By Anthonia Duru, Lagos.
It wasn’t just about female making decision at the boardrooms, female traders and entrepreneurs were celebrated and encouraged for contributing their quota to social economic development. It was the annual symposium put together by Role of Women in Emerging African Democracies(ROWEAD) and Women in Education and Leadership Development Society (WIELDS) with the theme: Women As Co-pilots in The Economic Growth of a Nation.
Initiatior of the annual conference, Adaobi Alex-Oni explained that the theme was carefully selected to showcase women’s achievement and their prowess in different fields. According to her, women are setting the pace in fields which were once dominated by men.
Declaring the conference open, the Chairperson of the event, Barrister Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi encouraged participants to distinguish themselves with hard work. “Do not assume that because you are a woman you are entitlted to some things in life, it doesn’t work that way. As a woman, you are entitled to nothing; you are entitled to your sweat, and to what you can do. This is why you take it by force by distinguishing yourself in your chosen field and career. When you are able to prove your worth with hard work and performance, people will naturally need your service. God created man and woman so that we will have a balance. Women should be able to distinguish themselves, take their rightful place. Most importantly in whatever you do, don’t ignore the men in your lives because they are our biggest supporters”.
The event did not only celebrate women who are helping in creating wealth, it also had seasoned guest speakers who emphasised that managing wealth is as important as its creation. One of the speakers at the event, Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson highlighted the importance of women traders in national economic growth.
While speaking on the topic – Women Traders: The Silent Wealth Creators, Lawson stated that the significant roles of women as major contributors to the world economy of any nation beyond the traditional home front functions as wives and mothers. “The impact women have made in trading and the positive effects which their engagement in commercial activities have hard on wealth creation women in entrepreneurship the place that women occupy in the social development of every society cannot be undervalued at micro, small, medium and large scale levels of commercial activities the impact that women have made is quite remarkable. the involvement of women in commerce have significantly imparted on job creation family sustains and societal development”.
“No doubt female entrepreneurship is a key driver of a country’s prosperity, this is why any government that wants to become outstanding must create the conditions for women entrepreneurs to flourish, countries are investing in their national well being and competitiveness. From time immemorial women have been the driving force behind market place activities, the contributions of women are no longer debatable, across section women have contributed in no little way to the GDP that is the gross domestic product. greater female employment have direct implications for household disposable income and savings which have a triple down effect on what is spent on education and health. Women owned businesses are one of the fastest growing segments of small businesses in Nigeria, today women own almost 30% all businesses in Nigeria. Women entrepreneurs contribute to the high economic growth”.
Mr Ameachi Okobi dwelt on the essentials of maximizing our inner ability to attract goodwill and wealth to ourselves. Other speakers were Professor Abiola Awosika gave a presentation on the role of education in enhancing women’s participation in politics and democracy noted that women are pilots in their own rights. Emphasizing on how important it is for women to be at par with the rest of the world in digital compliance, Professor Awosika highlighted that when women are educated and they are exposed they managed challenges better.
In her key note address Ilyasah Al Shabazz gave a presentation titled women as peace seekers creating enabling environment for economic growth, said that peace is paramount for any human society to succeed and sustain its existence. It is important that we teach our children more especially our young adults to taught morals and lesson that help them appreciate their history and ultimately guide them to unleash the beauty within them as always women are the co-pilots in this course”. It is important to note that as we clamor for change every day of our lives, in every environment that we find ourselves, it is important to realize that this change we clamour must start from us. We must be the change we seek to see in our nation, family and human existence.
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