In his keynote on the second day of the 17th Annual Conference
of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), in Lagos at the
weekend, Consul General Bray encouraged the women leaders to continue working
to promote gender equality in Nigeria.
Dwelling on the topic “Unstoppable You: Reinvent &
Reinvigorate” at the event attended by leading women from both the private and
public sectors.
“Nigeria cannot
achieve its dreams of a prosperous and inclusive society without reinventing
its approach to how it is treating the overwhelming majority of the women and
girls that live in this country … It may
be up to you to change the tenor of the national discourse and prod Nigeria to
place education and health, and the status of women and girls higher on the
national agenda.”
Bray lamented that Nigeria is reportedly home to the largest
number of out of school children in the world, many of them girls.
“If Nigeria properly invested in the education of women and
girls, how many more Amina Mohammeds will represent this country on the world
stage? If more women and girls are given
equal opportunities, how many more Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies will be able to
tell stories that enthrall the world?” Consul General Bray asked.
Noting that removing the barriers to women's full economic
participation is key to an inclusive and prosperous Nigeria, he challenged the
conference participants to press for greater involvement by women in the
nation’s politics.
Bray said the current political order in Nigeria does not
offer enough opportunities for women. He added that low female participation in
politics must change if issues of concern to women are to rise in prominence
and draw the interest and resources that they deserve.
“WIMBIZ and various
Nigerian women’s organizations can help Nigeria decide the course of its future
and chart a course that will lead to a more democratic and prosperous nation.
You can start by working to ensure that the 2019 elections are free, fair,
credible, and peaceful. That would be a great start!” Consul General Bray
said.
Uj. N. Dominic/GEE
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Pix (L-R): Chairman, Board of Trustees, WIMBIZ, Ms. Funmi Roberts; United States Consul General F. John Bray; and Chairperson, Executive Council, WIMBIZ, Ms. Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi; during the 17th Annual Conference of WIMBIZ, last Friday. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
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