The Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce, the foremost bilateral chamber on Thursday March 16th 2023, hosted a forum to celebrate the 2023 International Women’s Day as part of its contributions to closing gender gaps across all sectors.

The event which discussed the theme, DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality; had in attendance members of the chamber, women from different sectors of the economy and young girls from Queens College and Vivian Fowler secondary schools.

Mrs. Bisi Adeyemi, President and chairman of Council, NBCC delivering her opening remarks noted that the chamber was delighted to join the global community to celebrate the achievements of women in the social, economic, cultural, and political sectors worldwide.

According to the President,  to embrace equity is to be just, fair and inclusive. An equitable society is one in which all can participate and prosper as it is important for everyone to create conditions that allow each person to attain their full potentials.

Adeyemi added that innovation and technology are transforming societies, breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for women and girls and as such, we must ensure that women and girls are not left out in digital transformation and they have equal access to the resources they need to succeed.

Mr Lansana Wonneh, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women Nigeria, in his presentation stated that the theme for the year – embracing equity – is a call to action for women and girls to have equal opportunities, access to resources and to dismantle systematic barriers that prevent them from achieving their full potentials.

In achieving this, he mentioned that it will require addressing existing gender disparities in education, employment and income. Particularly in the area of digital innovation. Wonneh noted that to bridge the gender gap, it is important to provide women with access to digital technology, encourage young girls to enrol in STEM education and train older women in digital literacy and computer skills as it provides significant opportunities for economic growth and development. 

Speaking at the panel session, Mrs. Banke Meshida-Lawal, CEO BMPRO Ltd., noted that for women to break systematic barriers and thrive, they need to believe in themselves, identify a problem in their sectors and create a solution. 

Adaorie Udechukwu, Senior Gender and Economic Inclusion Advisor, Africa at International Finance Corporation added that equity can be achieved if both men and women understand that having more women in leadership and workforce, is dependent on creating fairness in how men and women access economic opportunities, optimize those opportunities and in turn, pass it on to others.

Yemi Keri, Founder, Heckerbella Ltd., corroborated that in achieving gender equity, education is critical, hence exposing and engaging young girls and boys in conversations such as this prepares and helps them understand the realities of life as well as correct the social and cultural norms.