How Gender Focused Interventions Can Accelerate Peak Performance for Women
I was recently invited to join a Panel at the The Peak Performing Woman Awards 2023. The Topic that I would be sharing on was titled “How Gender Focused Interventions Can Accelerate Peak Performance for Women”. When asked to speak on any subject matter, it is important to do your research no matter how much you think you know. I found this to be a particularly interesting topic and so I decided to delve deep and share my thoughts and findings on the subject in two parts. Gender Focused Interventions “actively examine and promote the transformation of harmful gender norms and seek to reduce inequalities between men and women to achieve desired outcomes Gender-focused interventions are intended to provide equal opportunities for all genders and help them achieve their full potential”[1]. These interventions are designed to eliminate the barriers that women face due to gender inequality, which prevent them from achieving peak performance. Let me start by sharing some differences: Women face different challenges than men in the workplace for example, Women tend to earn less and have fewer opportunities for advancement; Women are also more likely to experience discrimination and harassment; Women are more likely to suffer abuse and domestic violence. These challenges will have a negative impact on their confidence and performance. Gender-focused interventions provide women with the support and resources they need to overcome these barriers, and to boost their confidence and performance. Some examples of Gender Focused Interventions I will start with the home front. As Parents and caregivers, we play a significant role in promoting gender equality and challenging stereotypes for our young girls. We should teach and model positive behaviours and attitudes for our children, such as treating boys and girls, men and women with respect and valuing diversity. Some specific ways parents and caregivers can promote gender equality and challenge stereotypes for young girls are as follows: traditionally male-dominated fields, Presidents, Prime ministers, business gurus, astronauts, engineers, architects, petroleum engineers, coders, the list is endless. — an absolute necessity for all women. Education ! Education ! Education! Let now look at some examples of the types of Interventions that can be implemented within and outside of the workplace: by Sponsorship Programmes in the work place including in Government : Find the “He for Shes” that are willing to push and promote women into executive leadership. There are many who are doing this, we just need more. There is nothing more powerful than someone advocating for you when you are not in the room because he or she knows the quality of your work and is willing to stick their neck out for you. That should put you on your toes to over deliver ! And while I know that Culture can sometimes get in the way, it’s time for us to get over this. Not every meeting between the two genders is a “date” !! can help promote an inclusive work culture that values diversity and empowerment and can eliminate gender bias that can negatively impact performance. Believe it or not, Almost 9 out of 10 people hold “fundamental biases” against women, a new UN report has found, decrying a “decade of stagnation” that has led to a dismantling of women’s rights in many parts of the world. From the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report released 12 June 2023 found, reflecting the latest data from the World Values Survey.[2] Half of people globally still believe men make better political leaders than women; (frankly we see that here in Nigeria with only 3 women senators out of 109 in this present Assembly). I believe it may well be the worst number ever since we switched to the parliamentary system) More than 40% believe men make better business executives than women. I was once asked if there was no man in man company during a negotiation!!!. When speaking to a Banker regarding a loan I was applying for, I was asked why my husband was not bank rolling my business venture, which clearly to him, I really didn’t have the right to be undertaking. It is a sad situation. And the clincher…… 25% believe it is justified for a man to beat his wife, Cultural norms do not help these matters. Culture is made by people. We can undo these harmful “norms” You just need to find the best fit — one that will support and nurture you — one in which you feel most comfortable. GAIA AFRICA is a warm and nurturing community for her members to thrive. Our interactions are governed by our Honour Code: Mutual Trust | Integrity | Authenticity. Important to build and nurture networks within and outside of your workplace. I will conclude with Part 2 : Gender Focused Government interventions as well as the benefits of all the interventions I have shared. Watch this space GAIA AFRICA June 2023
WHY WE NEED MORE WOMEN IN POLICY MAKING
