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Paul Gbededo, group managing director, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), has appreciated the role of women in critical sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, saying that they should be recognised for their contributions to productivity and other aspects of life.
Speaking at the Flour Mills of Nigeria Women Network (FMNWN) Forum in celebration of the 2020 International Women’s Day (IWD), Gbededo said despite the monumental impact women had had on the world, the numbers showed that there was still a huge disparity in the way the world perceived and treated them when compared to men.
He said, while addressing the theme ‘Each for Equal,’ that in the corporate environment, women earned about 20 percent less than men on the average. He cited data showing that if the range and participation gaps were closed and women were allowed to participate in the labour market at the same level as men, $28 trillion or 26 percent of the global economy would be added by 2025.
He added that excluding women from affairs was expensive, and gender equality should be a cause which everyone most fight.
“We must collectively act to see that the world is not just gender friendly but gender balanced,” he said.
He, however, said that FMN as agents of change was changing the narrative and working towards ensuring equality between the genders. “At FMN, we remain committed to ensuring that our women have the right tools and access to equal opportunities as the men,’ he said.
“Since 2018 when the chairman initiated the FMNWN, we have been taking bold steps to ensure that the FMN woman is on the right track to take up leadership positions in any group,” Gbededo added.
Kulu Abdullahi Sifawa, commissioner, Women Affairs, Sokoto State, said women were gifted with the power to do so much but what they needed were encouragement, opportunity and enlightenment.
“When you encourage a woman, you make them know who they are, you enlighten them and counsel them and you let them realise they can do more,” Sifawa said.
In her remarks, Kemi Oyedele Aro, coordinator, FMN Women’s Network, said while the position of women was being celebrated and recognised, there was still a need to do more in achieving equality in the society.
“International Women’s Day is a golden day celebrating the political, economic, cultural, and social achievements of women. It also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity,” she said.
She said that the FMNWN was also celebrating its first year anniversary, adding that the group had successfully groomed 27 mentees with 13 mentors within its first year, while working to achieve more in the coming years.
Gbemi Faminu
