Opportunities for Women: SEC, IFC, Others Renew Call for Gender-focused Initiatives

Kayode Tokede

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have renewed the calls for more gender-focused initiatives that will create increased opportunities for women in leadership, employment, and entrepreneurship in the Nigerian private sector.

They made these call during the inaugural edition of the Gender Leader Awards (GLA) which was held in Lagos over the weekend.

Delivering his keynote address, Sanwo-Olu, while commending the IFC and NGX, said the programme is transforming the landscape for gender equality across the nation. He noted that no nation can achieve its full potential without harnessing the full opportunity women present.

According to him, “Gender equality is not only a normal imperative, but also an economic necessity, as it is essential for sustainable development and the overall prosperity of our nation.”

Earlier in her opening remark, the Regional Director, Central Africa, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, Dahlia Khalifa, citing a World Bank report, said the global economy suffers a staggering loss of $172 trillion and that is due to the disparities in lifetime earnings between women and men, a loss that all economies are suffering.

 “When there is an ecosystem that provides equal opportunities for women and men, more women thrive and that can contribute more meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic growth. Increasing women’s participation in leadership positions can foster diversity”, Khalifa said.

Corroborating Khalifa, the Chief Executive Officer, NGX, Temi Popoola, said that as a leading multi-asset exchange catalysing Africa’s sustainable development, NGX’s commitment to business practices that support diversity and inclusion is resolute.

Popoola stated that all stakeholders in the market and society at large have a responsibility to drive change not only within organisations but in society at large.

The Group Chairman, NGX Group, Dr. Umaru Kwarainga in his remarks said, “The population of our country Nigeria is almost equally divided between the male and the female gender and we cannot afford to leave either gender behind if our country Nigeria is to move forward. It is therefore very important that every organization puts in place policies or practices that encourages diversity and gender inclusiveness.”

In a goodwill message, the Director-General, SEC, Lamido Yuguda, who was represented by Deputy Director, Exchanges at SEC, Mahmud Mukthar, lauded NGX and IFC’s efforts and called on companies to engage in activities that promote gender equality and the creation of more opportunities for women to ensure a more inclusive capital market and the economy as a whole.