The underrepresentation of women in politics and policymaking has long been a crucial topic of discussion globally. In a recent webinar facilitated by GAIA Africa in partnership with the Lagos Business School and PwC Nigeria, titled Why We Need More Women in Policy Making. The webinar featured esteemed panelists, Senator Ireti Kingibe (Senator, FCT), Mrs Uwais (SA to the President), Alero Ayida-Otobo (Founder Incubator Africa), and Chijioke Uwaegbute (PwC), and hosted by the delectable Abosede Gorge-Odan (WILAN Global). The conversation delved into the challenges faced by women in Nigerian politics and explored strategies to promote women’s leadership. This blog post aims to summarize the key insights shared during the webinar, highlighting the panellists’ perspectives on the urgent need for change. The discussion centred on the need to change mindsets and establish inclusive frameworks in politics. Senator Kingibe highlighted the stark reality of the underrepresentation of women in Nigerian politics, emphasizing that the current situation is a cause for embarrassment even among male politicians. “We have only three women in the Senate, and I must say, even the men are embarrassed about it.” – Senator Kingibe Recognizing the significance of mindset transformation, Chijioke emphasized that leadership is about capability rather than gender. To achieve gender equality, He stressed the importance of educating young people. Corroborating this viewpoint, Mrs Otobo submitted that training and educating current politicians is a crucial step towards transforming Nigerian politics. Mrs Otobo argued that assumptions about politicians’ knowledge should be discarded. “Leadership is all about capability and not gender. We need to teach young people from a young age that leadership knows no gender.” –Chijioke “We need to train and educate current politicians, including special advisors, to help them perform better. We shouldn’t assume that they already possess the necessary knowledge.” – Alero To effect change, Mrs Otobo, stressed the importance of strategic collaboration within civil society, leveraging data and evidence to drive impactful initiatives. On her part, Senator Kingibe emphasized the formation of a robust female lobby and voter group, utilizing voter data to mobilize women effectively. “We must strive to create a strong female lobby and voter group, leveraging voter data to mobilize women in a specific direction.”- Senator Kingibe Furthermore, Chijioke proposed the training and education of politicians to address the realities of the present and shape the future. She suggested that leading institutions such as the Lagos Business School, Gaia, and PwC could play a pivotal role, stating, “Let’s train and educate politicians to understand the realities of now and shape the future. Lagos Business School, GAIA, and PwC can lead the way.”- Chijioke Ms Uwais stressed the importance of empowering young girls from an early age and nurturing their leadership potential. She highlighted the need for comprehensive education and support. Alero emphasized that women’s participation in politics goes beyond mere representation, emphasizing their transformative impact on policies and governance. She stated, “Women’s participation in politics is not just about numbers; it’s about the transformative impact they can have on policies and governance, leading to a more inclusive and prosperous nation.”-Alero Highlighting the need for mentorship and support networks, Ms Uwais emphasized the importance of building confidence in women leaders. She advocated for the creation of support systems. Alero opined on the importance of investing in women’s education and skill development as a means of empowering them in politics. Stating, “Women need more mentorship and support networks in politics to navigate the challenges they face and to build confidence in their abilities.” – Mrs Uwais When asked about how the private sector and corporate leaders actively support and encourage women’s involvement in politics, Chijioke stated that; “A united front of the private sector and civil society can be the third force, driving change and moving our society forward.” – Chijioke While delivering her final thoughts, Alero highlighted the need to create an inclusive framework in politics. She emphasized that the focus should be on how to create the necessary superstructures, stating, “We need to focus on changing mindsets and creating an inclusive framework in politics. It’s not about why we need more women; it’s about how we create the necessary superstructures.”-Alero In conclusion, the webinar panellists underscored the urgency of empowering women in Nigerian politics. By changing mindsets, building inclusive frameworks, and investing in education and skill development, significant progress can be achieved. The insightful words of Mrs Kingibe summarize the collective sentiment, “We need strong institutional mechanisms, such as gender quotas and electoral reforms, to ensure women’s meaningful participation and representation in Nigerian politics.” For a full transcription of the webinar, please click https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jBVuhapDVcoNfALeonTaCHaQArJgLJXmY8YD9Oax-Og/edit?usp=sharing
Akala’s Natives: A Powerful Examination of the complexities of Race and Identity in Modern Britain.
