A stakeholder roundtable, hosted by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) in collaboration with Co-Impact, was gathered in Lagos to explore opportunities for enhancing women’s economic leadership in Nigeria. Bringing together notable figures from government, civil society, and the private sector, the event was a platform to discuss policy reforms necessary to enhance women’s roles in the economic environment. Prominent participants included Shyllon Olufunke, the Lagos State Director of Women Affairs, and Adeola Adenikinju, the President of the Nigerian Economic Society.
They collaborated to review the latest research from PIC, emphasising the challenges and prospects for ladies in economic management positions. During her inaugural speech, Gladys Onyango, the Associate Director of Programs for Africa at Co-Impact, emphasised a crucial female economic role. She praised the PIC for its initiative in organising the event and stressed the need to eliminate systemic barriers affecting ladies’ progress in management roles. Onyango reaffirmed the shared dedication to transforming the nation’s economic structure, ensuring that female administration is recognised as a norm instead of an exception.
Gender equality, including support for disabilities, was emphasised.
During the roundtable discussion, Shyllon Olufunke emphasised the need for a targeted focus on the distinct difficulties encountered by females with disabilities. She pointed out that realising Gender Equality in economic management must include a commitment to inclusivity. Although she recognised several public initiatives designed to enhance female empowerment, Olufunke stated that notable efforts are still necessary to overcome and address societal and institutional barriers. Adeola Adenikinju provided perspective on the lady’s involvement in economic leadership, noting the absence of female leadership at The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) since 1999.
Adenikinju emphasised that despite females occupying almost 50 percent of the top roles within the Ministry of Finance, there has only been one female Chief Economic Adviser to the President. Adenikinju urged immediate reforms to address these deficiencies and advocate increased inclusion of ladies in management. He urged women in high positions to guide the next generation, promoting a more equitable economic future. Dr. Mary Jimoh, an expert in gender studies at the Policy Innovation Centre, shared important insights from PIC’s research, uncovering major limitations preventing females from taking on economic administration in the region.
Factors limiting women from advancing into economic leadership roles.
These issues include societal norms, established gender roles, biases in the workplace, and the inadequate enforcement of gender-related policies. Dr. Jimoh underscored the vital contribution of females to economic development, stressing the necessity for an encouraging atmosphere that promotes their leadership advancement. The roundtable discussions focused on ways to address these limitations. Findings from PIC’s research suggested implementing initiatives to strengthen peer mentoring and networking opportunities for females at comparable stages in their careers, cultivating an atmosphere of support for one another.
Furthermore, the research urged prominent organisations like the Nigerian Economic Society and the Nigerian University Council to adopt gender-equitable policies in professional settings, ensuring fairness for ladies in various industries. The panel discussions provided further insight into current gender policies, revealing notable shortcomings in their application. Participants concurred that tackling these issues demands a comprehensive strategy, including mentorship and training programs for entry-level positions and promoting work-life balance for those in the middle of their careers. At the senior level, the focus was on creating mentorship opportunities and advocacy initiatives where experienced women leaders promote policy changes to support inclusive leadership, thereby facilitating more female representation in high-ranking positions within the economic sector.
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Lastly, the PIC is a notable national program established by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG). It represents Africa’s inaugural formal initiative to promote evidence-based decision-making among governments and stakeholders. The PIC’s mission is closely tied to the NESG’s overarching aim of promoting gender equality and social inclusion by leveraging solutions grounded in research. This roundtable marks an important milestone in PIC’s continuous work towards creating a fair economic landscape for all genders within the country. By advocating for initiatives that nurture women’s development throughout their professional journeys, the PIC seeks to tackle gaps in economic leadership and inspire a future where women can completely achieve their ambitions as impactful leaders.