Banks have been urged to soften the stringent conditions on accessing loans

Banks have been urged to soften the stringent conditions on accessing loans, and provide special facilities for women, as a way of bringing improvement to the society.

This is against the backdrop of challenges faced by women in accessing loans from banks and other financial institutions across the country.

Folorunso Alakija, chief executive officer, Famfa Oil limited, said another way forward would be for governments at all levels to promulgate policies that promote gender balance in employment in various industries in the country.

Alakija adds that governments should further make policies which mandate companies to have a certain minimum percentage of females on the boards of  companies in the country and impose sanctions on erring ones.  

Alakija who gave a keynote address at BusinessDay’s Fifh Annual Inspiring Woman conference, with the theme ‘Yes She Can’, in Lagos, also identified effective mentoring and networking, parental upbringing and identifying the right career, amongst others, as the way forward to inspiring women and brining about the desired change.    

“Organisations and groups should be formed to mentor women and young school girls even before the start of their careers. This will inspire and educate them on the potential and benefits of leadership opportunities  in various industries”, she s

aid.

L-R: Olufemi Shopade, representative of the first lady, Ogun State; Folorunso Alakija, CEO, Famfa Oil/keynote speaker; Evelyn Oputu, former MD/CEO, Bank of Industry Ltd, and Boma Ozobia, partner, Sterling Partnership, at the 5th edition of BusinessDay’s Inspiring Woman with the theme: Yes She Can…in Lagos.

Speakers at the conference agreed that challenges faced by women included education, gender abuse, women handicap, and work-life balance.

Boma Ozobia, first female president of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, and partner, Sterling Partnership, said the tools for success include planning, self critique, professionalism, and relationship.

“In order for you to progress in your career path, you are going to be monitored and assessed constantly”, she told the participants.

Evelyn Oputu, former, managing director/CEO of Bank of Industry limited, told women to believe in themselves, embrace each other, get mentors and ensure they have the right motive, in order to succeed in their career pursuits.

She added, “For you to succeed, you need a lot of preparation, you must take a chance on yourself, you must gamble, you have to keep trying, when you fall, you must rise up and learn a lesson from your fall, always question your motive, you are attracted to succeed, build on that success. Yes you can”.

Olufunso Amosun, wife of the Ogun State governor, said a woman with a clear vision and purpose does not wait for her husband to provide everything for her and the children. She must strive to do some business,  or pursue a profession to support the family.

“Your decision to succeed today would go a long way in shaping your future. Our watchword should be determination, perseverance, hard work, focus, dedication, humility and steadfastness in whatever we hope to accomplish in life”, Amosun said.

In his welcome address, Frank Aigbogun, publisher/CEO of BusinessDay, said the society would be better if more women succeeded in their careers and businesses, and that consequently, homes would be more peaceful and inspiring.

“We believe that better, happier families result from their caring. Our speakers who are national leaders have shown by their own accomplishment, with dedication and hard work, that yes, a woman can”he said.

HOPE MOSES-ASHIK

source businessday