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They made these calls during the inaugural edition of the
Gender Leader Awards (GLA) which was held in Lagos on Thursday. Being
implemented under the Nigeria2Equal (N2E) program, the GLA is designed to
recognize and celebrate private sector companies leading the way in gender
equality performance. The hybrid event brought together captains of industry,
capital market regulators, policymakers, and investors among others.
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. Therefore, I am proud to
say that Lagos State is at the forefront of these efforts, and we are dedicated
to promoting initiatives that empower women and girls and provide equal
opportunities for all. We know that women face challenges but when they do,
they face them squarely. We have also seen that when women are in the picture,
things move faster, we get value and we see quicker and better results”.
He thereafter commended the companies who participated in
the Nigeria2Equal programme while reassuring that his administration is willing
to partner with more organisations that focus on promoting interest in women
and the girl child in the society and the country at large.
“Your unwavering dedication to reducing gender gaps and
fostering a more equitable workplace serves as an inspiration for us all. As
you celebrate your accomplishment, let us keep instilling beliefs around gender
diversity and continue to challenge the status quo, break down barriers and
ensure that men and women alike have equal opportunity to contribute to the
growth and prosperity of our nation”, Sanwo-Olu said.
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. “We must employ our influence to
advocate for policies and practices that promote gender equality. We must
challenge the status quo and actively work towards dismantling the systemic
barriers that hold women back”, he said.
While Dr. Umaru Kwarainga, Group Chairman, NGX Group 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. We at the NGX, as a platform
where many corporates are listed, are committed to gender inclusiveness and
have issued valued guidelines on disclosure of issues around 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.
“As a regulator, with the mandate of protecting investors,
the SEC welcomes all initiatives that promote investor confidence and enhance the
efficiency of the capital market. I assure you, the SEC has continued support,
engagement and collaboration in providing a level playing field for all listed
companies to thrive,” he said.