Despite the strides they have made, women have lamented that gender disparities remain persistent, especially in leadership, representation and equal opportunities.
Clerk of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Nsikak-Abasi Orok, said this in her keynote address at this year’s Women in Management and Leadership (WIMLEAD) Conference, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) Chartered.
While speaking on ‘Empowered to Excel–Redefining Leadership, Growth and Balance for Women in a Changing World’, she said that as the world today is experiencing unprecedented shifts, she echoes the urgency of redefining leadership, growth, and balance for women.
According to her, empowerment must be holistic as it involves education, economic access, digital literacy, psychological confidence and a supportive social structure.
She said redefining leadership was about embracing diverse leadership styles where compassion is not weakness and vulnerability is not incompetence.
Orok canvassed the need to raise leaders who are not afraid to be strong and soft, decisive and humble, assertive and inclusive.
To grow as women in management and leadership, Orok urged women to embrace new technologies, methodologies and global trends.
She advocated for policies that create flexible workspaces, support working mothers, and provide equal access to opportunities.
President and Chairman of Council, NIM, Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (rtd), said there was a compelling need to break the barriers and biases against women in their bid to break the glass ceiling and get to the echelon of their career wherever they choose to compete.
Noting that it was time to do away with the stereotypes and strait jackets women have been boxed into, the NIM boss urged that conscious effort must be made by all concerned to encourage women instead of impeding their march to the top.
“I am convinced that women are not asking to be given management and leadership positions but are only demanding a level playing field to compete favourably because they possess all it takes to excel at the top,” he said.
