The World Bank has shown that more than a third of the population in sub-saharan Africa (SSA) live below the poverty line according to a recent report it published inside Africa’s Pulse report. It urges governments in the continent to put in place policies that will quickly address the situation before it gets out of hand.
The Pulse report for Africa shows women have the ability to lead the charge for poverty eradication, as 40 percent of large-scale agriculture labourers on the continent are women.
However, there are still large and persistent gender gaps in productivity and earnings; and they come with significant economic cost. For instance, women produce 33 percent less per hectare of land than men do, and profits earned by female entrepreneurs are 34 percent .
With the presentation of cars to star prize winners in its ongoing bag of goodies promo, Dangote Cement has kept its word and faith with consumers according to national sales director, Dangote Cement, Adeyemi Fajobi.
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Fajobi was speaking in Asaba, Delta State, at the presentation of the star prize of a brand new car to the winner, Simeon Egualeonan, and specifically commended the people of Delta State and Asaba for remaining faithful to the brand, adding that the promo was a way of saying thank you to the consumers.
Fajobi said the first star prize winner emerged from Warri, Delta State, and today, a second star prize winner had emerged from Asaba, the same Delta State, an indication that the promo was real.
In her remarks, marketing director,funmisanni, declared that Asabawasveryspecialtodangote Cement and remained one of ‘our best customers,’ saying the promo was designed for 21 million people, which is in line with ‘our philosophy of touching lives.’
She explained that the prizes were carefully selected to change the lives of the winners as they were economic goods, saying aside the quality product the company offered, it realised the need to give competitive pricing male entrepreneurs.
Some recommendations the report made to close this gap include building skills for women that go beyond traditional training: including gender-sensitive agricultural extension services; socio-emotional skills training for women in business; and information to support occupational changes across sectors.
The second report is in the recommendations is in securing women’s land rights through the launch of land formalisation programmes; co-titling of land rights in the names of both spouses; and formalisation of existing customary rights will help close the gap.
It also recommended on the need to address social norms that constrain women’s economic opportunities, especially in the areas of appropriate types of work for men and women; distribution of domestic labour; and resource management within households.