Akala’s Natives: Race and Class in the ruins of empire, painstakingly exposed the manner in which Britain has attempted to distance itself from its colonialist and slave trade history, as well as its persistent racism and class discrimination. It reminds us that Britain was still enslaving even when it appeared to have renounced the slave trade, that Britain operated concentration camps in Kenya, imprisoning Kenyan people, and also reveals many aspects of Britain’s complicity in the present culture of racism. He also reminds us about the quandary that mixed race children face, being racialised as black and how alarming the discovery can be. As Akala put it, he realised his mother was white when he was five years old and it was a devastating experience. Another traumatic experience for a black child in Britain is apparently that of elementary education. He shows us that primary and secondary schools that should be places of succour and learning are a bittersweet experience at best, for young black children due to the obvious or subliminal racism of their teachers. One of his high school teachers apparently went as far as to suggest that the Ku Klux Klan murdered black people in order to curb crime, during a classroom debate about race. All this showed the great barriers that young black people in Britain face and must face to be able to survive, let alone prosper. When living as a black child in the society in which the police, the media and your teachers continually relegate and condition you to believe that you are less than human, it takes grace, fortitude and an inordinate amount of will to rise to the surface or succeed. Akala’s writing is lucid and imminently readable, despite explaining intellectual discourse, as he breaks down his hypotheses clearly each time. He also almost always looks at the other side of the story and accepts that there has been progress and that even he and others like him are privileged to an extent, ironically due to their closeness to “whiteness”. By this he means that being born black in countries like Britain, affords more opportunities than others born in much poorer countries in the global South. His description of how the media as well as the “cold war” era made Cuba and Castro so much more villainous than they should be, despite playing a significant role in helping to dismantle apartheid and despite having one of the best healthcare and educational systems in the world was another illuminating aspect. The manner in which he used the comparison of Mandela and Castro as a way of demonstrating this, helped make the discussion more real. This and the use of his life experiences, with the police in Britain and other countries, with his teachers and with members of his own family, including his racist white grandfather, were all instrumental to making this book very enjoyable to read, despite its heavy subject matter. It is a testament to his self discipline as well as a combination of favour and luck as he himself admits, that he was able to extract himself from the downward trend that his working class upbringing as a racialised black youth cast him into, and it is also extremely gratifying that he continues to draw attention to the plight of young black and brown people born into Britain and similar Western counties, especially in the face of recent Nationalist white movements, in these countries. As he puts it, “we are all influenced by what we are exposed to and experience; the best we can hope for is to try and be as fair as possible within the bias inherent in existence”. Another striking feature of this book is the amount of research done into African, Asian and world wide history. It was impressive to read quotes about Ile-Ife and Benin in Nigeria, as well as discussing Japan, China, South Africa and Cuba, amongst many other countries. One would expect extensive research when embarking on such a project but with Akala, the knowledge of his subject appears to transcend that acquired simply from research for a book. It is almost as if he has lived the various lives in the different nations, the way he talks about them. The book delves into a great deal of history and politics and as such, reviewing it appropriately requires a deeper knowledge than I possess. From my point of view though, I am not at all surprised at all its accolades and believe it deserves more. It is a tour de force and the writer delivers with brilliance, humor and introspection, and is clearly an immensely well-grounded individual. I was enlightened, in the true sense of the word, just by reading it. Author: Bosede Afolabi
My GAIA AFRICA Impact Story
My name is Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, I am the Founder of Aruwa Capital Management, a growth equity fund investing in businesses for women and by women. We are passionate about showcasing the untapped potential of investing in women on the continent. It’s my pleasure to share my GAIA Africa Impact story. I heard about the GAIA AFRICA dinners in Lagos and the awesome space that GAIA AFRICA had created for professional women in Nigeria to network and collaborate. I sent the CEO of GAIA AFRICA, whom we fondly call TCJ, a cold LinkedIn message in January 2020 telling her how I loved the fact she had created a space for women to do business together, something men have been doing for centuries. We immediately hit it off and I officially became a member of GAIA AFRICA, thinking it would be just another means to network and be inspired by other women in Nigeria, not knowing the significant impact GAIA AFRICA would have on me and my business in the months that followed.
