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By Sunday Ani
The Partnership for Advancing Women in Economic Development (PAWED), has urged other state governments to emulate Lagos State in domesticating the National Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) policy, in their states.
Speaking at the nongovernmental organisations’ socialisation meeting on the National WEE Policy for Lagos State on Friday, PAWED, with the support of the development Research and Project Centre (dRPC), said it was determined to encourage other states to adopt the policy for the benefit of women.
A Consultant working for the dRPC, Mrs Kehinde Omojola, emphasised the need for stakeholders’ engagement and inclusion of rural women in formulation of government policies.
Omojola said the workshop was for strategic stakeholders selected across the state. She highlighted the importance of the policy for women’s empowerment.
She said research had indicated that businesses with at least 30 percent of women in leadership positions are 15 percent more profitable. She noted that supporting WEE creates several opportunities for women.
Omojola added that it is estimated that there would be a $5 trillion global economy boost if women are adequately supported.
She said women’s businesses have been shown to be more productive, generating the same value production as men with less working power and limited time.
“The non-performing loan rate for women-owned and women-led SMEs is only 2.7 percent, which is 33 percent lower than the rate for men, according to Global Banking Alliance for Women 2017.
“It is going to help the government to properly plan for the women. One of the issues we have had is that there are a lot of interventions the government is doing but it looks as it it is more of welfare than proper economic empowerment.
“And the fact is that in whatever that is being done, there is the need for a proper collection of evidence because that is the only time this can count for us when it comes to performance on the SDGs goals.
“The policy gives a guideline and it tells us who is responsible for what and what needs to be done and even in some cases how to go about doing it.
“With a proper policy in place, it is preparing us for success because we are now going to be intentional in what we do. As we speak, this is going on in Kano, and we have several states and about 20 commissioners came together to say they are willing to domesticate this policy in their states.”
On her part, an agribusiness specialist, Aderoju Odunsi, said this policy is galvanising all the little bits of efforts that have been made all over the years and bringing them into one document that is crosscutting and involving everyone to address the SDG goals.
She said: “Lagos has contributed a lot into the discuss and so many inputs from different women societies that have now involved in this document that we are reviewing today.
“You can see the intent and the seriousness of the policymakers, because after making the policy, they still sent it for review.
“What we are doing now is that we are looking at the gaps, and they have assigned the MDAs to work on each of the policy streams. For instance, it has included women, even those who are disabled, and it talked about women employment and women in maternity.
“We are trying, but we are looking at how we can make the lives of women a lot better in Lagos State.”
The Mile 12 Market Leader, Precious Modupe Ojo, said the policy would open doors for women in the rural areas to showcase their talents.
She said: “Since Lagos State has already domesticated the policy, I think it will go a long way because Lagos is a pacesetter.
“I’m sure that women will have the sense of belonging, and participate in government policies and programmes, and it will advance our political relevance in the state.
“The challenge over the years is that there is no follow up of the government policies, but this time around, we are going to follow it up because it has already been domesticated in the state.
“So, nothing is stopping us again and we intend to go to every nook and cranny of the state to ensure the policy is implemented.
“And with the Renewed Hope Agenda, I think this is an opening door for women in the rural areas to come out and showcase ourselves.
“We are the economic drivers of the nation because if a manufacturer manufactures any good, he or she will still come to us in the market to sell and promote the product. So, we are an important sector, but they don’t carry us along. I’m sure with this programme, we will go places.”
