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A gender specialist with Solidarity Centre, Vanessa Edhebru, has stated that many women are hesitant to take on leadership roles due to various issues, including the burden of care, as well as cultural and social constraints.
Edhebru made this remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday, on the sidelines of a four-day capacity-building workshop for men and women organised by Solidarity Centre in Abuja.
NAN reports that the Solidarity Centre is an affiliate organisation of the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations.
The expert pointed out that cultural constraints often position women as nurturers, which can hinder their leadership aspirations.
She explained that the goal of the workshop was to encourage women to build their capacity and prepare them for leadership roles despite these challenges.
“The current training is part of an ongoing series aimed at equipping more women with the necessary skills,” she added.
Edhebru stressed the importance of women aspiring to leadership positions and building their capacity to succeed.
She also encouraged women to prioritise their lives, manage their time, and build relationships to balance their work and personal lives.
She called on women to learn more, network more, equip themselves, aspire to achieve their goals, work harder, and build resilience to overcome challenges.
A participant at the workshop, Nwali Chinenye, encouraged women to cultivate self-esteem and carry themselves with confidence.
Chinenye stated that women should build confidence in tackling challenges, making mistakes, and learning from them, noting that small daily efforts could lead to significant achievements.
She further encouraged women to expose themselves to training and development opportunities to rediscover their true selves.
Speaking on gender-based violence, a participant from the Federation of
Informal Workers Organisation of Nigeria, Madukpe Solomon, emphasised the importance of being an ally to support women in cases of gender-based violence and harassment.
Another participant, Stanley Ominyi, Branch Secretary of FIWON, said that men should be able to stand in for women when necessary.
Ominyi stressed the need for gender equality in all aspects.
Earlier, the Regional Programme Director for Africa for the Centre, Dr Christopher Johnson, underscored the urgent need for personal and collective movements towards equity between men and women, advocating for fair treatment for all.
According to Johnson, the workshop aimed at addressing gender-based violence, which is crucial to occupational safety and health.
He emphasised the importance of respecting all human life and the need for men to respect their female colleagues.
NAN reports that no fewer than 40 persons, both men and women, participated in the workshop.
NAN
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