot but start this
presentation by expressing my profound gratitude to the organizers of this
event for the honor of choosing me to be the special Guest of Honor at
today`s event.
I also deeply appreciate the opportunity to share my
perspective of how Women can be galvanized and positioned for leadership. I
count it a huge privilege to speak to such a distinguished audience especially
coming on the heels of my christening the biggest container vessel to berth in
West Africa, Maersk Calabar. This, to me, is one of the rarest honors I have
received in recent time. I want to thank the leaders and stakeholders of the
maritime sub-sector of the economy for this honor.
The maritime industry plays the most critical and crucial
role in the life of any country including Nigeria. Water, we all know, is life.
Everything, in fact, our very existence is predicated on water, so are nations
and countries. So, it goes without saying that those of you in this sector are
the live wire of the economy and you should be so treated. You need to be
accorded respect. One this note, I think, you should give your selves a
standing ovation.
Her Excellency Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke |
These are just some of the names of great women that readily
come to mind when issues of leadership regarding women is discussed.
CHALLENGES TO WOMEN
ASCENDNCY TO LEADERSIP:
Women who aspire to leadership positions face challenges
that include competing family demands, inadequate resources, lack of security
and lack of positive media coverage. Women also have their vision of leadership
colored from experiences they go through as young girls, growing up in a
society characterized by gender inequalities.
GALVANIZING AND
POSITIONING WOMEN FOR LEADERSHIP IN THE SOCIETY
International agreement and conventions have persistently
stressed importance of women`s equal participation in leadership. The 1995
Beijing Platform for Action, for example, emphasized that “women`s equal
participation in decision making is not only a demand for justice or democracy,
but can also be seen as a necessary condition for women`s interests to be taken
in to account. Without the perspective of women at all levels of decision
making, the goals of equality, development and peace cannot be achieved”.
That women being a different perspective in leadership is
not in dispute, as clearly indicated by studies done in other parts of the
world. The question is how can women be galvanized and positioned for
leadership in the society? In answering this question, I would, as requested
share my perspective as Wife of Governor. I have the privilege of marrying a
husband who is naturally endowed with leadership abilities. Over time, I have
learnt quite a bit from him. So when he was elected Governor, my whole
attention was on how I can contribute to making him achieve his plans and
purpose for the state. To do this I initiated in NGO which I call Partnership
Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realization, POWER, to provide leadership
towards harnessing the strength and potentials of women.
In the simplest terms, POWER is about value addition. We use
this vehicle to improve the lives of the women of Cross River State.
Economically, we are putting more money in the hands of woman by strengthening
their businesses, providing access to finance, shearing information and
knowledge, facilitating mentorship for the women.
In five years that POWER has been running, women`s lives
have been positively affected. Scores of women across the state have their
businesses enhance through the micro credit facility POWER is facilitating. The
success story of the micro credit scheme resonated across the country and
earned us awards and recognitions including that from the Central Bank of
Nigeria as Best First Lady in Micro-credit and Agriculture.
POWER strongly advocates that women should work in
partnership to help one another tackle the problems that darken their lives –
poverty, neglect, domestic violence, illiteracy, discrimination, inequality,
malnutrition, disease. I have psyched up the women not only to believe in their
abilities but work to change their world.
The other ways women can be galvanized and positioned for
leadership include:
·
Organizing mentoring programmes
·
There is also need for better understanding by
females on how to engage with the media and get acquainted with issues of
local, national and international concern.
·
The society must embrace policies of inclusion,
where gender forms a central part of this inclusion.
·
Civic education needs to orientate people on
gender equity principles, and should start at an early age during which boys
and girls receive massages that encourage them to aspire for leadership.
this is wonderful
ReplyDelete