THEME: INVEST IN WOMEN: ACCELERATE PROGRESS

There is an African proverb that says, “it takes a village to raise a child”, and I couldn’t agree more. This loosely translates to the responsibility that burdens the shoulders of an entire community in making provisions for and interacting positively with children for them to grow and experience life in a safe and healthy environment.

Time immemorial, it is indisputable that men have consistently made greater investments in women compared to the investments made by women in men or in other women. The African culture which is deeply entrenched in patriarchy contributed to this dynamic, as fathers of the old opined that the training of a girl child was an effort in futility and a waste of investment because she will end up marrying and the responsibility of her welfare rest on her husband’s shoulders.

Despite the prevailing social norms, some parents insisted on sending their daughters to school. Unfortunately, some of these young women became pregnant during their first or second year, inadvertently supporting their parents’ concerns and affecting the educational prospects of their younger siblings. My mother happened to fall within this demography.

In her first marriage, my maternal grandmother bore five children—four girls and one boy. Tragically, she lost her first husband to death, prompting her to remarry. From her second marriage, she had two children, a boy, and a girl. Despite facing skepticism from neighbors, friends, and relatives, who mocked her commitment, she insisted that her daughters receive an education. In those days, the prevailing societal norms encourages early marriages to wealthy suitors, but Grandma prioritized investing in her daughters’ education, and was determined to provide them with the best possible learning opportunities within her means.

My grandmother remained resolute in her resolve. Her eldest daughter successfully completed secondary school and was admitted to Teachers Training College (now known as College of Education). A few months into her college journey, she unexpectedly became pregnant, dealing a significant blow to my grandmother, who had been determined to defy the prevailing societal expectations.

Confronted with this unforeseen outcome, my pregnant aunt eventually married the man responsible for her condition, and together they built a family. However, the scorn and judgment my grandmother endured in the aftermath of this incident prompted her to reassess her commitment to the education of her other children. Yielding to societal pressures, she made the difficult decision not to support the ongoing education of her remaining daughters. Consequently, one by one, the other girls were wedded off, setting out on their individual paths towards starting families.

Today, as I reflect on my upbringing, I closely observed my mother. Possessing a brilliant mind, exceptional business acumen, assertiveness, and instinctive decision-making, she demonstrates remarkable managerial qualities. While I now reside in the United Kingdom, I am convinced that if I were to establish a business in Nigeria, she would be the ideal person to lead it. In her prime, she successfully managed a thriving restaurant business, earning recognition in our community and neighboring towns.

Despite her achievements, every now and then, my mother references the incident from the past and expresses a lingering wish that she had pursued an education. Nonetheless, her love for her sisters remains unwavering. Still, one can’t help but wonder what could have been? Every now and then, I contemplate the potential accomplishments that might have unfolded if she had been afforded the opportunity for education.

This dynamic has changed over time, as the parents who trained their girl child started to reap the fruits of their labor, and the girls who stayed focused through their education started to prove society wrong, through their contributions to society. It is a well-known fact that a woman tends to look after their aged parents more than the boy child. This is unarguable because women are nurturers by nature and as much as men do look after their parents too, especially financially, women show more physical and emotional involvement as well as financial contributions.

I recollect a time in my teenage years when the wife of the then Governor of Delta State, H. E. Nkoyo Ibori, undertook hospital rounds and advocated for primary health care. During one of her visits, my father coincidentally happened to be visiting a friend at the Government General Hospital in the town. He witnessed firsthand the diligent efforts of hospital staff, scurrying to ensure everything was in order for her visit.

My father frequently recounted this experience, expressing his desire for his daughters to wield such influence. He envisioned them in positions where they could influence positive change in their community, state, country, and the world at large. Today, having successfully supported the education of all his four daughters through university, he sees the realization of that vision.

The push for women to excel has gathered momentum over the years, with women breaking glass ceilings in STEM, academics, art, beauty, fashion, and more. The transformation from the way things were to the current situation is both remarkable and commendable. As detailed by the National Geographic United States’ Census Bureau, 26% of workers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are women.

The modern woman invests in herself, and in some cases, no longer reliant on parental support or marrying into wealth to succeed in society. However, where women may benefit from additional encouragement is in continuous self-investment and collaboration with other women to pioneer new frontiers. Personal development is a nonstop journey that extends beyond career advancement or acquiring more degrees. It encompasses acquiring new skills—whether it’s something as delightful as knitting 😊—learning foreign languages, engaging in sports, reading books, traveling, and more.Now and then, do something new.The accomplishments of Nigerian women span various fields, showcasing remarkable achievements. Women have ascended to political offices, ranging from local government to national and even international positions. A shining example is Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, exemplifying the influential role of Nigerian women on the global stage.

