Nigeria Needs More Women In Leadership Positions In Government And Politics
Channel: Prof. Yemi Osinbajo
Date: 23/09/2022

Virtual Keynote Address At The 2022 Women Directors’ Conference

Just like the example of the education of the girl-child, a more effective and balanced female representation and participation in politics and government will have a major impact on the country’s socio-economic future and overall national development, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this today as the Special Guest of Honour at the 2022 Women Directors’ Conference.

Speaking in a pre-recorded message on the theme of the Conference: Facing Forward – The Evolving Nature of Boards in a Rapidly Changing World, the Vice President advocated for more female representation in leadership positions in government and across different sectors, “as an economic imperative and not a moral duty of men or mere concession by men.”

Said he, “a country that keeps down half of its productive demography is bound to perform sub-optimally. But the issue is not just board representation, it is about representation in politics and government this is where major decisions affecting our lives are made. But perhaps, most importantly, it is about the education of girls.

“The high levels of female illiteracy are dangerous from all possible standpoints. If half your population is uneducated, it means that development and being competitive in a knowledge-driven world will not happen or will happen too slowly to be of much use.”

Highlighting further the importance of girl-child education to national development, Prof. Osinbajo stated that “educated women mean educated children, and this is the pipeline for women who will become CEOs, legislators, government officials and bureaucrats. Female representation must not be reduced to representation by a few elite women who have the good fortune of education.”

Urging for more efforts by governments at all levels in improving girl child education, the Vice President said, “there is a much larger fight for the future of a large majority of girls who are not even represented in primary schools. We must talk to State Governors. The States of the Federation control primary and secondary education; they must be engaged in the advocacy and persuasion efforts.”

While he noted the two-sided arguments on the levels of performance between men and women in the same positions, Prof. Osinbajo highlighted how a study on the Lagos judiciary showed the significance of female representation in driving positive societal change and reforms.

“I think a question that always seems to pop up in conversations on the subject is: Do women do better than men in the same positions, or are men better performers on the job than women? The arguments will go on and on,” he added.

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Oluyemi Oluleke “Yemi” Osinbajo is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who is the current Vice President of Nigeria, in office since 29 May 2015.

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