The Stand-Up For Women Society (SWS) is set to hold its first national conference to drive dialogue on why Nigerian women must be given more leadership roles.
The conference is scheduled to hold from Thursday, June 16 to Saturday, June 18, at Pelican International Hotel in Lekki, Lagos.
Barr. Deborah Ijadele Adetona, the conference coordinator during a media briefing on Monday, said the event themed “Women in Leadership” will prove to everyone that Nigerian women are ready and will do better when given leadership roles in the political space.
Adetona noted that Nigerian women have been sidelined for too long and this has affected the growth of the nation.
She said The StandUp For Women Society has been able to identify thousands of women who have leadership qualities but were sidelined based on gender.
She noted that this made it necessary for the group to organize a conference that will educate the nation on why more women are needed in government.
Adetona said the conference is also geared towards ensuring that 30 percent of leadership roles are been given to women in every state in Nigeria.
She added that: “Our objectives amongst others are to encourage women’s active participation in leadership and decision-making process. In addition, we are also established to promote women’s entrepreneurship as a catalyst for advancing women’s economic empowerment. Our initiatives had brought an increase in women’s access to finance and technology. If we strengthen women’s capabilities and their access to resources, the prospect of leadership roles will be within reach for many more women in our Nation Nigeria.
“As of today, SWS has a chapter in each of the 36 states of the Nation in Nigeria including FCT Abuja and we have registered our presence in many of the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs.
“In the last two years, some of the state chapters have been receiving recognition awards for effective and efficient services discharged to their respective communities. SWS does not only cares for the female gender.
Recently after sponsoring programs that influence the Girl’s Child, we went ahead to complement it with Boy’s Child.”
However, for this year’s conference, dignitaries billed for the event include the wife of the Governor of Lagos, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Barr. Femi Falana, Aisha Yesufu, Prof. Yemisi Adeparusi and many others.
The likes of Dele Momodu, Angela Olufunmilayo Emuwa, and Pastor Daniel Olukoya will also be honored for their roles in women’s development.
