Female lawyers pledge to promote womens’ right, gender disparities

Female lawyers under the auspices of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF), at a two-day conference in Abuja, sought practical solutions to challenges facing women in the profession.

At the conference, with the theme, ‘Tech Her In: Innovating for Gender Equality’, women lawyers also brainstormed on ways to improve the growth of women in the legal profession through innovative technology.

In a welcome remark, NBAWF chairperson, Chinyere Okorocha, said there is now a rising awareness on the challenges women face at the bar and various careers.

According to her, women are faced with such challenges as gender inequality, discrimination and lack of representation in leadership posts and other areas of the legal profession.

A keynote speaker and a special assistant to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwale, stressed the need for women in legal profession to take advantage of the available technology to improve delivery of legal services.

On her part, an associate professor of law, Caleb University, Lagos, Dr. Foluke Olayemi Dada, said female lawyers, by embracing technology, could accelerate their growth in the profession.

She said: “To meet the challenges of the changing world, female lawyers must position themselves to take up opportunity that digital technology and innovation present.

“Online experience and opportunities are crucial for women to advance both their career and family life in achieving a work life balance and overcome many of the hurdles that increase the rate of attrition that prevent them from getting to the peak of their profession.”

A panelist, who reacted on the theme: ‘Accelerating Her Career Through Technology’ and a former Attorney General of Ekiti State, Wale Fapohunda, said technology alone cannot stop the gender gap. He advised women to rise up to the challenges of self-improvement in law profession and aspire to higher offices.

According to him, there is currently a gap in data of women in the profession, and therefore, there is a need to keep appropriate of women who are making progress and their challenges.

Another panelist on the theme: Equity Unveiled: What Does Equality Mean,’ Hajiya Maimuna Abubarka stressed the need to balance equity and equality by employers in the workplace.

The NBAWF yearly general conference and the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations are aimed at celebrating the achievements of women and also highlight the ongoing struggle for gender equity.