ICC, NNEW advocate improved women’s inclusion

The Lagos State government, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) Network of Entrepreneurship Women (NNEW) have joined forces to call for greater inclusion of women in all areas of society.

They submitted to this at this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) event with the theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’, organised by ICC and NNEW in Lagos, where stakeholders highlighted the importance of empowering women and promoting their active participation in various fields.

Lagos Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, emphasised the significance of inspiring inclusion as a means to build a fair and just society.

She stressed the importance of recognising and celebrating diversity while ensuring equal opportunities for women and girls. Secretary-General of ICC Nigeria, Olubunmi Osuntuyi, urged both the government and society to create an enabling environment for women to excel. She emphasised the need for gender balance and opportunities for women to occupy leadership positions without limitations or barriers.

President of NECA NNEW, Funmilayo Arowoogun, encouraged women to be confident, proactive and supportive of one another. She submitted that women possess the necessary skills and capabilities to lead effectively and contribute significantly to the economy and society.

The event featured panel discussions with accomplished women from various fields, including legal advocacy, trade, and design, who shared their experiences and insights on bridging the gender gap and empowering women professionally.

As calls for greater women’s inclusion continue to resonate, stakeholders are hopeful that concerted efforts and collaborations will lead to a more inclusive and equitable society where women can thrive and excel in all endeavours.

During the programme focused on gender inclusion in the workplace, panelists from various fields discussed the challenges facing women in their respective industries.

Among the speakers was Jean Anishere, who highlighted the disparity between male and female advocates in the country. According to her, there are only 35 female advocates compared to over a thousand male advocates. She emphasised the importance of mentoring females in the profession to help them achieve equal representation.

“It is clear that there is still much work to be done to ensure gender parity in the workplace,” she said.