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It is my pleasure to be at this august gathering on a special day set aside to celebrate women all over the world. It is commendable that the Nigerian Stock Exchange is joining the rest of the world to celebrate women and highlight issues concerning them. The theme for this year’s Nigerian Stock Exchange organized International Women’s Day Symposium – Private Sector Action to Advance Gender Equality and Sustainable Development, is apt at this time in the socio-economic life of Nigeria as a sovereign State. This theme, in consonance with the International Women’s Day 2016 campaign theme - #PledgeForParity is a call to action for both men and women to take concrete steps in fast tracking the movement towards parity, equal opportunities and elimination of all forms of violence against women and as well as discrimination between men and women in all human endeavour. The journey has been tough and rough and it is still a long way to go for the human race to achieve this much desired equality and equity. But looking back to the recognized official beginning of this quest, a lot has been achieved and therefore, no effort must be spared to bring forward issues relating to the wellbeing and socio-economic inclusion of women and the girl-child.
The International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe. Since those early years, International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas. Increasingly, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities as well as encourage younger women to brace up for the challenges ahead.
The first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States on 28th February, 1909. The Socialist Party of America designated this day in honour of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.
Between 1910 and mid twentieth century several women movements have designated specific days to rally in terms of building support for women’s rights, achieving universal suffrage for women, right to work, right to vocational training and end to discrimination in work places.
The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8th March during International Women’s Year of 1975.
In December 1977, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.
Also, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly. Described as an international bill of rights for women, it was instituted on 3rd September 1981 and has been ratified by 189 member States.
Articles 1 to 16 of the convention highlights the right of women to equality and equity in areas of legal protection by the State, economic, social and political participation, nationality, family life and fundamental human rights. Despite the ratification of this convention by Nigeria in June, 1985, we are yet to full domesticate its provisions as our laws are still replete with discriminatory provisions against women and many retrogressive customs and traditions are still in practice in many parts of Nigeria.
The Goal number 3 of the now rested Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was another effort from the global community to ensure issues of gender equality. Goal number 3 was about promoting gender equality and women empowerment. The MDGs are the eight international development goals that were established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in the year 2000. All 189 United Nations member states at the time, and at least 23 international organizations, committed to help achieve the eight goals by 2015. Many member states especially the developing countries which Nigeria is an important part of did not make appreciable progress at the expiration of the deadline. Therefore, these countries could not take full advantage of the objectives of the programme.
Despite the perceived advancement by the first world countries on women issues, there is no part of the world where women are completely equated to men. This position was canvassed on the official website of the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2016; which stated that “Worldwide, women continue to contribute to social, economic, cultural and political achievement. And we have much to celebrate today. But progress towards gender parity has slowed in many places. The World Economic Forum predicted in 2014 that it would take until 2095 to achieve Global Gender Parity. Then one year later in 2015, they estimated that a slowdown in the already glacial pace of progress meant the gender gap wouldn't close entirely until 2133”. This assertion is telling us that none of us in this hall may witness the achievement of gender quality in our lifetime.
Then how do we ensure the momentum is increase to make it happen earlier than predicted? The answer is in Pledging For Parity as recommended IWD 2016 website. In the light this, can we all in this hall pledge for parity between men and women?
If we all pledge for parity, then we are all committed human beings to follow the prescription of the IWD 2016 website which says –
“Everyone - men and women - can pledge to take a concrete step to help achieve gender parity more quickly - whether to help women and girls achieve their ambitions; call for gender-balanced leadership, respect and value difference; develop more inclusive and flexible cultures or root out workplace bias. Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity”.
Ladies and gentlemen, the challenges faced by women all over the world are more or less the same with little variations depending on the customs and traditions of the people as well as the level of education of the general population. These challenges include:
- Freedom of movement without fear of molestation or unwarranted violence.
- Gendered arrangement of work and care
- Access to equal education, social, political and employment/work opportunities.
- Economic empowerment and entrepreneurial status.
- Harmful traditional practices
- Status in marriage, divorce and inheritance and property laws and regulations.
- Reproductive and sexual health rights
- Burden of proof in investigation and prosecution of crimes against women and girls.
- Indecent portrayal of women in the media
These nine issues may not be exhaustive but if we are able to speak to them in the right language and commit to alleviating them, the world will be a better place for the human race.
It is heartwarming to observe that intellectual studies and discussions on women based issues are becoming fashionable and veritable platforms are being provided to ventilate these issues such as today’s symposium. More civil society organizations including faith based ones as well as relevant government departments and private bodies such as the Nigerian Stock Exchange are joining the struggle to actualise gender equality.
