IWD 2022: “Gender balance will guarantee sustainable development in Nigeria”
By Ibidunni Banjoko
Following the recently held 2022 International Women’s Day, women in Nigeria’s Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) industry have restated the need for gender balance in corporate governance, noting that only by so doing would the country record sustainable development in all facets.
Responding to MARKETING EDGE’s Instagram Live Conversation on this year’s International Women’s Day which had the theme: “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”, Bunmi Oke, Chief Executive Officer and Lead Consultant of Lady Bird Limited, posited that women and men complement each other with their differences and similarities.
“The 2022 IWD theme reflects in the IMC industry in Nigeria in many ways because most Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies are manufacturers of goods for the entire population, both men and women. In terms of manufacturing and providing the need, there is balance.
Mrs. Oke, however, said that there are a few women in terms of getting input, operating and occupying job space.
“A lot can be done to improve and showcase female practitioners in IMC – for instance, giving platforms to women to be able to express themselves,” she said.
On her part, Schola Andem (ARPA), Chief Executive Officer of CHOLA MEDIA, noted that gender equality Nigeria’s IMC industry has created room for women to be successful, adding that it is giving them the opportunity to discover that they are not just meant to be sales and marketing people.
“We are women, but to be able to take our responsibility as project managers, a position that initially was seen as men’s job, we have to work hard and smart,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr. Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi, Head of Marketing, Sub-Saharan Africa for Pladis Global noted that there has been an improvement in Nigeria’s gender balance compared to what it used to be about 10 years ago. She said women’s voices are now being heard, while calling on women to stand up to the challenge of supporting and standing up for one another. She urged them to learn how to celebrate one another’s success and discard the habit of pulling others down because of their success stories.
“49% of Nigeria’s population is women, which is over 90 million people. The population is growing every day. You will see that increasingly with our population, we are going to get more acceptances and more awareness. The more people support the agenda, the more we are going to get; so there will be a representation. With a lot more conviction and sensitisation, we will realise that and be able to cross the barrier and close the gender gap,” she said.
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