Dr. Echendu Adinma is a Consultant Public Health Physician and a Senior Lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra state. She believes that women can make valuable input that will help to boost the nation's economy but are often poorly represented in decision making categories.
In this interview with Dr. Adinma spoke on gender equality, empowerment, healthy productive life as well as galvanizing women towards National development.
Women and girls are said to be the most vulnerable in the society. How can their lot be improved?
A woman who is empowered cannot be vulnerable. Investing in their education would make them less vulnerable. Education is everyone's right. Once woman is empowered, she becomes a voice in the society because she will able to exert her right.
Frequently though, women encounter sociocultural obstacles due to our tradition. A woman does not have right to inheritance. If the woman has no source of income and is being wholly provided by her husband, naturally, she will be at the background but if she can cater for her needs, she won't be disadvantaged.
The discrimination women face is such that starts from cradle to grave and whatever that happens to a girl-child will determine the destiny of the woman because she grows up the same person. Women face barrier to equal opportunities and advancement because of what the society denies them. Things like culture, religion, age, ethnicity and disability are all contributing factors to a woman's vulnerability. It is worse when the woman suffer from any kind of disability. She becomes a victim of two-fold discrimination due to cultural, legal and institutional bathers. Girls and women with disabilities are among the most vulnerable group and are usually neglected by the society. They can also contribute to the economic growth of the nation, unfortunately, they are not recognised.
There are some successful women entrepreneurs who have also grown their businesses and employed people. Would you advise career women to create the business aspects of their profession as a way of generating income?
Who says career women cannot do business. I have seen women who have also recorded success stories in entrepreneurial endeavours while pursuing their careers. Every career has a business angle. If the stress of juggling both sides won't be too much for the woman, she can set up the business aspect of the profession if she can cope but one should not suffer for the other. Productivity is needed at work place. Any woman who manages a top professional position is a super-woman.
For a woman to create a business that impacts and generates income, she needs an entrepreneurial skill to be able to start up. We all know that when a micro entrepreneur is grown, it helps to boost the economy and that is what Nigeria needs at this critical point. Over the last two decades, there has been so much opportunity for our women to do business. A lot of them have been trying to create corporate brands but unfortunately, only a few have succeeded because of their inability to have access to funds. This story of their inability to access funds is legendary. It sounds to me like a broken record and I think that government must do something to alleviate the sufferings of these women.
For a woman to generate a business idea, it takes a lot of efforts. Once the idea comes and the business is set up, their entrepreneurial journey takes off as well. Although, there are difficulties in the beginning such as raising funds and other teething problems but with focus and determination, they succeed. In Nigeria, the issue of raising funds is very critical. Aside from that, there are some businesses that you venture into where you will not easily find standards to copy unless you have to create your own. The key to success is that when you start up, stay true to your dreams otherwise, you will be distracted. What is your view on women's health and empowerment?
Every woman should take her health issue very seriously. We all have the opportunity to live a healthy life. It is your right to live a healthy but you must also work towards it. No society can achieve its potential when half of its population are disadvantaged, disenfranchised and dis-empowered. Government should take the issues of female health as a priority because women are the key drivers of the nation's economy.
What do you think are the hallmarks of gender equality in today's complex and unsettled world and what is the way forward?
I think of gender equality in terms of empowerment. What it mean is that a woman should have her voice. The right to say what she needs to say in any set-ting or gathering. Can she take decisions on behalf of herself and her family?
Obviously, we have a long way to go before we truly reach that point but I am optimistic that we can get there. If women and girls are seen as top priority, there should be a specific commitment to gender equality and good promises aimed at empowering them. Which means that the momentum is within us.
But if we set goals without action, we have mere wishes, not reality. So we have to turn ambition into reality. Closing the gender data gap is a big part which is very important to the rural and urban community. We should continue to invest in three specific areas that drive change, so that we can keep making progress on empowering this special group. The areas are health, economic opportunities as well as ability to take decisions.
When health improves, life would be improved at every measure but one of the greatest challenges facing the women in developing countries is the inability to access primary healthcare. Equally, enabling women in the poorest parts of the community to earn an income and man-age their own finances would help them build financial security and increase their influence over the household budget. After all, women are more likely to invest their income into the health and welfare of their families.
We need a better understanding on how to address the barriers and social norms that limit women and girls in decision making process. This includes women being able to decide if, when and who they wish to many and when to have children, how many they would love to have and how to save or spend their money. Women and girls need to have their voice and the platform to express when they are truly empowered with good health, economic opportunities and have a say over the things that affect their lives and their families, only then, can we truly say that we have arrived.
What are the biggest stumbling blocks to achieving gender equality in business?
Gender discrimination is still prevalent in the business world and serves as a hurdle towards economic empowerment for women. One of the main obstacles is that women disproportionately lack access to the tools they need for success, notably finances, education, and a sense of self-confidence.
Women are denied loans and financial support in many countries around the world for their entrepreneurial endeavors, including Nigeria. There is a large gap between men and women in business, and this gap exists in all countries, even developed ones such as Canada. If women are discouraged from entering certain fields, or if they lack education, or they face constant assaults to their dignity and rights, their confidence levels plum-met and they become discouraged. With the prevalence of all these, some societies will socially, politically, and economically regress into the dark ages.
Unemployment level is presently hit-ting the roof. What is your advise to the unemployed?
Youths should not wait for government to employ them. They should make effort and start from somewhere do something to keep them busy. It is so sad that most youths, would instead, take to social vices. The youths should take advantage of mod-ern technology available at their disposal.
No society can achieve its potential when half of its population are disadvantaged, disenfranchised and disempowered. Government should take the issues of female health as a priority because women are the key drivers of the nation's economy."
By: Josfyn Uba and Bianca Iboma
Daily Sun News
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