Are Women Truly Better Change Agents?

Although this has been a lingering argument, many analysts believe women can perform better in positions of leadership, to deliver on expectations and ensure transparent good governance to the citizens; if only the men-folk would allow them access to such influential positions. Their thinking is that women are more committed to development and they truly desire change more than their male counterparts. Do you agree with this position, or it is just a myth?

ABIMBOLA AKOSILE

* Wise women are naturally nurturing, conservative and multipliers. They deserve a chance and more leadership opportunities to express their worth especially in Nigeria

– MsNkeirukaAbanna, Lagos

* Women are great custodians of the household in care of food, administration and men. Some women have contributed positively to the progress of humanity e.g. late Mrs. Margaret Ekpo, Prof. Dora Akunyili, Mrs. Janet Mokelu, Mrs. FunmilayoRansome-Kuti, Hajia and Mrs. Maryam Babangida. There are also able Mrs. NgoziOkonjo-Iweala, ObyEzekwesili, and the Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who made history as Africa’s first female president. I therefore agree that women are much committed to development and they are truly change agents more than male counterparts, loaded with valuable potentials.

– Mr. Michael AdedotunOke, Founder Michael AdedotunOke Foundation, Apo, Abuja

* This has been my preaching for over 20 years!

– Mrs. OlutayoBankole-Bolawole, Regional Director – East Africa, WaterAid UK, Kigali, Rwanda

* A wise man once said: educate a man and you have educated an individual, but educate a woman and you have educated a nation. Perhaps our greatest problem as a nation is that we have allowed our society to get to our women. Giving women more opportunities than before will most likely change nothing. What we need is reorientation leading to a general change of mindset. Without that, even angels will achieve nothing in this theatre of chaos.

– Mr. John Ogunsemore, Lagos State

* Evidence abound. Home and abroad; check it out.

– Mrs. AderonkeAbimbola, Abuja

* Being a change agent has absolutely nothing to do with gender. Being a change agent is an individual, independent decision totally unconnected to gender. This claim that women make better change agents has no place in the development of society. Everyone irrespective of gender can/should pick up the gauntlet and contribute to the positive development of society.

– Mr. UtibeUko, Uyo, AkwaIbom State

* Yes, women are truly better change agents. As natural managers ab initio women nurture and manage babies, juveniles, husbands, homes, parents, in-laws, sick and old relatives etc. They work under complex and hazardous conditions easily, etc. ObyEzekwesili, Okonjo-Iweala, FunmilayoRansome-Kuti, RuqquayatRufai, and Queen Amina of Zaria e.t.c are female legends of repute. Empowered women will take Nigeria to the next level.

– Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State

* It is the matter at stake that shows whether or not women are better change agents. In Nigeria, as far as the political scene is concerned, I think lots of people will intone that women have not done too well. But at the level of nurturing the family, you don’t need to look beyond the exploits of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. Commendably, women do not squander credit.

– Mr. E. IheanyiChukwudi, B.A.R., Apo, Abuja

* No, I don’t, and that is not because women don’t have quality; rather it is because there isn’t much difference between the genders! That is what my learning and experience has shown!

– Mr. KayodeKetefe, Legal Practitioner, Lagos State

* Notwithstanding Madueke’s acts as minister, it is time Nigerians give women the presidency position to know whether they can take Nigeria out of the woods of corruption and other vices in governance. We should give women 80 per cent of the positions in 2019 general election to try them in governance because our men have failed to deliver good governance.

– Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State

* Yes! We can perform better, but that does not mean women cannot loot, only very few honest female leaders like late Dora Akunyili.

– Miss Janet Adeyemi, Calabar, Cross River State

* Yes, they are better committed, the men will not allow them due to tribal, custom, religious beliefs or better in the kitchen and in the room, very few men will allow their women.

– Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna State

* It’s not the gender of those charged with driving the change that matters, but the creation of an enabling environment. So long as the present structure which allows looting and financial mismanagement with impunity exists, even angels would fall from grace serving Nigeria. Let there be strong institutional changes and punishments should be meted out to all those who run afoul of the laws.

– Mr. Yommi Oni, Paris, France

* Yes, women are truly better change agents. They can perform better in positions of leadership, to deliver on expectations and ensure transparency of good governance etc. Women are more committed to development and they truly desire change more than their male counterparts if only the men-folk would allow them access to such influential positions. Give women the chance.

– Mr. ApejiOnesi, Lagos State

* Men and women are generally a product of the society that produces them. If the men in a society are corrupt, the women are likely to be corrupt as well. Recently, the seizure of assets worth millions of dollars from a former female petroleum Minister is a pointer to this. In our society, there is no difference between youth and the old, men and women, rich or poor, religious or not, we are united in being highly susceptible to acting corruptly if given the opportunity. The solution for Nigeria’s corruption problem lies in strengthening the blocking of leakages approach.

– Mr. BugaDunj, Jos, Plateau State

* In fact it is just a myth to say women are truly better change agents. In the first place, women leaders want respect up to the extent of wanting to be worshipped. Women naturally cause men to be corrupted as most of the loot is shared on them while her own looting is just on her and her choice relations. Well, I am talking of the majority as there could be one out of ten that is good.

– Hon. BabaleMaiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna

* Women are better change agents because they are more focused and don’t get easily distracted like men. Women also handle their roles in the development process with greater determination to succeed, unlike men who do not come under such close scrutiny. Women leaders around the world like Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and Angela Merkel of Germany fit easily into this mould of achievers.

– Mr. OlumuyiwaOlorunsomo, Lagos State

THE FEEDBACK

Yes, they are: 10

No, they are not: 2

Others: 5

Radical tip: Female President!

Number of respondents: 17

Male: 12

Female: 5

Highest location: Lagos (6)

Next Week: Is Restructuring the Missing Devt Link?

Although the current administration, under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), set up a committee look at the issue of restructuring, a firm final stance is yet to be taken by the central government. However, many analysts and personalities believe Nigeria must be restructured along various lines to ensure rapid and equitable development. In your own view, is restructuring the missing link to spur this country’s retarded development process?  

Please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (Aug 24& Monday, Aug 28) to abimbolayi@yahoo.com, greatbimbo@gmail.com, AND abimbola.akosile@thisdaylive.com. Respondents can also send a short text message to 08023117639 and/or 08188361766 and/or 08114495306. Collated responses will be published on Thursday, August 31