Emphasis has been laid on the need to strengthen bilateral trade ties between Nigeria and India as 30 Nigerian women in business set for this year’s Women Economic Forum (WEF).
The women will from April 11 to 16 join other leading women entrepreneurs, leaders, and industrialists from across borders in New Delhi, India, to take on issues hampering economic parity, with a view to ultimately foster global connections and collaborations for difference.
In this vein, Godrey Ogbechie, group executive director, Rainoil Limited and one of the
participating women hosted the 30-woman group led by Ebun Feludu, the leader of the Nigerian delegation at the company’s head office in Lekki.
Thoughts were focused on the cross-fertilisation of ideas and harvesting of fruitful business relationships with other women in their various fields of operations.
Ogbechie’s take was that the issue of gender parity and women needed to be considered in the context of ensuring equal opportunities are available for everyone to compete whether in politics, education or leadership among other spheres of life.
She lamented that despite the advancement seem to be made, no woman emerged governor in any state in the recently concluded general elections, while the number of women who made it to the National Assembly has reduced.
Further, she raised concern about few women present in boardrooms or occupying chairmanship positions compared to the total number of women graduates who make it into the entry level of organisations.
“We cannot pretend that women face difficulties in the workplace that men do not generally face especially in Africa. We cannot also pretend that women are not making it to the top as fast as they should because of some challenges they face- some due to ignorance or man-made factor,” Ogbechie said.
“I think anything that is legally okay to make sure that women access the opportunities that will put them at the top just like. The women economic forum is one of the avenues to do so.”
Feludu particularly charged the women to explore partnership opportunities at the forum, saying power lies in support of women by other women. According to her, provisions have been made to ease the process of networking, with special writing kits for proper recording of meetings.
“Every day, I want us to determine to network and establish trade relationships with people. We need to connect.”
Meanwhile, aspirations were in high sprit among women as they looked forward to the conference.
Deola Kamson, CEO of Delabique Garments and Accessories, said she hoped to make contact with Indian designers and manufacturers, with interest in exchange of technology.
Lanre Mosuro, principal consultant at LND Advisors, was optimistic that the forum will provide opportunities for women distinguished in different business sectors, which will eventual translate to more economic growth for the country.