The private sector as represented by the Nigerian Stock Exchange as well as other organizations including professional and regulatory bodies must also join in any way they can to provide platforms for taking critical steps towards elimination of inequalities and discrimination against women and girl child in all facets of our national life.
The private sector is the driver of the economy and the economy impacts heavily on the behavioural pattern of human beings and I believe that the gender issues are more behavioural and traditional than legislative. The implication is that the private sector has a big role to play and moral duty to lead this struggle while government provides legislation and policies to pave the way. No serious and deep rooted sustainable development can take place without addressing issues of gender equality and equity. You will observe that countries that have allowed women to give expression to their innate abilities are progressing faster socio-economically than those still trapped in the old male dominance Milieu.
A United Nations Report of 2014 Titled; World Survey on the Role of Women in Development: Gender Equality and Sustainable Development; encapsulates the incontrovertibility of the positive relationship between Gender Equality and Sustainable Socio-Economic & Environmental Development.
Paragraph two of the preface to the report stated that:
“Linking gender equality with sustainable development is important for several reasons. It is a moral and ethical imperative. Efforts to achieve a just and sustainable future cannot ignore the rights, dignity and capabilities of half the world’s population. To be effective, policy actions for sustainability must redress the disproportionate impact on women and girls of economic, social and environmental shocks and stresses. Finally, women’s knowledge, agency and collective action has huge potential to improve resource productivity, enhance ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, and to create more sustainable, low-carbon food, energy, water and health systems. Failure to capitalize on this would be a missed opportunity. Women should not be viewed as victims, but as central actors in moving towards sustainability”.
Domesticating this to the Nigerian situation is a task that must be done. We must re-orientate ourselves to the consciousness that we cannot develop as a nation as quickly as we want and in a sustainable manner if we continue to disregard the question of gender equality and equity. The more we keep our women and girl child down socially, politically, mentally, physically, spiritually, psychologically, economically and in any form, the more we are also keeping our development down in like manner.
Therefore, I wish to urge the business and investment community in Nigeria to utilize every opportunity such as presented by this symposium to seriously do some introspection and come up with useful suggestions to the nation on how to harness the innate capabilities of women by allowing them to flourish just like their male counterpart. Once the business environment is made conducive for women, I can assure you that our country will experience rapid economic boom.
More women than ever before are working and it is very essential to them, their families and the economy that they have access to full and equal employment opportunities, because we found out that women who are successful at their middle ages and later life are those that followed their passions and interest when seeking employment at their early ages. Meanwhile, women themselves must not rest on their oars but ensure they get the required education, attitude, network, and role models to push their career.
Ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion, women in Nigeria are still under one form of discrimination or the other. Our laws still has provisions that discriminate against women. Our political, business and work environment are deliberately made unconducive for women. Many successful women in the area of politics, business and investment, education, entertainment and the like had to work extra hard to achieve their objectives. Perhaps, this is a major reason for the sloppy growth and development of our economy over the years. We have failed to tap and take advantage of the industry of women by not educating them and denying them equal rights and opportunities as the men. It is not too late to start doing the right things to turn around our situation. Meanwhile, the business and investment community has the opportunity to blaze the trail and other segments of the society will follow.
In Lagos State, the government has since the return to democracy in 1999 adopted a number of laws and policies that commits it to the promotion of gender equality and social inclusion. Some of these are Law against Domestic Violence 2007, Childs Rights Law 2007, National Gender Policy 2006, Maternal and Child Care Health Policy. There are also a number of vocational programmes for women and girl child by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation which are efforts towards providing leverage for them to compete and survive within this tough environment. Civil society and private organizations are also collaborating with government in providing empowerment for women such as the Dangote Foundation which is set to empower over 40,000 women in the State.
Finally, I will recommend that organisations and departments that have responsibility to work on gender related issues should endeavour to follow up on action plans with the relevant agencies and departments. Collection and analysis of gender disaggregated data and information for the development of baselines for each sectoral programme should be done. Building, strengthening and maintaining well-resourced data management and information system on women
Must also be of priority. Awareness programmes on issues relating to women, their rights and obligations, particularly on the rural women is essential. As well as management, training and capacity building for women to enable them mainstream issues relating to them in their workplace or society at large.
Mentoring is very important as women gain more in business and work place settings when they can follow the model of a successful woman who has overcome barriers on her way to success.
Thank you for your time and I wish you all a rewarding symposium.
DR. IDIAT OLURANTI ADEBULE
DEPUTY GOVERNOR, LAGOS STATE.
8TH MARCH, 2016
