Stakeholders harp on the need to support women

By Joy Obakeye 

Stakeholders have reiterated the need for more support to women to see an increase in participation across the board.

They disclosed this at the 21st WIMBIZ Annual Conference, themed ‘Firing Forward: The Future in Focus’, recently in Lagos, stressing that women also need to take calculated risks, set targets and be focused.

Speaking at the event, the new Chairman of WIMBIZ BOT, Bisi Adeyemi said, the organization plans to make sure women are empowered and inspired all over the world.

“WIMBIZ is not happy with the number of women in politics. There are not enough women going for politics and we must continue the advocacy to encourage more women.

“We need to support women candidates regardless of their parties in this way, the percentage will increase. We need to keep pushing the theme for this year’s WIMBIZ suggested.

“My team and I will consolidate all that WIMBIZ has been doing in the past. A lot of things that have been institutionalized are to make sure they continue to be better. We continue to partner with like-minded organizations on this journey.”

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Bolaji Dada, who was also at the fourth plenary session said her ministry has touched 65,000 women through its women empowerment programs. 

She disclosed that Lagos State Government will launch a shelter for abused women at Agidinpe before the end of the year alongside a skill acquisition centre so the women can learn different skills to cater for themselves.

According to her: “We have noticed that when women who suffer abuse decide to leave their abusers, many of them do not know where to go and are afraid to leave because the men are most times the breadwinners, so with a skill acquisition centre, they will be able to learn something to fend for themselves going forward,”.

Also, the Keynote speaker, the Award-winning Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie, charged women not to give up on their dreams but keep trying till they get what they want. 

According to her, trying is very important because it takes you from where you are to where you are going. “You may never know if you will succeed or not just keep trying you can surprise yourself. Nigerian women are trying but they need to do more and not give up.”

She advised women to always believe that they can do  and also make room for self-doubt