Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has emphasized the need for increased representation of women in leadership positions in Nigeria. Speaking at the Nigerian Women in Leadership event in Abuja, Okonjo-Iweala lamented that despite making up 50% of the population, women have been largely excluded from leadership roles.
Notably, Nigeria has never had a female governor, and women hold a meager percentage of seats in the National Assembly. Okonjo-Iweala stressed that women must fight for their place at the table, but men must also support and empower them to achieve parity.
The WTO chief highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environment that encourages women to participate in leadership roles. She also emphasized the need to utilize the African Continental Free Trade Area to promote women’s economic empowerment and increase their participation in leadership positions.
Okonjo-Iweala’s call to action comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with gender inequality and limited representation of women in leadership roles. The event, which included a conversation with Duchess of Sussex Meghan, aimed to promote women’s leadership and empowerment in Nigeria.