LCCI charges governmentt on gender gaps closure, women empowerment

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has charged government at all levels on closure of gender gaps for women’s access to property, finance and decent work which are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Reiterating the outcomes of the recent meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the chamber emphasised the need for government to explore available initiatives and deploy needed resources towards the cause of women and children in Nigeria.

Speaking at the yearly conference of the LCCI Women Group in Lagos, on Tuesday, the President of the Chamber, Dr. Nike Akande, said women should be offered equal opportunities with their male counterparts in top government positions and boards of public and private sector institutions, adding that the inhibiting components in land use laws need to be repealed and re-enacted with a view to allow for more women access to land and property for business ventures.

Akande also hinged her position on the fact that the World Bank Group has created the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, which is expected to leverage more than US$1 billion to help unlock the potential of women entrepreneurs.

Themed, “Women as change agents: Towards tax compliant society”, Akande said the conference seeks to urge government to provide an enabling environment for innovative business ideas which are supported by requisite infrastructure to become change agents in the industries and the economy.

“The exit of the Nigerian economy from recession is still seen as being fragile and therefore needs policy interventions that would enhance the capacities of our human capital and invest more in social and human services like education, healthcare and energy.

“In today’s evolving business environment, every female business leader must be prepared to explore her leadership and innovative potential needed to take her and her organisation to next levels of corporate success.

“We must also be ready to lead our organisations or enterprises through periods of disruptive innovation and rapid change. Technology has provided a veritable platform for innovations and high mobility of business transactions across the globe. Women must not shy away from exploring available technology to gain access to larger international markets”, she added.

The Chairperson of the LCCI Women Group, Yeye Agnes Shobajo also advocated increased women participation in socio-economic and political activities so that they can play their roles in poverty reduction and entrepreneurship.