Social Norms Conference: Panelists seek intentional advocacy to bridge gender gap

By Stanley Onyekwere

Some panelists at the 2024 Social Norms Conference have called for an intentional advocacy to bridge the widening gender gap in political leadership and across the various spheres of human endeavours.

Members of the panel 3 drawn from political, sports, social ICT fields to discuss the topic Leading with Purpose: Women’s Agency and Representation, made the position known on the day 2 of the conference themed: Applying Sociobehavioural Solutions for Human Capital Development.

Speaking on the sideline of the event held in Abuja, one of the panelists, FCT lone Senator, Ireti Kingibe, noted if the gender gap is significantly bridged, Nigeria’s GDP will go up by 23%.

She however, said the first point of call for the woman to have self esteem, is for parents especially fathers to intentionally mentor and instill self-esteem and courage in their female children.

“The truth is like we are running with one leg, of course how successful are going to be as to when you run with both legs. 50% of your population is left behind, it is a no brainer.

“I call on parents especially fathers to make their daughter (s) understand that she is not less because she is female.

“What I’m telling young women and men is to take charge of your lives, as the future is you, so don’t be bystanders. Life is a hazard on its own, and you need a little bit of courage. There will always be somebody to support you, depending on your motive”, the lawmaker stated.

Another panelist, Hon. Ayo Omidiran, a former member of the House of Representatives, opined that although there are competent women everywhere, they just need encouragement to actively participate in leading the society.

She also reiterated it is the work of the parents to instill confidence in their children especially the girl child, so that growing up, she will not see herself as a lesser person, but as an equal to everyone around her.

According to her, getting the girl child to start thinking of herself as a potential leader in the society starts from early on.

“Because we practice multiparty system, we have to appeal to people who are leaders in the parties to give a quota to women for representation. We have been trying to get this through the legislation in the National Assembly, and it is not been working.

“So I think that we need to have an intentional advocacy, to appeal to all political parties leadership to give a quota to women in their respective parties.

“That’s the only way we can have more women coming out, because if you are not backed by the leadership, you will not be able to even be able to move from your aspiration to candidacy. Then, you will be a perennial aspirant.

“When the party is backing you, the challenge of finance is going to be minimum, because the party is going to put in funds to help you navigate through the electioneering process”, she stated.

On her part, founder/CEO of Datharm, a social tech enterprise, Amina Ahmad Kabiru Usman Nagogo, who was also a panelist, said stakeholders should focus more on the capacity or attitude of the individual rather than place or limit him or her based on something they can’t change.

Nagogo however, insisted that parents especially fathers play critical roles in building confidence in their girl child (putting her first as a human being), and trying to not limit her or constrain her with what the society has imposed on them as boundaries for women.

“As a woman, you can’t change your gender, because even among the male population, some have gone farther than the others in life”, she stressed.

The 2024 Social Norms Conference tagged from Research to Reality Sociobehavioral Solutions for accelerated human capital development, through its interactive panel and plenary discussions, scientific session, spoken word, and music interlude amongst other features will be fondly membered for its innovative, shift and transformation.

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