The need to give women in Nigeria greater opportunities in the scheme of things in the country and allowed to reach their full potential dominated discourse at a gender inclusive competition organized for young women in the country.
The competition tagged “What Women can do” was put together by anti-corruption crusader, Akin Fadeyi Foundation.
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In his opening remarks, founder, Akin Fadeyi said it has become imperative for Nigeria to widen the political and socio-economic space for the womenfolk to make meaningful contributions to the growth and development of the country.
He said it was about time the country rid itself of those socio-cultural norms and traditions that have relegated women to the background and denied them the chance to attain their full potential.
Fadeyi explained that the competition “What Women can do” was to help young women in Nigeria find their energy and strength.
Director of MacArthur Foundation, Kole Shettima, said the organisation has always upheld diversity, equity and inclusion as an affirmation of its values.
Hence, we have always been attentive to gender equality and equity in our engagements, recruitments and other spheres of our work.
“We prioritise diversity and inclusion and have always been enthusiastic to ensure GESI enhances our corruption, accountability, transparency and participation outcomes. This is why what Akin Fadeyi is doing here, stimulating the energy of Nigerian women to envision a corrupt free society as part of a strategic design template for governance.”
Royal father and educationist, Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin, the Orangun of Oke-Ila Orangun, Osun State was not in doubt about the abilities of women if given the opportunity to even do better than their male counterparts.
He said studies have shown that most school girls perform better academically than their male counterparts in class and can take leadership positions at all levels.
At the end of deliberations and debates, a law student at Babcock University Bukunmi Abraham emerged as the overall winner of the Akin Fadeyi Foundation gender-inclusive governance competition.
She emerged winner out of 15 finalists that made presentation on ‘how to tackle corruption in Nigeria’ at the grand finale held via zoom.
(Editor: Omor Bazuaye)
