Women Economic Empowerment an Antidote to Poverty

In commemoration of the 2017 International Women’s Day, the National President, Young Women’s Christian Association of Nigeria (YWCA), Lady Chikwue Ochiagha, has warned that various efforts by the countries of the world towards eradication of poverty, hunger and diseases may not yield the expected result without a conscious effort by societies to economically empowerment their women.

Ochiagha who made this known to newsmen in Lagos, recently hinted that when women are economically empowered, it equips and enables them to make right and independent choices as well as helps in the equitable distribution of growth and the attainment of sustainable development in societies. Stressing that the advancement in various spheres of life, which ought to pave way for a more women-friendly environment both in access to opportunities, decision-making, among others, was yet to yield satisfactory result, the president said that the year’s theme is a timely wakeup call for definite actions by homes, community leaders and governments. According to her, the strengthening of globalisation and rise in commercial activities among countries that ought to bring about increased opportunities and spaces for economic engagement for women was also yet to effect the necessary change on the status quo men domineering environment.

Speaking on this year’s IWD theme, ‘Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030’, Ochiagha said it is a timely pointer for governments and all stakeholders to rise to the challenge of improving the economic status of women and increased opportunities for girls. According to her, “The world is fast changing, and so should women’s economic engagement, particularly in involving the use of ICT and innovative technologies with the infinite possibilities they avail to ensure women remain relevant within economic spaces at all levels. “Unfortunately, such spaces remain largely inaccessible to women as revealed in a study where people between the ages of 45-59 in Nigeria has 92 per cent of men in this age group employed as against 59 per cent for women. According to her, while concerted efforts have been made at national and local levels by governments and private sector, to improve women’s economic status through various income generating/financial literacy and management initiatives in the country, 54 per cent of women resident in Lagos alone for instance, still live below the poverty line. This, she said "points to a poignant reality of the need for urgent and sustained efforts in ensuring women’s peculiar needs within the ever changing work space do not get lost.”

Speaking further, Ochiagha said “The YWCA of Nigeria calls for the adoption of urgent measures to address the widening gender gaps in pay and leadership, women’s access to innovative technologies and decent work, and protection from violence in the work place by ensuring labour standards are enforced in work places – including the informal sector, for women.”