Investing in women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community is of strategic importance to business growth and sustainability.
International Women’s Day (IWD), which is celebrated yearly on March 8 since 1911, has become a day set aside for companies to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, while speaking out against inequities including gender-based violence and workplace discrimination.
The UN’s theme this year is ‘DigitALL: Innovation And Technology For Gender Equality’ and it seeks to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination and take action to drive gender parity. To this end, 2023 IWD celebration built on the global theme, Embrace Equity.
The topic highlights not only how technology is crucial to advancing rights, but a growing digital gender gap that is impacting everything from job opportunities for women and their safety online.
According to the UN, 259 million fewer women have access to the internet than men, and women are largely underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics professions.
President and chairman of Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Bisi Adeyemi said, “To embrace equity is to be just, fair and inclusive. An equitable society is one in which all can participate and prosper. We all must collectively create conditions that allow each person to attain their full potential. Equity creates a path from hope to change.”
Celebrating women in workplace, Group chief executive officer, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), Mr Oscar Onyema noted that the Group is committed to prioritising equity, diversity and inclusion in its workplace.
He stated that “gender equity is an ongoing journey that requires sustained efforts and commitment from all of us. We must commit to continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible, embrace new ideas to challenge ourselves and each other for a more equitable and sustainable future.”
CEO, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Temi Popoola, spoke about the Exchange’s strides in promoting diversity and inclusion in the capital market. Citing the progress made on NGX’s collaboration with IFC on the Nigeria2Equal Initiative.
He explained, “With Nigeria2Equal, we have been able to galvanise private sector action to close the gender gap, the most recent program of which is the launch of the Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in Workplaces research.”
Ways To Empower Women In Company
Find ways to amplify the female voice; start by allowing women a heard voice at the table. If a woman has a great idea, champion her and make sure she gets the recognition instead of letting someone else take the credit. Provide public speaking opportunities for female employees, both internally and externally. Invite inspirational women to speak at the office, and make sure that all employees can attend, not just women.
Diversify Leadership By Promoting Women
Make sure that high achieving women in workplace are recognised equitably in succession planning. Have active, ongoing conversations about advancement opportunities and set career goals during quarterly reviews.Encourage women to pursue opportunities at every level of the corporate ladder.
Establish Goals For Improving Gender Diversity
Change does not happen overnight.Organisation needs to start by seeing how it is currently operating in terms of gender diversity.
Equal Wages For Equal Work And Experience
When it comes to equal pay, women still earn less than their male counterparts. This gap widens further for women of colour. When women feel like they are being cheated out of fair pay, they do not feel valued at work.
Participate In Out Of Work Activities That Empower Women
When you plan a fun corporate event that is outside of the office, make sure that it is an activity that is accessible for all employees. Take this a step further and plan activities that positively empower women at the same time. Consider booking activities through an organisation that helps you bond as a team and empower women in the community at the same time.
Looking To Create Gender Diversity And Empower Women In Your Workplace
The fastest way to make a change is to implement it into hiring practices.
The challenge of attaining gender parity is highly complex and cannot be solved by governments alone. The private sector needs to play its full part in maximising work opportunities for women. Communities in many countries need to shift attitudes that hold women back. But there is no doubt that governments can set an enabling legislative framework, invest in women’s equality, and convene the partnerships that are likely to accelerate progress.
