A New Nigeria that Delivers An Equitable Path to Productivity and Livelihood Opportunities for Every Woman is POssible!
Investing in women’s economic empowerment sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth. Women make enormous contributions to economies, whether in businesses, on farms, as entrepreneurs or employees, or by doing unpaid care work at home.
But they also remain disproportionately affected by poverty, discrimination and exploitation.
Gender discrimination means women often end up in insecure, low-wage jobs, and constitute a small minority of those in senior positions. With curtailed access to economic assets such as land and loans and experience limited participation in shaping economic and social policies. The stereotyping of gender roles means women often perform the bulk of household work, which mean little or no time left to pursue economic opportunities.
When more women work, economies grow. Women’s economic empowerment boosts productivity, increases economic diversification and income equality in addition to other positive development outcomes.
Women’s economic empowerment is central to realizing women’s rights, a gender equal society and national development.
We need an economic empowerment shift that supports women’s ability to participate equally in existing markets; their access to and control over productive resources, access to decent work, control over their own time, lives and bodies; and increased voice, agency and meaningful participation in economic decision-making at all levels from the household to international institutions.
This is how we can begin to make good strides towards the unlocking of our nation's development potential.