The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) hosted a seminar to revel the 2017 International Women’s Day with theme #BeBoldForChange.
The seminar which was themed “Transcending Gender Limitations”, took place on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at the Stock Exchange House, Lagos.
In his opening remark, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NSE, Oscar N. Onyema, OON, stated that promoting gender equality and empowering women was a priority for the Exchange.
“At the NSE, we promote a working environment that is inclusive for all as we believe that achieving gender equality is paramount to developing the society.
“We have a female to male employees’ ratio of 1:2 and we are working towards improving the numbers. We are proud to host this symposium that allows us every year to bear witness to an exchange of stimulating stories of women’s achievements as well as celebrate what women can do and what women have done.”
The seminar which was graced with the attendance of some celebrated successful women such as Bolanle Awe, Ngozi Edozien, and Betty Irabor amongst others was targeted at celebrating the social and economic achievements of women in different aspects of life while discussing opportunities to accelerate gender equality in Nigeria.
In a keynote address, the first female Professor of History in Nigeria, Bolanle Awe said that the declaration of the demand for equal rights which had been enshrined in the UN Charter of June 1945, define and protect the rights and freedoms of every individuals regardless of race, sex, language and religion.
She stated that an attempt to end gender imbalance between men and women must first be preceded by efforts to transcend gender limitations worldwide.
While a National Gender Policy was formulated and passed in 2006 by the Nigerian Parliament, she argued that little had been done to either remove gender inequalities, ensure gender perspective in policy formation or ensure at least a 30 per cent participation in governance across federal, state or local government levels.
“The most significant role in efforts to transcending gender limitations lie with women”, she told the room full of female participants at the seminar.
“The statistics show quite clearly that Nigerian women still have serious gender limitations in so many spheres.”
According to her education, health and governance were major areas where women are being limited and need to start taking a fore front stance.
She urged women to reject limitations that threaten their chance to perform as excellently in life as the male folk.
On a panel discussion on the theme of the event, panellists Ronke Sokefun, Honourable Commissioner for Urban & Physical Planning, Ogun State; Ngozi Edozien, Founder and Managing Director of Invivo Partners Limited; Betty Irabor, Founder and Publisher of Genevieve Magazine; Tinu Awe, General Counsel and Head, Regulation, NSE; Pai Gamde, Acting Head, Corporate Services Division, NSE shared their unique journeys with participants while engaging in a focused deliberation that further increased knowledge and awareness of the challenges and responses to gender equality in Nigeria.
The International Women’s Day is an annual commemoration on the 8th of March celebrating the social, economic, political and cultural achievements of women around the globe.
It is also a day to shine the light on gender inequality issues worldwide and a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