In literature, the indelible mark of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie resonates worldwide. As an African writer, she has garnered multiple awards, contributing significantly to global literary conversations. In the realm of sports, Tobi Amusan stands as the current world record holder in the 100-meter hurdles, achieving a remarkable time of 12.12 seconds.

The football arena boasts the extraordinary talent of Asisat Oshoala, fondly known as Agba baller. Regarded as one of the greatest African female footballers and among the best globally, Oshoala has secured her place in history. Her illustrious career is punctuated by winning the African Women’s Footballer of the Year a record six times, a testament to her unparalleled skill and accomplishments in the world of football.

In January, we witnessed the groundbreaking inauguration of Engr. Margaret Oguntala, as the first female president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. An outstanding Engineer with a proven track record of exemplary leadership in several capacities across various aspects of engineering in Nigeria.

In music, women have been making waves from the time of Onyeka Owenu, and Edna Ogholi to the new generation of artists viz. Tiwa Savage, Simi, Yemi Alade, Tems, Sinach, Mercy Chinwo……our women are selling out arenas, performing at international and royal events, and topping global musical charts.

In movies, actresses have evolved past begging Filmmakers for roles or selling sex to thrive in the industry, to becoming filmmakers, directing and producing movies themselves. From Genevieve Nnaji, the first female Nigerian to feature in a foreign movie, ‘Weekend Getaway’, to Funke Akindele’s latest movie, ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ which made history by becoming the first Nollywood film to surpass ₦1 billion at the box office, the list is endless.

In fashion, Nigerian female celebrities have moved from wearing foreign dresses on red carpet events to wearing elegant Nigerian designs. The likes of Tiannah Place Empire and Veekee James have done extremely well in these areas. Nigeria is gaining ground in the African fashion industry, and I look forward to a time when the fabrics used are produced in-country instead of sourcing them abroad.

In beauty and skin care, there is still work to do. We need to develop skin care products that are good and safe for the African melanin skin. In the past decade, lots of skincare vendors have sprung up with an unresearched mix of products that is focused on bleaching the skin. We need to do better in terms of researching our local ingredients that worked wonders in the old days, such as palm kernel oil, and òrí (Shea butter), and see how they can be refined into safe products that address the skin concerns of the African girl.

We have seen how South Korea broke into the international skin care industry with products they researched for their skin type and have now been adopted around the world were suitable.

I commend Oke Maduewesi, the CEO of Zaron Cosmetics, for her exceptional work in establishing a successful makeup brand. Additionally, I appreciate the dedication of Adesuwa Etomi-Wellington and Jemima Osunde in their well-researched beauty brand, SANAA Beauty Limited. While both companies utilize foreign ingredients in their production, they have effectively crafted products that specifically address the concerns of black women.

The commendable endeavors of the SANAA women buttress the transformative power of women in shaping successful enterprises that cater to the specific needs of diverse communities. Their dedication not only exemplifies entrepreneurial excellence but also emphasizes the importance of representation and inclusivity in the beauty industry.

In broader terms, investing in women and championing gender equality serves as a catalyst for a future where everyone in society can thrive, fostering a world of boundless opportunities and empowerment for all. To ensure the consideration of women’s needs and priorities, governments must prioritize gender-responsive financing and increase public spending on essential services and social protection.

Policymakers should also recognize, value, and account for the indispensable contribution women make to economies globally, encompassing both paid and unpaid care work. Notably, women devote approximately three times more time to unpaid care work than men. Assigning a monetary value to these activities reveals that they would constitute more than 40 percent of GDP, underscoring the economic significance of acknowledging and addressing the contributions of women.

In conclusion, the broader call for investing in women and promoting gender equality transcends these specific achievements, envisioning a future where societal prosperity is driven by the empowerment of all individuals. Governments play a crucial role in this paradigm shift, with a responsibility to prioritize gender-responsive financing, elevate public spending on essential services, and provide robust social protection. Recognizing the multifaceted contributions of women is paramount for sustainable economic growth. As women invest their time and skills, constituting a significant portion of GDP, it becomes evident that acknowledging and addressing their contributions is not only a matter of equality but a strategic imperative for global prosperity.