Naija Twitter went crazy very recently with the release of a video showing a wife furiously confronting her husband’s lover. In typical Lagos style, it happened in a mall. Lol. Sadly, the situation is quite typical us. Man marries wife. Man finds a younger lover. The two women go mad and fight each other. Of course, enter hashtag culture, and everybody has a comment about women-hating and fighting themselves. This conversation about women being their worst enemy is not new, but it is also quite incomplete.
There are many other ways that women interact with each other that reflect their values and their ability to impact their world—from the boardroom to the marketplace, women, especially here in Nigeria, are collaborating, embodying their passions and taking up more space in the leadership sphere.
*Cue in a special #Drumroll for our latest band of women Senior Executives in the Heirs Holdings Group: Owen Omogiafo (In-coming President and GCEO of Transcorp Group) Dupe Olusola (Incoming CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc) Helen Iwuchukwu (Incoming COO of Transcorp Hotels Plc) and Okaima Ohizua (Incoming COO of Transcorp Power).
But though impact is often recognized at the top, it begins much earlier, at the middle or lower rungs of the ladder. Therefore, in this March edition of HH People, we emphasize Seven emerging leaders across the group, sharing their insights, perceptions and experiences about womanhood in Nigeria. It is our tribute and celebration of women in the corporate world.
Enjoy.
Adaku Nwakanma:
TEF
“At one point in my life, I thought I was going to be a DJ. I really love music, not in a technical sense, but listening and flowing with the rhythm and soul of it. I love reading too. When it comes to going after what I want, I’m a bit obsessed making sure plans are detailed and that they come to life. I believe that wishing a person a life of no obstacles is a curse, but I also believe there has to be a balance to everything.”
“Gender inclusion goes beyond just adding a name to a list or assigning a desk to a woman. It means actually providing the necessary tools required for women to succeed, if not we set them up for failure. Once, I was hired as an intern while practising engineering and there was no female bathroom in the office. In that situation, the company could boast of having a female intern but drilling down to the effectiveness, and general wellness, you will find that productivity will not be top-notch for an intern who has to share a space with several other men. Miniscule things like schedule a time to visit the bathroom, not finding the support you need as a mother, or having to worry about other experiences unique to womanhood can be a hindrance. The workplace was created around the experience of men, including women means also including processes that are designed around the experiences of women.”
“I feel fortunate to be a part of a group of women who found, as usual, a gap between male and female counterparts in the photography industry and decided to do something about it. The group, named TIWA, serves to inspire other women who may feel limited by the fact that they do not have others who have experienced the same challenges as they have and who can relate and offer better advice professionally based on that.”
Oyindamola Oyedutan
Heirs Holdings
“I believe that because of the hardworking nature of women, women who have been given the opportunity to channel the core female traits of hard work, multitasking, organisation and emotional intelligence into the corporate world have begun to make an indelible mark in Corporate Nigeria.”
“Policies around maternity leave are critical and it would be great to see companies adopt more flexible maternity leave policies that take account of different circumstances that may apply to women starting or expanding their family.”
“ I love clothes and fashion, but there are men who love to dress up too, so if I was a man, I probably would love fashion too. However, I like women’s gist! Men cannot gist the way women gist about things like clothes, celebrities, and random things. I also love my salon time, manis, pedis, hair, lashes, the whole works. They are good sources of relaxation and me time.”
Ivy Ikpeme Mbakwem:
Africa Prudential
“The most interesting experience I’ve had as a woman so far was the process of being pregnant and giving birth to my son. I kept having out of body experiences that I tried to freeze somewhere in corners of my mind, so I could go back there from time to time to re-live. So weird.”
“My greatest passion is People. My purpose in life is to help each woman who has experienced any form of pain to self-HEAL, RESET their minds and EXPRESS themselves purposefully in their chosen path. I started a movement called TAG with Ivy (Think and Grow) to use my experience and knowledge as an executive growth coach to help professionals make a shift from accidental growth to intentional growth in their careers, and for women who have been through a hurtful past, and set-backs, to grow through pain to gain.”
