Stakeholders across different sectors have advocated for women’s inclusion and empowerment.
They made the call recently during the commemoration of the 2024 International Women’s Day themed ‘Inspire Inclusion, Inclusive Mindset and Tangible Action Needed by All’ in Lagos.
They emphasised the critical need for inclusive policies and initiatives that promote women’s participation and leadership across various domains.
In her keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of Justrite Supermarkets, Mrs Tosin Aderinwale, said that women should not exclude themselves from the management of their businesses and should make their businesses a major priority.
“Women structure their businesses by creating a proper structure with a standard operating procedure, even if you are starting small, there should be a proper way of doing things,” she stated.
Aderinwale advised women to ensure a culture of discipline, planning, accountability, and transparency, adding that women should impose their personal values and work ethics in their organisations.
“Women should keep an eye on the future always and scout for the next opportunity while investing in themselves and their personal goals, which will make them the best version of themselves,” the Justrite boss noted.
She charged women to stay curious and be committed to learning and growth because the business landscape was constantly evolving.
According to Aderinwale, it is essential to stay informed about industry gains, emerging technologies and best practices.
She claimed that networking could open doors to new partnerships, collaborations, and opportunities for growth.
“Women should foster a culture of learning and empowerment to unleash the full potential of their workforce,” Aderinwale declared.
Also, the Chairman of the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Mrs Olubunmi Fabamwo, enjoined women to have an inclusive mindset.
“An inclusive mindset and tangible actions are needed for all of us to achieve our goals,” she mentioned.
According to Fabamwo, there could be diversities in different forms, looking at the strengths in these diversities so that all these good results could be achieved.
She added that women should be able to get tasks assigned to them done, as there was a push for gender equality.
On her part, the founder, and Chief Executive Officer of MRDC, Mrs Modupe Oyekunle, noted that women should catalyse collective action, inspiring concrete steps towards fostering a more inclusive and empowering environment for women worldwide.
Oyekunle emphasised the importance of women’s voices being heard and valued in decision-making processes, advocating for equal opportunities in education, employment, and leadership positions.
She charged women to drive meaningful change and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable world for all.
Punch