Chairman, Honeywell Group and Group Chairman FBN Holdings Plc., Dr. Oba Otudeko, CFR, has stressed the need for active gender sensitivity in the Nigerian corporate environment, calling for increased recruitment and participation of women in board leadership and management positions in the country as applicable in developed nations.
Otudeko made this assertion while speaking at the maiden edition of the Women on Boards WIMBOARD Executive Mentoring Programme organized by Women in Business (WIMBIZ) group at Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos. The entrepreneur and business mogul said: “Participation of women on boards of major conglomerates in Nigeria is low compared to other developed nations like Norway which reserves 40 per cent of director seats for women and Canada with 50 per cent women representation on board seats of 14 crown companies.”
Otudeko who was the Guest Speaker at the Forum, stated that mentoring is vital to leadership building, adding that “A board will only be described as effective if it has worked with the executive team to reach strategic decisions which have supported long-term financial performance, improved brand value, attracted investors and generated returns for all stakeholders according to ethical practices.” He encouraged women to aspire for top positions and overcome public perception and other barriers attached to women leadership capabilities in developing countries, adding that women must imbibe leadership qualities to become effective board members.
“The major obstacle which women need to overcome is the public perception about their leadership abilities. This, no doubt, at some point would impact aspiration of women. Women must reinforce their position as builders, value creators and growth enablers, to deserve board positions as of right”, Otudeko added. Oba Otudeko emphasized the need for women participation on boards to become a norm, supported by legislation and stakeholders such as WIMBIZ for improved women leadership recognition in Nigeria’s corporate environment.
