An increase in the participation of women in leadership, employment and entrepreneurship in the private sector is projected to got a massive boost with the Nigeria2Equal initiative in the next four years.
The initiative which is being championed by both the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), expects to record favourable staff policies and practices over the next two–and–half years when the project is expected to become not just a reality but manifest in key private sector organisations across Nigeria.
Cadbury Nigeria Plc (a part of Mondelēz International) and 15 Nigerian companies that cut across telecommunications, logistics, manufacturing, construction, banking and finance and hospitality reportedly formed this coalition to promote gender equality in the workplace.
Explaining the rationale behind the mive, Kalim Shah, IFC’s Senior Country Manager, Nigeria, said: “Through the Nigeria2Equal initiative, we are working with CEOs of private sector companies listed on the Exchange who are committed to implementing gender-smart solutions to improve their performance in gender across leadership, employment and entrepreneurship.”
Mr Temi Popoola, CEO of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), added: “Nigeria2Equal is the first multi-stakeholder country project focused on reducing gender gaps in Nigeria’s private sector companies. NGX has become the first exchange in Africa to galvanise private sector participation in closing gender gaps across employment and entrepreneurship.”
However, The New Diplomat‘s findings show that research conducted by IFC and NGX had revealed that Nigerian companies still need to do more for women in the workplace to ensure that they get equal rights and opportunities in the private sector.
