Mrs ChinweUgo Nwafor, Head, Internal Audit and Control, Transcorp Group says investing in women is a strategic imperative that will create significant returns to society as a whole.
Nwafor said this at the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos Sector Command 4th Edition of Women in Uniform, in commemoration of 2024 UN International Women’s Day celebration, on Friday in Lagos.
The day had the theme, ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’.
She also urged the women in uniform to always ensure they had an identity and as such, needed to be educated which she described as a potent tool for their empowerment.
“To ensure that investment in women yield the accelerated progress, measures should be taken to address challenges that women face.
“The measures are: there should be entrepreneurship to foster innovation, mentorship, transparent promotion and evaluation to ensure women are rewarded based on merit and not gender, women’s prospective should be incorporate into artificial intelligence,” she said.
Nwafor added that collective action was needed if women are to catalyse progress for gender equality.
Dr Tope Mark-Odigie, Chief Executive Officer, Reb360/TV host, pointed out that there was reward in investment of anything and so the need to invest in women that had so many potential.
According to Mark-Odigie, a lot of women have suffered because of lack of confidence, urging the women in uniform to be themselves and push for whatever they want.
“Womem in uniform are strong and it takes a lot for a womam to wear that uniform, so they should be confident in all they strive in life,” she said.
Also, Mrs Rachel Akhuetie, Executive Director at SunTrust Oil Company Nigeria Ltd., called on the need for more attention to be given to women in uniform who are offer services to the nation.
According to Akhuetie, it is not easy being a mother, wife and combining it with the type of jobs they do, as times they are called to show up in places without notice.
She also urged the women to always upgrade themselves and not to turn down opportunities to speak publicly as it would enable them to build their confidence in their field.
Earlier, the FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, Babatunde Farinloye, noted that today’s event was to recognise the vital achievements and contributions of our great country’s inspirational women.
He pointed out that this goes especially to the ones in uniform who sacrifice their comforts, families and ultimately risking their lives in the line of duty to ensure the security and safety of the general citizens.
The FRSC boss noted that the traditional Nigerian indigenous community believes that the woman’s role is predominantly in the home where she was expected to act as a wife, mother and housekeeper.
According to him, women are seen as odd if she fends herself or take any form of occupational activity considered for men.
“This cultural orientation by which a woman is seen as dependent on her husband is what create the enabling environment for her subordination and restriction in pursuing education.
“Nigerian women have however continued to evolve since the pre-colonial era, their continuous portrayal as the helpless, oppressed and marginalised lot has led to little recognition being given to them in history.
“In Nigeria presently, women are beginning to break out of such stereotypes. This is particularly evident in their achievements in the various fields of endeavors which they now engage in,” he said.
Participants at the celebration are women in uniform from the Army, Navy, immigration, Nigeria Customs Service, Special Marshals of FRSC, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Airforce and others.