Women in Management, Business and Public Service, WIMBIZ has reiterated the commitment to continue to push for the inclusion of women in different spheres of life.
This was disclosed during the commemoration of the 2024 International Women’s Day, IWD, as women from all walks of life gathered to celebrate the resilience and inspiration that women have brought to the table over the years.
Speaking, the Executive Director, WIMBIZ, Hansatu Adegbite, maintained that what WIMBIZ has been for the past twenty-three years is about inspiring women and empowering them to attain leadership positions in business, management, and public service and it is about being economically empowered.
“Our mission over the years is to empower them to be leaders in their various sectors and industries, empowering them to have a voice.
“With this year’s theme, “Inspiring Inclusion”, means that WIMBIZ was ahead of the time. Our founders twenty-three years ago have already thought about inspiring inclusion concerning women. WIMBIZ is celebrating 2024 IWD and we are not just celebrating it for women, we are inspiring them in the area of politics with a documentary on women and voting rights.
“We identified that a price was paid many years ago by some women who lost their lives in fighting for us as Nigerian women to be able to vote.
“WIMBIZ has different programmes set aside for women to explore and take their rightful position. We have WIMBIZ’s Women on Board mentoring that helps to inspire women and train them, inspire them and mentor them to serve on board so that whenever opportunities come, they would be able to explore them.
“It is pertinent that women belong to networks in their communities either cultural or professionals so that whenever there is a need for support, you can always get it and for women who are able to get to certain positions in life, it is also necessary that they become a positive reference point”, she said.
Also, the Chairperson, of WIMBIZ, Bisi Adeyemi, noted that “WIMBIZ is not about showcasing women and their achievements especially given the theme of this year’s IWD which is to inspire inclusion but showcasing our values which is to inspire women.
“We accomplish this by bringing women who have already accomplished in their careers to inspire other women through mentoring programs, and it is so because it is not enough to just come and talk about inspiring so we create a formal program to talk and mentor other younger people in professions and also entrepreneurship.
In her view, Non-Executive Director, Seven-Up Bottling Company Ngozi Anyaegbunam, BA, LLB, LLM, MCIArb (UK) said, women need to be ready to be included rather than sit down at home and think of being included without making efforts.
“If we do not step up, if we do not participate, how would they include or see us? Women need to show interest, step forward, volunteer and make themselves available to serve.
She explained that, when women pull forces together and speak with one voice it makes a lot of difference.
“We have several departments for women and if women are doing extremely well it will encourage the government to put more women in places of power and positions but if the performance of the women already in positions of power is poor, then it will be impossible to entrust any position on us.
“Therefore, it is left for us to prove our worth and discharge the responsibilities given to us satisfactorily”, she said.
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