By Perpetua Onuegbu (NAN)
Breaking the Barriers (BB), a Non-governmental organisation (NGO) has urged the Federal Government to provide support systems that would enable women to thrive in their undertakings.
Miss Lolade Ipele, Project Lead, BB made this call at a one-day capacity building workshop for women and girls on Friday in Abuja.
The theme of the workshop was: Breaking the Barriers, Active Participation of Women in Leadership and Civic Engagement.
Ipele said the federal government should be more involved in building the capacity of Nigerians, especially women and girls.
“We are saying that the government should provide a support system for women to enable them to build on their potential.
“…systems, that create capacity building programmes, trainings to sensitise them on how they can take up leadership roles for their benefit and the benefit of their communities”, she said.
She said the workshop was meant to build the capacity of young women in politics, governance and leadership.
“The last time I did a survey in a community where we trained some women I noticed that the women were blinded by norms and stereotypes that prevented them from assuming leadership positions.
“Not necessarily in politics but they just felt that it was s not important to know about leadership, because in their minds they are meant to be in the kitchen.
“So this is what made me think of ways to sensitise them to understand the importance of leadership and why it is imperative that as a woman you can build your potential.
“We believe that empowering women and challenging patriarchal cultural norms and gender stereotypes are crucial steps toward achieving gender equality”, Ipele said.
Mrs Rufikatu Ademola, Co-founder, Focusing on Women and Girls Initiative for Positive Change, one of the facilitators at the workshop said societal barriers make women to perceive themselves as second class citizens.
Ademola who spoke on ‘Empowering women in Leadership for Nation Building“ said ‘development knows no gender every gender has a capacity to contribute positively to the growth of an economy or a society.’
“We have the likes of Ngozi okonjo-iweala and many other women who are setting the pace.
“So this is a very commendable training, and we are going to see how we can mentor this young girls to stay on the tract of their dreams and achieve it.
“We have to continue to preach it in our communities in our societies in schools in particular, let’s raise mentors who can do that.
Mr Liadi Yusuff, Executive Director, ilead Africa, also an NGO, called on women to always come out and indicate their interest in leadership positions.
According to him, many women have excelled in various leadership positions they held.
“If there are elective positions and women did not come out to contest they will not get it but if they come out even men will support them.
“They should also change their orientation by building their capacity, see that it is something that is possible, take action, get involved and participate.
“Start from joining a political party let people see what you can deliver within your community, society, family.
“They will begin to have confidence in you; from there you can have the opportunity to be in leadership position“, he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was sponsored by YIAGA Africa and UKAID. (NAN)