There
is a lot of talk about “inclusive capitalism” and “inclusive growth”
these days. That’s all well and good but in addition to these, what we
need is an “inclusive government”. A government that includes capable,
honest citizens based on merit irrespective of gender.
There
is a positive correlation between gender equality and economic growth.
Countries that do not treat women as second class citizens are more
likely to prosper in a sustainable manner, and this is true regardless
of the prevailing ideology or religion of that region.
Rwanda
and Dubai are two classic examples. Both countries rank high in
comparative regional gender equality surveys and both have experienced
an upward trend in economic prowess and social development over the last
10 years and 40 years respectively. In the book, Flashes of Thought,
the ruler of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, says of his
government: “Our job is to provide an environment that unlocks women’s
potential – one that protects their dignity and femininity, helps them
create the necessary balance in their lives, and values their talents
and potential. Given this environment, I am confident that women will
perform nothing short of miracles.” To that end, 70 per cent of
university graduates in his country are women. Eighty five per cent of
his personal team are women, 65 per cent of their government employees
are women and 30 per cent of the leadership positions are held by women.
Closer to home, let’s look at Rwanda. Since the genocide ended
over 10 years ago, women have generally made up more than 50 per cent of
their parliamentarians. Currently, approximately 63 per cent of their
Members of Parliament are women. During that time, Rwanda has
experienced year-on-year GDP growth. Their GDP per capita, their Gross
National Income per capita, their Agricultural Production Rate and Food
Production Rate have all increased steady over those years. Is this a
coincidence? I think not. I once heard someone say that women are the
greatest causalities of war and he might be right. This being the case,
by putting capable women in leadership positions, we have a government
that is less likely to make decisions that would lead to civil unrest or
war. Prosperity fosters in times of peace. The absence of confusion and
an orderly society foster progress. The more women we have in
leadership positions, the more likely we are to have an orderly and
prosperous country.
In her essay, The Economics of Exclusion,
University of Oxford Business Professor, Linda Scott, illustrates in
monetary terms the national benefits of adequately including women in
leadership and the hidden, indirect costs of excluding them: “Taking
account of the benefits of including women should encompass not just the
growth possibilities, but the bigger economic impact lies in avoiding
the costs associated with exclusion, such as…hunger, violence and
disease.”
In some of her other works, Scott compares the Women’s
Economic Opportunity data compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit
and the National Competitiveness Index created by the World Economic
Forum. Her findings show that “a country making concerted efforts to
protect, support, educate, and place its women would be making similar
decisions across the board to maximise its other resources.”
There
are examples of gifted leaders all over the world who happen to be
female such as Valerie Amos, Michaelle Jean, Ursula Burns and
Condoleezza Rice. We also have our fair share of such assets here in
Nigeria and in deciding who should form part of the leadership team that
moves this country forward, let those who are gifted with skill,
scruples, stamina and a solid track record prevail.
Overlooking
women for positions in leadership would be akin to a self-inflicted
brain drain. Speaking of a brain drain, Valerie Amos is originally from
Guyana and Michaelle Jean was born in Haiti. Both women are doing
wonders on behalf of their adoptive countries, the United Kingdom and
Canada respectively. If the right environment had existed in their
countries of birth, they probably would not have left and perhaps they’d
be doing these wonders as emissaries of their birth countries rather
than as representatives of their adoptive countries. Let us create the
right environment here in Nigeria so that capable women don’t have to
leave the shores of their country to find a place where their
intellectual talents can be maximised and appreciated.
Who or what is a leader?
It
is said that a leader is someone who improves the lives of those around
him or her. People like Adepeju Jaiyeoba, the lawyer working to reduce
infant and maternal mortality rates by providing kits to pregnant women
in rural areas, or Mosunmola Umoru, the female farmer who empowers other
farmers by helping them find a viable market for their produce.
Similarly,
it is said that a leader is anyone who can serve people and make them
happy. For example, Enitan Kuku who discovers Nigerian fine artists and
helps them sell their artwork in the international market, or Fisayo
Olowu who runs a designated learning place for children under the age of
10 living in an impoverished shanty town, or Yewande Olofinro who goes
to hospital wards to help those who can’t pay their medical bills.
I
also read somewhere that a leader is someone capable of creating
positive change, whether at a micro level within his or her family or at
a macro level serving the entire nation. People such as Ijeoma
Idika-Chima, a young lady who galvanises other young people to vote, or
Amina Ahmed who despite incredible odds is possibly one of Nigeria’s
youngest female magistrates, or Temitayo Etomi, a manager in the Lagos
State civil service, doing notable work in her state government.
It
should be a priority of new administration headed by President
Muhammadu Buhari, to “provide an enabling environment for women to
achieve their highest potential.” That environment would be one that
protects them from violence, one that does not force them to compromise
their principles and one that includes them on the basis of competence.
The
positive change that we would like to see from the new administration
is the significant inclusion of clever, capable, conscientious and
compassionate women in the leadership. Let us realise the benefits
inherent in our greatest natural resource. We can create an environment
that enables women to succeed or sets them up to fail. By choosing the
former, the whole nation, male and female, young and old, will also move
forward.
- Ms Olubunmi Aboderin is a member of the Institute of Directors
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