“I believe that with the right exposure through events, women can be empowered with the confidence and conversational tools they need to succeed. I would like women to be given opportunities to work from home (if their job description permits) one day a week or twice in a month, to help to improve work-life balance.”
Ngozi Okonkwo Blessing:
Transcorp Power
“As a young girl, I was soliciting for a land space for my mum who was a widow to build a house, but this request was declined by the Elders because we were not men.”
“I believe organisations can fight the marginalization of women by clamouring for better legal protection for Nigerian women and creating equal promotional opportunities based on capacity, not gender.”
“As a woman, I believe in giving back and helping to shape society. I try to do this through a series of public speaking engagements on topics ranging from drug abuse, career trajectory, teenage pregnancy and so on.”
Ena Ifehwo
Avon Medical Dialysis Center
“Assertiveness from a woman sometimes unnerves others. I have been tagged ‘overconfident and bossy by people who insist that a woman should not have an independent opinion.”
“When I was in Delta State, I founded a program “Keep The Young Mind Right.” I used my knowledge of child psychology to empower these children in rural Delta. I would give them topics for peer discussion and individual presentations. The goal was to raise right-thinking, well-behaved teenagers with zero percent chance of being threats to the society. We all have to give back to society in our own way.”
“An educated woman is an empowered woman.”
Janet Adeleke
Avon HMO
“Women are changing the face of business in the country and getting the world to sit up and take notice of the business empires they are building. Each of these businesswomen, in their own unique way, is flying the flag of Nigeria, at home and around the world.”
“Organizations can conduct a gender assessment to identify gaps in recruiting, promotion and retention, and survey women as to their attitudes and experiences when it comes to management, culture and career development. Identify areas of greatest need and focus on those first.”
“When women are given assurances that their organization is actively engaged in the design, progression, and success of their careers, they are more inclined to stay. Women should be aware of the leadership opportunities their organizations offer. Organizations should ensure women are getting information and invitation they need, allowing for greater opportunity to nurture and succeed. Organizations should foster mentoring and sponsoring.”
Roselyn Nkechi Affah
Transcorp Hotels
“It is also a privilege to work in the same organization as my mentor Mrs Owen Omogiafo and seeing how she is able to drive success and come out winning it is definitely a push for me.”
“Growing up my mum has been my biggest inspiration; it amazes me that women have the natural ability to navigate even the toughest situation. She has also shown me that a woman can be spiritually filled, have a career, multitask, nurture, manage a home and create something out of the smallest thing.”
“My volunteering, work experience and holding leadership positions in my university has shaped who I am today. I am not afraid to take my chances at acquiring new skills and I am very passionate in what I set out to do. Working at Transcorp Hotels PLC has been one of my peaks, I have been able to learn to adapt to a high standard working culture and develop a good team spirit.”
Oluwakemi Betiku
Afriland Properties
The most interesting experience I have had being a woman in Nigeria is working under women whose exemplary lives have impacted mine a great deal. Women like Erelu Angel Adebayo, former Chairman of Afriland board, Mrs Uzo Oshogwe, MD/CEO Afrialnd Properties, Ms Yinka Ogusulire and Mrs Agatha Obiekwugo, both board members of Afriland Properties. All at the helm of affairs in the corporate world and still doing excellently well at the home front, thereby lifting my hope of becoming one in the near future.”
“Women produce a more loyal, hardworking and morally upright workforce thereby improving productivity and reputation of organisations in the corporate Nigeria.”
“I so much appreciate and cherish the few men, one of which is our Group Chairman, who gives women the opportunity to showcase their skills and abilities in the corporate world. If more opportunities are given by others, we will do a lot more.”
Osho Motilewa
Avon Medical Practice
“I am actually happy to be a woman now. It is a privilege to be born into a generation where the societal role of women has largely evolved. The voice and agency of women is largely increased and society is progressively moving forward.”
“There are lots of opportunities to give back and one of the ways I seize the moment is by volunteering as often as I can with the Lagos food initiative. Everybody has a way of connecting and adding value.”
