Achieving a gender equality status

By Amechi Obiakpu

In March 2022, Nigerian women suffered backlash in their pursuit of gender equity, as five gender bills presented to the National Assembly were thrown out.

The bills sought to advance women’s rights on a number of fronts. These included: providing special seats for women at the National Assembly; allocating 35% of political position appointments to women; creating 111 additional seats in the National Assembly and the state constituent assemblies; and a commitment to women having at least 10% of ministerial appointments.

The rejection of the bills showed that the assembly wasn’t interested in gender parity in politics in spite having 469 members with only 21 women then.

The 2023 election circle did not fare better as the chances of seeing more women representation further dipped. According to Nigeria’s premier gender consulting company, WGC, Kwara State records 20.83% of women representation in the state House of Assembly with 5 seats out of 24 legislators- the highest of the lot. States like Nasarawa (4.20%), Adamawa (4.00%) and Cross rivers (4.00%) with one female representative each out of 24, 25 and 25 total legislators respectively.

States like Abia, Bauchi and Borno among others have zero female representation in their state legislative houses.

Unfortunately, this trend is not limited to politics alone. However, unlike in politics other sectors are gradually accepting the reality that the female gender has as much to contribute to nation building as their male counterpart. This awareness has been made possible by the contribution from Nestle Nigeria and other corporate bodies through increase advocacy and providing opportunities for women in the society.

The world over, an inclusive environment is the foundation for sustainable profitability in every organisation. Such an environment allows all staff to be better, more productive and feel respected and valued for what they bring to the common table.

Attitudes towards equality are evolving, but even today’s younger generation is not immune to gender stereotypes and disparities. Today, inequalities between women and men persist, particularly in various organization and the general job market.

Jesudunsin Osinaike, a lawyer and gender equality advocate believes that, the female gender should be encouraged to play more active roles in leadership, politics and all other sectors as the men to be able to get a balance contribution.

Referencing the number of women in the national assembly compared to the men, she pointed the number was not encouraging adding that more work needed to be done.

“It is a systemic problem. If the system is harsh against you what can you do? That is not to say that women are not coming out or they should not involve themselves more and that is why we are having various training for women to be well represented in politics and leadership positions,” she said.

Equality between women and men is one of the founding principles of the European Union. This has enabled EU to make significant progress in gender equality over the last decades. However, gender gaps remain and in the labour market women are still over-represented in lower-paid sectors and under-represented in decision-making positions.

According to statistics, Nigerian women account for 70 percent of the country’s extremely poor, even though they comprise only 49.3 percent of the general population (IMF Report). The gender gap in economic participation and opportunity remains a significant concern.

Also in the country, women’s labour force participation rate stands at 56%, compared to 80% for men, highlighting a substantial disparity in workforce representation. Additionally, the gender wage gap remains a stark reality, with women earning 45% less than men in similar roles.

It’s worthy of note that, entrepreneurship is often considered a key avenue for economic empowerment, yet women face unique barriers in this realm. Women-owned businesses in Nigeria account for 41% of enterprises, but they tend to be smaller in scale and face challenges in accessing financing and market opportunities. This hampers their growth potential and limits their economic impact.

Progress

Developments in the corporate sector indicate a significant shift in gender equality in Nigeria. This has shown in the number of women currently occupying chief executive role compared to the past. From the FMCG, communications, marketing and banking sectors the story has since changed.

Despite progress recorded so far, analysts emphasize the need for intensified efforts to promote gender equality in Nigeria. This includes addressing cultural norms, improving access to education and economic opportunities, and enhancing legal protections for women to achieve a more inclusive and prosperous society.

For example, through several programs, Nestlé has empowered so many women not only to give them a voice in the society but also boost their economic power.

From the empowering rural women in Nigeria, Nescafé plan, Income Accelerator Program, Workforce and leadership, partnerships with nonprofit organisations, the efforts in amplifying women voice is fast gaining traction. Take for example, Nestle through the income accelerator program is aiming to close the living income gap and reduce child labor risks by encouraging changes in behavior and rewarding positive practices – both within the home and on the farm.

The income accelerator program aims to improve the livelihoods of cocoa-farming families. The program rewards cocoa-farming families not just for the quantity and quality of their cocoa beans, but also for practices that benefit the environment and local community. The program incentivizes and enables cocoa-farming families to engage in practices in four areas: school enrollment, good agricultural practices, agroforestry activities, and diversified incomes.

The program values the equal split of incentives because when women are actively engaged, it can lead to more inclusive and informed decision-making on farm and family finances. This is because women tend to consider the needs of the entire household and prioritize investments that benefit the overall wellbeing of all family members, such as enhancing food security, improving access to education and healthcare, and diversifying income sources.

According to Nestle website, one of its goals is to ensure women feel supported, valued and respected. “We have been working to balance the gender makeup of our workforce and leadership. As a result, the proportion of women in managerial positions is increasing, including in our most senior executive posts.

We also look to the next generation by partnering with nonprofits, funding scholarships designed to harness business skills, hosting competitions and offering mentorships for young female entrepreneurs. In the agricultural communities that cultivate and process our raw materials, we are also working to improve the economic, social and cultural outlook for women through a host of different programs,” it said.

Globally, 46.4 % of the management positions in Neste is held by women. This, the Good Life company believes is a step to not only narrow the gender inequality gap but also to provide them growth opportunities. Afterall, what a man can do- a woman can also do.

Do you have a compelling story to tell? Contact us via our email: espinewsng@gmail.com or call/WhatsApp on 08032519246.