IWD: WIMBIZ Urges Women To Take Charge At Frontlines
TO mark the International Women’s Day celebration, the Women in Management, Business and Public Service ( WIMBIZ) held a special event themed ‘ Inspiring Inclusion’, targeted at empowering women and creating advocacy for gender equality in male- dominated spaces.
The event featured engaging sessions with high profile panellists including the Non- Executive Director, Seven Up Bottling Company, Ngozi Anyaegbunam; member of the Board of Trustees, WIMBIZ, Chioma Afe; Head, Women in Business Banking, FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Gold Nwoke; Country Manager, Mastercard, Folasade Femi- Lawal; Managing Director, Iwosan Wellness Centre and the Managing Director, Elle’s Icebox, Chizoba Atsu.
Executive Director of WIMBIZ, Mrs. Hansatu Adegbite, stated that the organisation has, in line with the theme of the event, been uplifting women and preparing them for major roles in different sectors for over two decades
“This year’s theme, ‘ Inspiring Inclusion’, is sincerely what WIMBIZ has been doing for the past 23 years. It is about inspiring women, empowering them to attain leadership positions in business, management and public service. It is about empowering them to be economically empowered, empowering them to be leaders in their various sectors and industries and empowering them to have a voice. And so,
Inspiring Inclusion is what WIMBIZ is already known for,” she said.
Adegbite charged women to get fully involved and take charge at the frontlines, adding: “My charge for women would be to believe that they can do it. Prepare for it and then attain it. When the opportunities come, take advantage of them. Don’t shy away from them. Anywhere you are, in your organisation, project yourself when you know you can do something. Let your voices be heard in meetings, and in your organisations, so that when people are being sought for decision making capacities, your name comes up.”
Anyaegbunam, on her part, urged women to be united in championing for their cause.
“When women get together, it’s a formidable force, because we are dealing with work issues, family issues and all kinds of things. When we share and speak with one voice, it makes a lot of difference,” she said.
To her, the campaign for inclusion requires women to step forward and stay prepared for all the opportunities in their respective sectors.
“You have to be ready to be included. If you don’t participate, nobody will see you to include you. If you want to be part of anything, you have to first of all, show an interest, take a step forward, volunteer and make yourself available. Let them know that you are available to serve if you are needed,” she added.
In her remarks, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, WIMBIZ, Bisi Adeyemi, stated that the organisation’s drive to continue motivating women to great accomplishments was here to stay.
“For WIMBIZ, it is nothing new, because that is one of our core values. We are all about inspiring women, and we do this by bringing women who are accomplished in their careers, to come and share with other women how they have done it. And we do this in so many ways.
“Women need to first of all inspire themselves. Believe in yourself. Some people say that the sky is the limit. At WIMBIZ, we believe the sky is a stepping stone. Inspire yourself and of course get inspired by other women,” Adeyemi said.