SWAN Tasks Professionals on Entrepreneurship, Resilience

 Omolabake Fasogbon

Amid rising inflation and economic uncertainties, professional women have been charged to up their game and embrace entrepreneurship to cushion the effect of present realities on their family and society at large. 

The women were also charged to rise up against challenges and limitations presented by the Nigerian environment and leadership to reach for the sky. 

Speaking at the maiden symposium of the Society of Women Accountant of Nigeria (SWAN), Ilupeju/Gbagada & District Society (IGDS) wing, Group Head, Strategic Tax & Compliance, Dangote Industries Ltd, Dr Titilayo Fowokan described women as asset to national development who should always aim for growth and fulfillment. 

Addressing the conference’s theme, “The Total Women: Navigating from Comfort Zone to Growth Zone”, Fowokan who is also the General Secretary of IGDS asserted that most women are likely to remain in comfort zone because of the challenges associated with navigating to growth zone. 

According to her, human beings at some point in life will encounter different phases such as comfort, fear, learning, and growth, respectively. She encouraged them to approach each zone with optimism as it may be difficult to navigate through. 

“Certainly, each zone presents one with new opportunities for development, resilience, adaptation, and fulfillment. From statistics, women still need to work twice as hard to level the playing field and achieve success.  While growth zone can be uncomfortable and intimidating at times, it is a place where we are able to make the most progress and achieve the most success,” she said. 

To Managing Partner, Adebola Babajide Prof. Services, Adebola Babajide, leaving the comfort zone also required women to take up extra challenge other than their regular routine job. 

Stressing entrepreneurship and new skills, Babajide enlightened on how women can effectively manage ‘side hustle’ with their salaried job without gaps. 

Noting that most marital breakdowns were due to financial problems, she opined that an entrepreneurial woman would naturally earn the love of her spouse and engender financial independence of others in society. 

For the pioneer Chairman of IGDS, Elder Gbenga Omidiji, mentorship would smoothen the journey to the growth zone. He therefore advised women to go for mentors who share their views and dreams. 

Earlier, the Coordinator of IGDS-SWAN, Sandra Chinedu- Momah, explained that the conference aimed to prepare women for greater responsibilities by equipping them with relevant skills and knowledge.