Quantity surveyors target gender equality in construction industry

Quantity surveyors under the aegis of Women Association of Quantity Surveyors of Nigeria (WAQSN) have expressed their determination to ensure gender equality in the construction industry.

They spoke at a recent one-day workshop to celebrate 2021 International Women Day in Abuja. “As professionals in the construction industry, we cannot give up, not now, not ever; we must challenge until we see changes and break the barriers that hold us from reaching our targets of gender equality in the country,” according to its Chairperson, Aisha Mohammed.

She explained that women all over the world are celebrated for their contributions to the advancement of humanity in diverse fields of human endeavours.

“These women have a robust spirit, which makes them excel in their respective areas. They deserve all the love and support that the world gives them. They contribute to the lives of their families as well as the country,” Mohammed said.

She noted that women’s resilience in the midst of global challenges and achievements recorded despite all odds, adding that the aim is to focus on issues and problems women are still facing in their respective lives.

She said: This means we have to make choices of changing the narratives and surmounting the challenges to emerge successfully and victoriously. We want to create an inclusive world by removing gender bias and inequality, every woman faces generally.

Also speaking, the President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Mohammed Tor, said there is need for gender parity to be canvassed for the chasm, which still exists in the world as a result of gender inequality, which must be brought to the front burner.

Tor stated, we are evidently gender friendly, and we are committed to amplifying the voices of women by promoting a more inclusive leadership and representation to encourage more women to take part in leadership of the institute.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, observed that there has been an alteration in the world by the entry of women into paid employment as a result of their struggle to achieve economic equality, and develop social roles.

Contributing, Prof. Kulomri Adogbo of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said that gender-based norms ascribe to women the responsibility of carrying out tasks related to household management, which does not diminish when they engage in paid employment.

The university don also pointed that the dual burden prevents women from pursuing their careers as well as attaining management positions at the same pace and rate as their male colleagues in all sectors of the economy.

Prof. Adogbo however noted that Nigerian construction industry is predominantly male and the number of women who do work in the industry is very low and they experience difficulties in developing their careers within the sector.